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Three species of Caribbomerus elongatus Vitali are newly recorded for the Dominican Republic: Caribbomerus decoratus (Zayas), Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher), and Caribbomerus asperatus (Fisher). The first two also represent first records for Hispaniola. Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) is redescribed based on additional material, including the first known males. Caribbomerus similis (Fisher) is newly recorded for Dominica. A key to the species of the genus from the West Indies is provided.
Dominican Republic, Haiti, longhorned woodboring beetles, taxonomy, faunistics
Only one genus of Graciliini occurs in the West Indies, Caribbomerus Vitali (formerly known under the preoccupied Merostenus Walker and formerly placed in the Callidiopini) (
Prior to
Three species of Caribbomerus: Caribbomerus decoratus (Zayas), Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher), and Caribbomerus asperatus (Fisher) are recorded from the Dominican Republic (new country records) (unrecorded in
Most of the material examined in this study was collected
by R. H. Turnbow, Jr. (RHTC), E. F. Giesbert (FSCA), J. Rawlins and
R. Davidson (CMNH), and M. Ivie and K. Guerrero (WIBF). Holotypes are
deposited in the Smithsonian Institution (USNM) and images are available
in the online Smithsonian Primary Type database (
Images were captured with a Zeiss AxioCam HRc camera mounted on a Zeiss Discovery V20 stereomicroscope with Sycop motorized zoom and focus control. Objectives used included a PlanApo S 1.0× and 0.63×. For illumination, a Zeiss KL 2500 LCD with ring light attachment was used. Axiovision software enabled preparation of montaged images and precise, automatically calibrated measurements.
In the course of this work, these collections and others were examined for Caribbomerus specimens.
BMNH The Natural History Museum, London, England (Sharon Shute, Max Barclay)
CMNH Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (J. Rawlins, R. Davidson, R. Androw)
CNCI The Canadian National Collection of Insects, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (S. Laplante, O. Lonsdale)
EFGC Edmund F. Giesbert Collection (at FSCA), Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. (M. Thomas, P. Skelley)
FSCA Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. (M. Thomas, P. Skelley)
FSPC Frederick W. Skillman Private Collection, Pearce, Arizona, U.S.A. (F. W. Skillman)
RHTC Robert H. Turnbow, Jr. Private Collection, Ft. Rucker, Alabama, U.S.A. (R. H. Turnbow)
USNM National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, U.S.A. (S. Lingafelter)
WIBF West Indian Beetle Fauna Project, Bozeman, Montana, U.S.A. (M. Ivie)
Figs 1–4, 5a, f, 6, Table 1
Based on the availability of additional non-type material (including males), the variation within this species can now be more fully documented. Although the holotype female has uniformly pale testaceous antennae, the antennae of males are narrowly dark annulate at the apices of most antennomeres (except scape and pedicel). The pronotum of females is slightly swollen posteriorly and then moderately constricted at the base but in males it is nearly parallel-sided and not or barely wider at posterior third unlike most of the remaining species of the genus. The pronotum of both sexes is densely punctate throughout, but in some females there is a very small, vaguely defined median callus lacking punctures and surrounded by a slight depression. The pronotum and elytra have a coating of tawny, appressed pubescence which does not obscure punctures. The elytral apices are abruptly smooth and impunctate with the anterior margin of this region slightly depressed.
Small size, 6.63–7.99 mm long; 1.19–1.82 mm broad; integument reddish-brown, with pronotum, head, and base of elytra slightly darker. Head with sparse, tawny pubescence not obscuring punctation; sparsely but distinctly punctate. Eye lobe coarsely faceted; completely, widely separated; strongly protuberant laterally (nearly projecting as wide as humeri;) lower lobe occupying nearly all of head from lateral view; upper lobe much smaller; lobes connected by 5 facets at narrowest point; broadly separated by two-thirds width of pronotum on vertex behind antennal tubercles. Interantennal impression very deep with antennal tubercles strongly elevated in V-shape. Antennae of males extending approximately 1.5× length of body in males, 1.3× length of body in females; covered with fine, inconspicuous, short, translucent pubescence. Antennomeres 3–11 of males noticeably dark brown at extreme apices, otherwise, pale brown (antennomeres uniformly pale testaceous in females). Scape extending beyond anterior pronotal margin; integument smooth, not asperate. Other than antennomere 2, antennomere 3 shortest; remaining antennomeres successively increasing in length to 9; 9–11 subequal. Antennomere lengths as follows: scape: 0.59–0.95 mm; antennomere 3: 0.42–0.69 mm; antennomere 4: 0.75–1.14 mm; antennomere 5: 0.95–1.48 mm; antennomere 6: 1.21–1.86 mm. Pronotum distinctly longer than broad, cylindrical in male; distinctly narrower than elytral base (in female, less cylindrical, slightly swollen at posterior third); sparsely, tawny pubescent; distinctly punctate, but punctures small and non-contiguous; without distinct calli, but with small anterior and posterior depressions in male (female with small, vague middle callus surrounded by depression on pronotal disk). Pronotal length: 1.19–1.57 mm; pronotal width: 0.78–1.13 mm; pronotal length/width: 1.3–1.6. Pronotum about 0.18–0.19× length of body. Prosternum sparsely pubescent; densely, closely punctate. Elytron pale reddish brown, slightly darker at base (with vague, darker areas at humerus, middle, and apical third in a few specimens); distinctly but separately punctate; punctures becoming slightly sparser posteriorly and then abruptly disappearing from apices; anterior margin of impunctate apices slightly depressed; sparsely tawny pubescent (pubescence becoming denser at apices); very long and narrow, narrowly rounded at apices. Elytron length: 4.62–5.49 mm; elytron width: 0.49–0.76 mm; elytral length/width: 7.2–9.4. Scutellum sparsely tawny pubescent; setae joining together and at middle; rounded posteriorly; not noticeably punctate. Hind Leg moderately long, but femur not attaining abdominal apex; reddish brown; sparsely covered in short pubescence, only weakly expanded apically. Tibiae (particularly metatibia) narrow, elongate, straight, somewhat darkened apically. Venter sparsely pubescent, darker than dorsum. Abdomen of both sexes with margin of fifth sternite evenly, broadly rounded.
Habitus montage images of Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher), male. a Dorsal b ventral.
Anatomical measurements (in millimeters) and proportions in West Indian Caribbomerus species. BL = body length; EL = elytron length; EW = elytron width; PL = pronotum length; PW = pronotum width.
| Taxon | BL | EL | EW | PL | PW | BL/PL | EL/EW | PL/PW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbomerus asperatus | 4.27–6.53 | 2.50–3.73 | 0.46–0.78 | 0.94–1.61 | 0.78–1.32 | 4.5–5.6 | 4.8–5.4 | 1.2 |
| Caribbomerus attenuatus | 4.08–5.381 | 2.67–3.52 | 0.46–0.56 | 0.84–1.26 | 0.74–0.90 | 4.3–4.9 | 5.8–6.3 | 1.1–1.4 |
| Caribbomerus charynae | 5.81 | 3.71 | 0.53 | 1.05 | 0.88 | 5.53 | 7.0 | 1.1 |
| Caribbomerus decoratus | 5.112–5.68 | 3.47–3.79 | 0.50–0.52 | 0.98–1.22 | 0.73–0.80 | 4.6–5.2 | 6.9–7.3 | 1.3–1.5 |
| Caribbomerus elongatus | 6.633–7.99 | 4.62–5.49 | 0.49–0.76 | 1.19–1.57 | 0.78–1.13 | 5.1–5.6 | 7.2–9.4 | 1.3–1.6 |
| Caribbomerus exiguus | 5.614 | 3.36 | 0.56 | 1.32 | 0.81 | 4.2 | 6.0 | 1.6 |
| Caribbomerus picturatus | 4.4–4.5 | 2.8–2.9 | 0.40–0.45 | 1.00 | 0.60–0.65 | 4.4 | 6.4–7.0 | 1.6 |
| Caribbomerus productus | 4.5–10.0 | 6.92 | 0.86 | 1.88 | 1.42 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 1.3 |
| Caribbomerus similis | 5.925 | 3.78 | 0.54 | 1.18 | 0.99 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 1.1 |
1
Using the key to Caribbomerus of
Holotype (female): Cuba, Wajay, Havana, 15 December, 1930, S. C. Bruner, coll. (USNM). Dominican Republic: San Juan Prov., Sierra de Neiba, trail to Sabana de Silencio, 10 km SSW of El Cercado, 1650-1700 m, 10-11 July, 2006, A. Konstantinov, coll. 18°39.935'N, 71°31.964'W; 18°39.935'N, 71°31.964'W (1 male, USNM); Dominican Republic: Independencia Prov. P. N. Sierra de Bahoruco around Caseta no. 1, 18°16.038'N, 71°32.691'W, December 11-12, 2003, D. Perez, R. Bastardo, B. Hierro, RD#191 (1 male, USNM); Dominican Republic: Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, 13.5 km SE Puerto Escondido, 18°12.24'N, 71°30.54'W, 1807 m, 24-26 Mar 2004, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, C. Young, C. Nuñez, M. Rial, broadleaf Pinus dense woodland, hand collected, Sample 41243 (1 male, CMNH); Dominican Republic: Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, Lomo del Toro, 18°17.16'N, 71°42.46'W, 2310 m, 7-8 November 2002, W. A. Zanol, C. W. Young, C. Staresinic, J. Rawlins, meadow in pine woods, hand collected, Sample 40149 (1 female, CMNH); Dominican Republic: Pedernales, 5 km NE Los Arroyos, 18°15'N, 71°45'W, 1680 m, 17-18 July 1990, J. E. Rawlins, S. Thompson (1 female, CMNH); Dominican Republic: La Vega Prov., Cordillera Central, Loma Casabito, 15.8 km NW Bonao, 19°02.12'N, 70°31.08'W, 1455 m, 28 May 2003, J. Rawlins, C. Young, R. Davidson, C. Nunez, P. Acevedo, evergreen cloud forest, east slope, UV light, sample 21312 (3 females, CMNH).
Antenna of Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) male.
Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) male. a Scutellum b Prosternum and mesosternum c head d apex of abdomen showing parameres.
Pronotum. a Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) holotype female b Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) female c Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) male. Elytral apex. d Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) holotype female e Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) male.
Figs 5e, 6, Table 1
This species is recognized by the densely, coarsely punctate pronotum with a distinct (and sometimes paler), mostly impunctate median longitudinal callus surrounded by less distinct and mostly punctate peripheral calli (one on either side). Caribbomerus decoratus (Zayas) is very similar to Caribbomerus picturatus (Napp and Martins) which is known only from Jamaica. In both species, the elytra have a vague, pale macula at the middle near the suture and have the elytral apices impunctate and pale. The leg color of Caribbomerus decoratus ranges from uniformly pale yellow to reddish-brown with the clavate portions of the femora darker than the rest of the legs (in Caribbomerus picturatus (Napp and Martins) the legs are uniformly pale yellow and much paler than the dorsum). Caribbomerus picturatus also can be distinguished from Caribbomerus decoratus by the heavy surface sculpture and contiguous punctation of the frons, vertex, and antennal tubercles. In Caribbomerus decoratus, the punctures are sparse and not contiguous.
This species was described by
Dorsal habitus photographs of West Indian Caribbomerus species. a Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) male b Caribbomerus asperatus (Fisher) c Caribbomerus attenuatus (Chevrolat) d C. charynae (Micheli) e Caribbomerus decoratus (Zayas) f Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) holotype female g Caribbomerus exiguus (Zayas) h Caribbomerus picturatus (Napp and Martins) i Caribbomerus productus (White) j Caribbomerus similis (Fisher).
Dominican Republic: Prov. Barahona, nr Filipinas, Larimar Mine 26 June – 7 July 1992, Skillman, Skelley, Woodruff, blacklight (FSPC, donated to USNM); Dominican Republic: Barahona, vic. Filipinas, 1700’, May 5-6 1985, E. Giesbert, coll (EFGC [FSCA]); Dominican Republic: Barahona, 2 km E. Payaso, 460 m, mv + bl, 13 July 1996, R. Turnbow (RHTC); Dominican Republic: Pedernales, Sierra Baoruco, 19 May 1992, R. Turnbow (RHTC).
Figs 5b, 6, Table 1
Like Caribbomerusribbomerus attenuatus (Chevrolat) and Caribbomerus similis (Fisher), Caribbomerus asperatus has a very diagnostic rugulose pronotum that lacks calli and pubescence. It is recognized by a combination of features that include the matte finish on the elytra, micropunctation between elytral punctures, relatively uniform reddish-brown coloration above, distinctly elevated antennal tubercles, and elytral apices not distinctly impunctate.
This is the most common species of Caribbomerus
in Hispaniola. It was originally described based on specimens from
Haiti, and has not been previously recorded from the Dominican Republic
(
Dominican Republic: Pedernales Prov., 12 km N of Cabo Rojo, 18°03'N, 71°38'W, 250-350 m, blacklight, 9 July 2004, Daniel Perez / Steve Lingafelter (5, USNM); Dominican Republic: Independencia Prov., 3 km up road from La Descubierta to Los Pinos, 15 July 2004, blacklighting, S. W. Lingafelter (4, USNM); Dominican Republic: Azua Prov., entrance to Boca Vieja Marina near Biyeya Beach, 23.iv.2004, 19°25'N, 69°51'W, D. Perez, B. Hierro (night) RD#241 (3, USNM); Dominican Republic: Pedernales Prov., Cabo Rojo, Alcoa (EFGC [FSCA]); Dominican Republic: Pedernales Prov., 10.2 km N Cabo Rojo (EFGC [FSCA]); Dominican Republic: Bahoruco, 5.8 km SW Neiba, eastern playa of Lago Enriquillo, 3 April 2004, collector: J. Rawlins, R. Davidson, C. Young (CMNH); Dominican Republic: Isla Beata, near Pedernales, October (MCZC); Dominican Republic: Bani, August (MCZC); Dominican Republic: Pedernales Prov., Cabo Rojo, sea level, 22 August 1988, beating veg., M. A. Ivie, T. K. Philips, & K. A. Johnson colrs (WIBF); Dominican Republic: Independencia Prov., ESE Jimani, La Florida 18°24'N, 71°4'W, 20 m, at uv light 14 April 1993, M. A. Ivie, D. Sikes, W. Lanier (WIBF); Dominican Republic: Pedernales, 9.5 km N. Cabo Rojo, 33 m, 18°00.042'N, 71°38.793'W, 08 August 1999, lights and beating, M. A. Ivie, and K. A. Guerrero (WIBF).
Distribution map for the three Caribbomerus species known from Hispaniola.
Figs 5j, Table 1
Like Caribbomerus attenuatus (Chevrolat) and Caribbomerus asperatus (Fisher), Caribbomerus similis (Fisher), has a rugulose pronotum that lacks calli and pubescence. It is distinguished from Caribbomerus asperatus by having the integument mostly light reddish-brown in color with the elytra distinctly paler than the pronotum, having the antennal tubercles unelevated, and in having the elytral apices distinctly impunctate. It is distinguished from Caribbomerus attenuatus in having a matte integument with micropunctation between punctures.
This is an uncommonly collected species. It was originally described from two specimens from Antigua (
Dominica: Grande Savane, February 3, 1965, J. F., G. C., and T. M. Clarke (USNM).
| 1 | Pronotum with impunctate, non-rugulose, or non-asperate median callus | 2 |
| – | Pronotum without impunctate, non-rugulose, or non-asperate median callus | 4 |
| 2(1) | Elytra with pale spot near suture at middle | 3 |
| – | Elytra nearly uniformly colored, without pale spot at suture near middle. Cuba, Hispaniola | Caribbomerus elongatus (Figs 1–4) |
| 3(2) | Frons, vertex, and antennal tubercles with dense, contiguous punctation. Jamaica | Caribbomerus picturatus (Fig. 5h) |
| – | Frons, vertex, and antennal tubercles with sparse punctation. Cuba, Hispaniola | Caribbomerus decoratus (Fig. 5e) |
| 4(1) | Pronotum with distinct punctures | 5 |
| – | Pronotum without distinct punctures (either asperate or rugulose) | 6 |
| 5(4) | Pronotum with dense, contiguous punctures throughout. Scutellum with distinct pubescence joining together at sides, apex, and middle as in Fig. 3a. Cuba, Hispaniola | Caribbomerus elongatus (Figs 1–4) |
| – | Pronotum with punctures mostly separated by at least their diameter. Scutellum glabrous or with reduced pubescence (not as in Fig. 3a). Jamaica | Caribbomerus productus (Fig. 5i) |
| 6(4) | Pronotum coated with sparse, fine pubescence | 7 |
| – | Pronotum glabrous | 8 |
| 7(6) | Pronotum much longer than wide (at least 1.5? width) with a narrow strip at middle that is devoid of pubescence; microsculptured and rugulose, but lacking asperites. Cuba | Caribbomerus exiguus (Fig. 5g) |
| – | Pronotum only little longer than wide (about 1.1? width) without a narrow strip at middle that is devoid of pubescence; not microsculptured or rugulose, but with distinct asperites. Puerto Rico | Caribbomerus charynae (Fig. 5d) |
| 8(6) | Elytra with matte integument; with micropunctation between punctures | 9 |
| – | Elytra with glossy integument; without micropunctation between punctures. Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahamas | Caribbomerus attenuatus (Fig. 5c) |
| 9(8) | Light reddish-brown in color with elytra distinctly paler than pronotum; elytral apices distinctly impunctate; antennal tubercles not elevated, without noticeable depression between. Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica | Caribbomerus similis (Fig. 5j) |
| – | Darker reddish-brown in color with elytra usually no lighter than pronotum; elytral apices not distinctly impunctate; antennal tubercles elevated with distinct depression between them. Hispaniola | Caribbomerus asperatus (Fig. 5b) |
Many thanks to the curators and caretakers of the collections above, especially to Michael Ivie (WIBF), Michael Thomas (FSCA), Paul Skelley (FSCA), Robert Turnbow, Jr. (RHTC), Frederick Skillman (FSPC), John Rawlins (CMNH), Robert Davidson (CMNH), Bob Androw (CMNH), Sharon Shute (BMNH), Serge Laplante (CNCI), and the late Edmund Giesbert (EFGC). I thank Harry Taylor for photographing the type of Merostenus productus from the BMNH. For my trip in 2004, I thank Daniel Perez (USNM) and for my trips in 2005, 2006, and 2010, I thank Kelvin Guerrero (Santo Domingo Este) for their aid in logistics and obtaining permits. Finally, I thank the Subsecretaria de Áreas Protegidas y Biodiversidad de la Secretaría de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Dominican Republic for providing the collecting and export permits (2004 collecting permit #0908 and export permit #0597; 2005 collecting permit #0876 and export permit #0403; 2006 collecting permit #01140 and export permit #0953).