Nyssodrysilla escobarorum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CF335E12-940C-44A4-A4C2-5E73A05EF60A

Figs 10–17

Diagnosis

Nyssodrysilla escobarorum sp. nov. is similar to N. vittata (Melzer, 1934), but differs by the pronotum with four narrow longitudinal yellow pubescent bands, and by the pubescent pattern of the elytra not forming longitudinal bands. In N. vittata, there are five longitudinal yellow pubescent bands on the pronotum and there are longitudinal pubescent bands on the elytra (see figures on Bezark 2024 and Monné et al. 2020). Furthermore, N. vittata has a stouter body (slender in N. escobarorum) and the elytral apex is obliquely truncate (straight truncate in N. escobarorum). Nyssodrysilla escobarorum is also similar to N. irrorata (Melzer, 1927) but differs by the slender body and the narrower longitudinal pubescent bands on the pronotum (see photographs on Bezark 2024 and Monné et al. 2020). In N. irrorata, the body is stouter and the longitudinal pubescent bands on the pronotum are wider.

Etymology

In recognition of the writer and thinker Manuel Antonio Escobar Lozano and his family, founders of the Park Chicaque Natural. Thanks to their conservation efforts and support in research, the Chicaque Natural Park turned into the first Private Natural Reserve in Colombia.

Type material

Holotype COLOMBIA • ♂; Cundinamarca, Parque Natural Chicaque, “tirolesa”; 4°38.673′ N, 74°18.695′ W; 2240 m a.s.l.; May 2012; D. Forero leg.; MPUJ, MPUJ _ ENT0094530.

Paratype COLOMBIA • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; MPUJ, MPUJ _ ENT0092983.

Measurements (in mm)

Holotype / paratype

Total length: 5.80 / 5.95; prothoracic length: 0.90 / 1.05; anterior prothoracic width: 1.10 / 1.20; posterior prothoracic width: 1.10 / 1.30; widest prothoracic width: 1.40 / 1.50; humeral width: 1.70 / 1.75; elytral length: 4.20 / 4.25.

Description

Male holotype (Figs 10–13)

COLORATION. Integument mostly dark brown, ventral mouthparts brown except yellowish-brown apex of palpomeres, anteclypeus brown and laterally yellowish-brown. Labrum yellowish brown on anterior half. Scape and pedicel brown, antennomeres III–VI light brown with apex dark brown, and antennomeres VII–XI dark brown; elytra partially lighter toward apex.

HEAD. Frons finely punctate, with abundant, both yellowish-white and yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except brown pubescence close to base of antennal tubercles; with one long, erect black seta close to each eye. Vertex with dense yellow pubescence except glabrous median groove, brown pubescence close to base of antennal tubercles, and posterocentral area with brownish pubescence gradually sparser toward prothorax. Area behind upper eye lobes with dense yellow pubescence. Area behind lower eye lobes with abundant light-yellow pubescence. Genae with abundant pale-yellow pubescence obscuring integument, pubescence gradually yellowish-white toward glabrous apex. Antennal tubercles with abundant brown pubescence basally and abundant yellowish pubescence toward apex. Labrum with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument except glabrous anterior third; with long, erect brown setae interspersed on pubescent area. Distance between upper eye lobes about 0.20 times as long as scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.42 times as long as scape. Antennae reaching elytral apex at apex of antennomere VI. Scape and pedicel with brown pubescence, sparser ventrally, with a few long erect blackish setae near apex of ventral surface. Antennomeres III–XI with short, decumbent dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; III–V with short, erect blackish setae ventrally. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 0.90; pedicel = 0.08; IV = 0.94; V = 0.83; VI = 0.71; VII = 0.62; VIII = 0.73; IX = 0.85; X = 0.88; XI = 1.40.

THORAX. Prothorax wider than long; lateral tubercles located on posterior quarter, with acute apex, slightly directed backward. Pronotum densely, finely punctate; with a transverse row of coarse punctures near posterior margin. Mostly with light-brown pubescence; with four longitudinal yellow pubescent bands and transverse pale-yellow pubescent band close to anterior and posterior margin, except glabrous anterior and posterior sulci. Sides of prothorax densely, finely punctate; with abundant yellowish pubescence, gradually whiter toward coxae. Prosternum with abundant grayish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous anterior sulcus; prosternal process strongly narrowed medially, narrowest area 0.15 times procoxal width. Sides of mesoventral process convergent on anterior half, parallel-sided on posterior half; posterior margin emarginate, 0.5 times mesocoxal width. Scutellum with sparse brown pubescence except yellow pubescence on part of sides and posterior margin.

ELYTRA. Sides slightly widened centrally; abundantly, coarsely punctate about anterior half, punctures gradually sparser, finer toward apex on remaining surface; with abundant light-brown pubescence, not obscuring integument, and abundant, irregular yellow pubescent maculae throughout. Apex slightly emarginate, truncate, external angle slightly projected, sutural angle rounded.

LEGS. Femora dorsally and laterally with abundant grayish-yellow pubescence not obscuring integument, ventrally with grayish-white pubescence. Tibiae with abundant yellowish-white pubescence except bristly dark-brown pubescence on apex of ventral surface; meso- and metatibia with short, erect, thick black setae interspersed. Metatarsomere I longer than II–III together.

ABDOMEN. Ventrites with abundant grayish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous central apex of ventrites 1–4. Ventrite 5 about as long as 3–4 together; sides convergent toward apex; apex with long light-yellow setae directed backward.

Remarks

Nyssodrysilla escobarorum sp. nov. is the first record of the genus in Colombia and is also the northernmost record of the genus.