Apodrosus andersoni Giron & Franz 2010, sp.n.

<b> <i>Apodrosus andersoni</i> Girón &amp; Franz sp.n.</b> (Fig. 7) <i>Diagnosis</i> <i>Apodrosus andersoni</i> is characterized by the combination of a shield-shaped body which is widest at the second third of the elytra, the absence of a carinate striped projection on the posterior margin of the epistome, an antennal scape that surpasses the posterior margin of the eyes, a posteriorly strongly produced metasternum (in lateral profile), a fusion of elytral striae IX and X along their second third, a flat surface along interval X of the elytra, an irregularly colored vestiture composed of brown, coppery and green, iridescent (greenish to yellowish) scales and with erect setae, and a continuously and uniformly rounded aedeagal apex. This species may be differentiated from <i>A</i>. <i>artus</i> by its shield-shaped body (particularly in females) with diverging lateral margins of the elytra, accompanied by erect (as opposed to recurvate) elytral setae. Furthermore, it differs from <i>A</i>. <i>earinusparsus</i> by having a lighter coloration and a shorter and shallower median furrow on the head, as well as a fusion of elytral striae IX and X along their second third. <i>Specimens examined</i> Holoptye &amp;female; “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Pedernales, 60 Km. N.W. Cabo Rojo, 1200 m, Las Abejas, cloud forest, 30.IX.1991, sweep, Masner &amp; Peck, 91-354 ” (CMNC); paratypes, same label information as holotype (CMNC: 2 &amp;male;, including 1 dissected, 1 dissected &amp;female;). <i>Description</i> Body length 3–3.5 mm; in dorsal view (Fig. 7A) 2.4-times longer than greatest width which is apicad of midpoint of elytra, shape escudate; dorsal outline in lateral view convex. Integument surface smooth; vestiture composed of brown, coppery and green, iridescent (greenish to yellowish) scales, with erect setae. Eyes (Fig. 7B) 1.5-times longer than wide, projected; 0.5-times width and 0.6-times length of head in lateral view, separated from anterior margin of prothorax by 0.7-times greatest diameter of eye; line of anterior margin of eyes slightly impressed; shortest distance between eyes (in dorsal view) 0.3-times greatest width of pronotum; median furrow (Fig. 7B) linear, deep, extending from mid-length of rostrum and slightly exceeding posterior margin of eyes. Rostrum (Fig. 7B) 1.1-times longer than wide, constricted at midpoint; epistome apically with 2–4 setae situated on each side; nasal plate not defined. Length of rostrum in lateral view 1.4-times its basal width; antennal insertion at midpoint of rostrum; scrobe curved downwards by 60°, directed ventrally at end, extending to anterior margin of eye, separated from it by width of scrobe. Mandibles with 2 lateral setae. Antennae light brown; antennal scape extending beyond posterior margin of eye, not reaching anterior margin of prothorax; funicular antennomere I 1.5-times longer than II; antennal club 0.6-times length of funicle, 2.9-times longer than wide. Pronotum (Fig. 7A) subquadrate, slightly longer than wide, greatest width at midpoint; dorsal surface shallowly puncturate, each puncture with a curved, spatulate brown seta; posterior margin nearly straight, 1.1-times wider than anterior margin; prothorax in lateral view with dorsal outline 1.8-times length of ventral outline; scutellum oval and glabrous. Mesosternum (Fig. 7D) 0.8-times length of prosternum. Metasternum with lateral portions posteriorly produced (in lateral profile gradually ascending towards posterior third, thereafter descending roundly, posterior face covered with scales); distance between posterior margin of mesocoxae and anterior margin of metacoxae 0.7-times length of prosternum. Legs with profemora 1.2-times length of pronotum. Elytra in dorsal view (Fig. 7A) 1.6-times their greatest width which is 1.6-times wider than pronotum; anterior margins sinuate; humeral region 1.5-times width of posterior margin of pronotum; apex acutely rounded; in lateral view (Fig. 7C) with dorsal outline convex; posterior declivity gradual; striae IX and X fused along their second third; intervals completely covered with scales, forming a coppery/green irregular pattern, with brown spots on intervals I, III and V near midpoint of elytra; interval X flat; with erect, linear, apically truncate, brown setae. Venter (Fig. 7D) with elongate, scattered, greenish scales, denser at sides of segments III and IV; VII with anterior margin 1.9-times wider than its length; &amp;male;: IV 1.1-times longer than V and VI jointly, as long as VII, VII with posterior margin rounded; &amp;female;: IV 1.4-times longer than V and VI jointly, 1.7-times length of VII, VII with posterior margin mesally narrowed. <i>Terminalia</i>. Male with tergum VII 1.4-times wider than its mesal length, with setae on posterior margin; anterior margin rounded; posterior margin nearly straight. Tergum VIII 1.4-times wider than its mesal length; anterior margin nearly straight; posterior margin widely rounded. Sternum VIII with spiculum relictum as a forked process with base 1.8-times longer than wide, arms narrow, linear, 1.2-times longer than base. Spiculum gastrale with apodeme 1.6-times longer than aedeagus, each arm sickleshaped. Tegmen with tegminal apodeme nearly 0.7-times length of aedeagus; tegminal plate simple. Aedeagus in dorsal view (Fig. 7E) 4-times longer than its greatest width, slightly constricted apicad of midpoint; apex straight, laterally rounded. Endophallus with a pair of light plates near apex and a pair of parentheses-shaped sclerites positioned near midpoint. Aedeagus in lateral view (Fig. 7F) 8.6-times longer than its greatest width. Aedeagal apodemes 1.2-times length of aedeagus. <i>Female</i>. With tergum VII suboval, slightly longer than wide, posterior margin rounded. Tergum VIII subtriangular and nearly as wide as long. Sternum VIII with lamina semicircular, occupying posterior one fourth. Coxites+styli nearly as long as lamina of sternum VIII, stylus 3-times longer than its greatest width, with 2 long and 2–3 shorter apical setae. Genital chamber 0.7-times length of sternum VIII. Spermatheca (Fig. 7G) 1.5-times longer than wide, J-shaped; ramus apically truncate, laterally rounded; collum short, narrower than ramus, apically truncate; surface striate. <i>Variation</i> Little variation was noted among the examined specimens, other than a sexually dimorphic body shape with the males being slightly narrower than females. <i>Etymology</i> Patronymic; named after weevil taxonomist Dr. Robert Anderson (Canadian Museum of Nature) whose strong support is gratefully acknowledged. <i>Natural history</i> <i>Apodrosus andersoni</i> is known to occur in a cloud forest habitat at 1200 m in Cabo Rojo, in northwest section of the Pedernales province, Dominican Republic (Fig. 18B). The host plant associations remain unknown.

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