Apotomoderes lateralis

Apotomoderes lateralis (Gyllenhal, 1834)

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

= Apotomus lateralis Gyllenhal 1834: 45 (first valid combination in Dejean 1834: 253)

Diagnosis. Apotomoderes lateralis, the type species, most closely resembles A. chariedris and A. hadroprion though it is slightly smaller than the latter two species, and has a slightly less expanded male pronotum Fig. 1A). The scale patterns on the elytra are usually more homogeneous (initially appearing a one primary color) and less “spotty” (Figs. 2A, 2B). In addition, the aedeagus is apically more widely rounded, and the internal sac lacks well sclerotized rami along the ostium (Fig. 5D). The spermatheca is C-shaped (as opposed to more strongly curved), and has a short, tubular (as opposed to almost completely reduced) ramus (Fig. 6C). See also the species accounts of A. chariedris and A. hadroprion.

Description - male. Largely coinciding with the generic description above. Length 6.68–7.26 mm, width 2.26–2.86 mm, length/width ratio 2.54–2.68 (N=3). Scales variously interspersed creamy white to beige or tan to brown, often rather evenly interspersed or creating variable localized patterns, in some specimens with a more homogenous (and conspicuous) creamy white stripe laterally on pronotum and elytra. Rostrum length 0.75–0.85 mm, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.32–0.36, rostrum length/width ratio 0.72–0.78, depressed region basad of epistoma covered primarily with pinkish metallic scales. Head with eyes slightly “tilted” posteriad. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.96–1.02, pronotum/elytra length ratio 0.47–0.49, pronotum (strongly) globular, predominantly with beige to tan (mesal) and creamy white (mostly lateral) scales. Metendosternite wide (laterally expanded), ventral margin nearly 3× wider than dorsal width of stalk, furcal arms widely diverging at nearly 45° in relation to medial keel. Legs with scales less densely arranged, forming a more uniform light/dark/light pattern on femora, with pinkish metallic on anterior sides near tibial apices, profemur/pronotum length ratio 0.80–1.00, protibia/profemur length ratio 0.95–1.02, anteromesal projection of protibia basally triangular. Elytra length/width ratio 1.72–1.76, scales covering entire integument, arranged in mostly irregular micro-patterns of creamy white, beige, and brown colors, punctures with a green metallic scale. Wing/body length ratio 1.15–1.20, wing length/width ratio 3.63–3.78 (N=2).

Terminalia with tegmen (Fig. 5C) slightly shorter to slightly longer than median lobe. Aedeagus (Fig. 5D) with median lobe length/width relation 7.62–8.08 (N=3), basiventral margin with rounded projections, lateral margins subparallel to ostium, thereafter gradually and roundly converging, apex (widely) rounded. Median lobe in lateral view apically with small, knob-like, minimally deflexed projection. Internal sac without apparent rami.

Female. Largely coinciding with the generic description above. Length 6.34–8.20 mm, width 2.62–3.20 mm, length/width ratio 2.42–2.56 (N=3). Rostrum length 0.76–0.92 mm, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.38–0.42, rostrum length/width ratio 0.74–0.76. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.94–0.98, pronotum/elytra length ratio 0.40–0.43. Profemur/pronotum length ratio 1.02–1.04, protibia/profemur length ratio 0.96–1.00. Elytra length/width ratio 1.74–1.76.

Terminalia with lamina of sternum VIII (Fig. 6A) triangular, slightly longer than wide, anterior margins slightly projected, posterior margin narrowly rounded. Spermatheca (Fig. 6C) C-shaped, collum very short (reduced), collum subcontiguous with, and angled at nearly 90° in relation to, moderately long ramus, corpus very short and expanded (widest), cornu continuously curved to end (at nearly 150° in relation to proximal orientation), gradually narrowed, apically very narrowly rounded.

Variation. The examined specimens vary primarily in the abundance of scales on the integument.

Material examined. Holotype specimen– female (only images seen: Fig. 2) “90. Apotomoderes Mannerh., Apotomus Schönherr 195. [box label 1]/ 1. lateralis Mannerh., Ghl. [Gyllenhal] 1. [box label 2]/ Typus [red, specimen label 1/ Apotomoderes lateralis S. [specimen label 2]” (located in the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden, NHRS). Additional specimens: “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Prov. La Altagracia, Cueva de Bernay, Boca de Yuma, 6-VI-1986, R. Miller & L. Strange ” (CWOB: 1 male); “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, San Pedro Prov., 13 km E. Boca Chica, 27-V- 1992, coll. M.C. Thomas ” (CWOB: 1 male); “D. R. San Pedro de Macoris, Rd. San Pedro de Macoris to Bocachica, along road-coast, 0 m, N 18°24'39.2’’ W 69°29'27.0’’ / Jun 04/2008 (RD 4–3), Leg. N. Franz, J. Girón, A. Mazo, S. Navarro” (UPRM: 1 male); “DOM. REP., SPM, 21 km. W. S. Pedro de Macoris, May 30, 1978, CW & LB O’Brien & Marshall” (CWOB: 1 female); “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, San Pedro Prov., 13 km E. Boca Chica, 27-V-1992, coll. M.C. Thomas ” (CWOB: 2 females).

Etymology. The Latin term lateralis means “of the side” (Brown 1956), and may refer to the relatively well defined lateral stripe of creamy white scales on the pronotum and elytra of the female type specimen.

Natural history. Apotomoderes lateralis is known to occur in low elevation habitats in the southeastern provinces of the Dominican Republic (Fig. 18): La Altagracia (Boca de Yuma) and San Pedro de Macoris / Santo Domingo (east of Boca Chica). The host plant associations remain unknown.