Description of two new species of Hypselotropis Jekel with a revised key and phylogenetic reanalysis of the genus (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae)

Abstract

A recent study of specimens in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, allowed for the recognition of two new species of Hypselotropis: H. jekeli sp. nov. from Colombia and H. jordani sp. nov. from Brazil. Hypselotropis jekeli sp. nov. is characterized by: longitudinal carina of rostrum entirely raised from apex; sides of rostrum tricarinate; antennae short, reaching only antebasal carina of prothorax; segments II–VIII narrowed and feebly impressed; lacking longitudinal carina on pronotum; lacking lateral carina on prothorax; prosternum without either furrow or ante-coxal depression; elytra strongly impressed along interstriae 1 and 2; ante-apical tubercles on interstria 4; pygidium impressed only on each side of longitudinal furrow, subtruncate at apex; and ventrite V strongly impressed, slightly projected at apical angles. Hypselotropis jordani sp. nov. is distinguished by the lack of a pronotal impression; short male antennae, reaching only middle of prothorax; and mesoand metafemora lacking dark vitta. A key to species and illustrations are provided. A cladistic reanalysis of the genus included 41 characters and 19 ingroup and 5 outgroup taxa. The resulting two most-parsimonious cladograms corroborated previous hypotheses of the relationships among Ptychoderini genera and the monophyly of Hypselotropis, with a new topology for the species relationships.

State of knowledge of the Anthribidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) in Colombia with a key to genera

“…According to this review, there are 37 species of anthribids recorded from Colombia, grouped in 14 genera, 10 tribes, and 2 subfamilies. The tribe Ptychoderini is the most diverse in Colombia, represented largely by the genus Ptychoderes (revised by Mermudes & Napp, 2006) with 8 species, followed by Hypselotropis (see Mermudes, 2005;Mermudes & Rodrigues, 2010 [with updated key to species]) with 6 species (Table 1). Eight species within this tribe are considered endemic to the country.…”

“…Many of the genera recorded in Panama (Orellana & Barrios, 2021) are most likely present in Colombia, and the key will become outdated as groups are added. Keys to species and descriptions can be found in Jordan (1894Jordan ( , 1895Jordan ( , 1897Jordan ( , 1906Jordan ( , 1937, Wolfrum (1959), Valentine (1980, Mermudes (2005), Mermudes & Napp (2006), and Mermudes & Rodrigues (2010). For more illustrations of the genera included in the key, see Orellana & Barrios (2021), and the interactive version of the checklist is available at https://ecdysis.org/checklists/checklist.php?clid=121 65 (Orellana & Girón, 2022).…”

“…Anthribids have been poorly studied in the Neotropics, and few updated checklists and catalogs are available for this region (e.g., Mermudes, 2009Mermudes, , 2022Orellana & Barrios, 2021;Orellana & Franz, 2023). At least 386 species of anthribids are recorded in South America (Rheinheimer, 2004), but only 35 native species have been formally recorded in Colombia, according to sporadic records published in primary literature (Jordan, 1904;Wolfrum, 1959), generic revisions (Mermudes, 2005;Mermudes & Napp, 2006;Mermudes & Rodrigues, 2010), and taxonomic catalogs (Bovie, 1906;Blackwelder, 1947;Rheinheimer, 2004). For each species of Anthribidae recorded from Colombia, Girón (2022) Morales Castaño [Colección entomológica del Museo de Historia Natural "Luis Gonzalo Andrade" de la UPTC]; all personal communications).…”

3.2. Anthribidae Billberg, 1820

“…Apart from revisionary work, the only cladistic analyses done at lower taxonomic levels are the biogeographic studies of the Neotropical genus Hypselo tropis Jekel by Mermudes (2005) and Mermudes & Rodrigues (2010).…”