Odontocroton flavicauda (Bates, 1873), n. comb.

(Fig. 1–5)

Odontocera flavicauda Bates 1873: 40; Monné 2017: 443 (cat.).

Odontocera flavicauda var. notatisternis Gounelle 1911: 40 .

Species concept. Based on Bates (1873) original description and photograph of the male holotype (Fig. 1) made available on Bezark (2017), which compares well with those taken by the author (Fig. 2-6).

Comment. Having studied Gounelle (1911) description and photographs of his Odontocera flavicauda var. notatisternis, the author does not believe it to be a variety of Bates’ O. flavicauda for the following reasons: they don’t look like each other and they come from disjunct geographical areas, Gounelle’s from the humid Mata Atlântica of east-central Brazil (MG), Bates’s from the wet forests of southern Brazil (PR). However, as the author has not had access to the type material, nor a topotype to extract the genitalia, the true status of Gounelle’s subspecies will remain in doubt.

Measurements (mm). 9 males / 2 females: total length, 11.85–13.50/12.70–14.25; length of prothorax, 1.75–1.95/1.85–2.05; width of prothorax, 1.40–1.60/1.70–1.85; length of elytra, 6.30–7.50/7.20–8.25; width at humeri, 1.70–2.00/1.95–2.30.

Specimens analyzed. BOLIVIA, Tarija, 21°18 ʹ S / 63°30 ʹ W, 7 km W Villamontes, 600–700m, 3–4 km San Antonio Road, Foothill Chaco Forest, flying to/on flowers of Croton sp. A, male 5.I.2008, female, 16.XII.2007, Clarke and Zamalloa col. (RCSZ).

Specimens examined. (all collected by Clarke and Zamalloa). BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz, 10 km S Abapo, 19°00 ʹ S / 63°14 ʹ W, 762m, Santa Cruz-Yacuiba Hwy, Foothill Chaco Forest, on flowers of Croton sp. A, male, 2.I.2008, (RCSZ). Tarija, 21°18 ʹ S / 63°30 ʹ W, 7 km W Villamontes, 600–700m, 3–4 km San Antonio Road, Foothill Chaco Forest, on flowers of Croton sp. A, 2 males, 14-16.XII.2007 (RCSZ), same data: male (CMNH), male (EMEC).

Distribution. Bates stated that his specimen came from Paraná, Brazil. The author considers the distribution of this species to be centered on the forests of southern Brazil (PR, SC), Bolivia (TA), Paraguay and Argentina (MI, CH, CO, ER) as recorded by Di Iorio (2005); and records from east central Brazil and Uruguay require verification.