Cymatodera rileyi Rifkind

Rifkind, Jacques, 2015, New species of Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae) from México and Central America, with notes on others, Zootaxa 3946 (4), pp. 519-552 : 528-530

Cymatodera rileyi Rifkind , n. sp.

( Fig. 19)

Type specimens. Holotype male: Honduras, Atlántida, P[arque] N[acional] Pico Bonito, Esta. CURLA, mv + bl, 17 July 2001, B. Turnbow. Holotype deposited in CASC. Paratypes: 1, Honduras, Atlántida, base of Pico Bonito behind La Ceiba airport, 17 July 2001, black light + Hg vapor, Cl. L. Smith; 1, Belize, Cayo Dist., Las Cuevas Rsch. Sta., 580 m, N16°43.971’ W8°59.196’, 1-4-VI-2008, Ratcliffe, Cave, Jameson, Orozco; 1, México, Quintana Roo, 20 km N. Felipe Carillo Puerto, VI-12-14-1983, E. Riley. Paratypes are deposited in EGRC, JNRC and UGCA.

Diagnosis. Separable from other species of Cymatodera by virtue of its unique pattern of sixteen integumental spots ( Fig. 19). It appears closest to C. insignis Schenkling from Guatemala and Costa Rica, but all specimens I have examined of that species lack markings on the anterior elytral disk, and have the posterior elytral marking in the form of a transverse fascia rather than a macula.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 9.85 mm. Form: medium sized, moderately elongate, slightly explanate posteriorly. Color: testaceous, except eyes black; body decorated with 16 small piceous maculae as follows: a pair situated dorsolaterally at anterior margin of pronotum; a larger trapezoidal marking laterally on either side of pronotal posterior margin; a pair of small triangular spots at elytral base, either side of scutellum; a spot on each humerus; two pairs of maculae on each elytron: one pair at anterior 3/7, the other at posterior 5/12 (the laterally situated spot of each pair not attaining the epipleural margin; the interior spot situated at approximately mid– elytron). The posterior 1/3 of both the elytral suture and the the epipleura are narrowly darkened. Vestiture: head quite thinly set with mostly short, suberect, pale setae; pronotal pubescence substantially longer and more conspicuous, especially at sides; elytra rather sparsely arrayed with medium length, suberect and erect, pale setae; ventral surface sparsely setose. Punctation: head rather finely, shallowly punctulate; pronotum punctulate anteriorly and finely, shallowly, transversely rugulose on posterior 2/3, lateral foveae distinct; elytra coarsely, serially punctate; punctations larger and deeper anteriorly, growing smaller and more shallow at middle, then indistinct posteriorly; borders of punctate “cells” forming longitudinal striae which are most distinct on elytral anterior 1/2; metaventrite finely, indistinctly rugulose. Head: eyes moderately prominent, rather coarsely faceted; antennae moderate in length; antennomere 2 half as long as antennomere 3; antennomeres 3–10 elongate, weakly serrate, subequal in length; antennomere 11 elongate, narrowed at apex. Elytra: anterior margin rather conspicuously emarginate at middle; sides slightly deflexed posterior to humeri, then gradually, arcuately expanded to just beyond middle, from where they arcuately converge to broadly and separately rounded, dehiscent apices. Metaventrite: shining, carinae absent. Abdomen: ventrite 5 with hind angles broadly rounded, hind margin arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 small, with sides oblique, hind angles acute, hind margin triangularly notched at middle; tergite 6 with sides oblique, hind margin subtruncate. Aedeagus with tegmenal lobes tumid, each covered with a spinous armature. Legs: rather short.

Variation. Length ranges from 8.60 mm–10.65 mm. The available specimens are otherwise quite similar. The female is unknown.

Etymology: I am delighted to name this attractive species for Edward G. Riley, who has collected and kindly made available to me several interesting checkered beetles.

Distribution. The Yucatan Peninsula from Quintana Roo, México south to Belize, then east to northern Honduras. This species probably occurs as well in northeastern Guatemala.

Biology. Specimens were attracted to light.