Phaeoxantha (Phaeoxantha) Chaudoir, 1850

Moravec, Jiří & Dheurle, Charles, 2023, Taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision of the Neotropical genus Phaeoxantha Chaudoir (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Zootaxa 5386 (1), pp. 1-83 : 8

Subgenus Phaeoxantha (Phaeoxantha) Chaudoir, 1850

Ammosia Westwood, 1852: 51 (synonymy by Chaudoir (1865: 41).

Differential diagnosis. The seven species and two subspecies of the nominotypical subgenus are characterized by their transverse labrum with rounded lateral margins and moderately prolonged anterior margin with four small teeth ( Figs 4–7 ) and four setae (exceptionally 6–7 setae in P. bifasciata ); mandibles normally shaped ( Figs 1–3 ); body small to medium sized, 8.30–19 mm long and 3.55–7.80 mm wide, basically ivory yellow to ochraceous, often partly almost translucent; elytra with more or less expanded blackened areas which may rarely be prevailing (in one species absent).

Key to species of Phaeoxantha (Phaeoxantha)

1 Elytral surface notably densely tuberculate; elytra ovaliform, widest below the middle, in male distinctly dilated posteriad. Pronotal disc distinctly attenuated towards posterior lobe, surface tuberculate. Body small, 9.30–10.2 mm long....................................................................................... P. (P.) laminata ( Perty, 1830)

– Elytral surface finely and shallowly punctate, or almost foveolate-punctate, or partly umbilicate-punctate, but never densely tuberculate; elytra either subparallel, or slightly narrowed or dilated posteriad. Pronotal disc almost smooth. Body 8.3–12.5 mm ... 2

2 Body not exceeding 13 mm ............................................................................. 3

– Body notably larger, length 15–19 mm. Elytral sculpture on anteromedian area (and within black areas) umbilicate-punctate. ................................................................................................... 7

3 Pronotum with lateral margins distinctly constricted towards much narrower posterior lobe. Body short but stout, 11.3–12.5 mm long. Elytra notably stout, epipleura lacking serrulation, their shiny cinnamon-brownish surface rather densely punctate throughout, often with a row of few foveae on elytral disc along sutures; black area on posterior elytral half (if developed) almost reaching outer elytral margins (elytra variably lacking black areas)............. P. (P.) tremolerasi (W. Horn, 1909)

– Pronotum with moderately convex lateral margins, only moderately attenuated towards slightly narrower posterior lobe. Elytra widest at base or above middle, subparallel, only slightly attenuated towards apices................................ 4

4 Body very small, not exceeding 9–10.8 mm. Elytra widest above the middle, uniformly ochre-cinnamon coloured (lacking black areas), almost glabrous; surface appearing almost smooth due to a mosaic of extremely shallow, tile-like foveae throughout, except for few umbilicate punctures (with 3 or 5 small tubercles) on elytral base........ P. (P.) paranocturna sp. nov.

– Body generally larger, 9–13 mm. Elytra with more or les distinct, but always present black areas...................... 5

5 Elytra widest below base, slightly or more notably attenuated towards apices, apical area covered with shallow, tile-like mosaic................................................................................................ 6

– Elytra subparallel side, widest below middle or with outer lateral margins slightly dilated towards apices, cinnamon-ochraceous, surface covered with rather large punctures, which are partly fovea-like on anterior elytral half; posterior black area markedly distant from outer lateral margins...................................... P. (P.) epipleuralis W. Horn, 1923

6 Body 9–10 mm. Elytral outer margins and surface indistinctly setose, setae short and mostly sparse; surface mostly indistinctly finely and shallowly punctate, notably pale ivory-whitish (almost translucent), or ivory-yellow, darkened on elytral disc below the middle or also on elytral base in form of pale brownish, rarely black areas which are either rather narrow or widened, but never reaching outer margins.......................................... P. (P.) nocturna nocturna ( Dejean, 1831)

– Body generally notably larger (females reaching 11 mm) and darker. Elytral and pronotal surface and their outer margins markedly densely setose with much longer setae, elytral surface markedly distinctly and densely punctate throughout; elytra ochre-brownish (very dark coloured in some females) with posteromedian black area notably large, almost reaching outer elytral margins............................................................ P. (P.) nocturna crassipunctata ssp. nov.

7 (2) Elytra ovoid, widest above middle and more distinctly attenuated posteriad (particularly notably in males), pale ivory-yellow; black areas of variable extend, either very reduced in form of only darkened juxtasutural area, or well developed on base and on posterior part of elytral disc, or covering almost whole elytral surface, almost reaching outer elytral margins; elytral setosity variably either dense or sparse.................................................. P. (P.) bifasciata ( Brullé, 1837)

– Elytra ovoid, widest above the middle (or in middle in females) but notably shorter and stouter, black areas more consistent, the posteromedian one almost constantly narrowly chiropteran-like shaped; elytral sculpture coarser...................... 8

8 Elytra widely ovoid, only indistinctly attenuated posteriad, slightly more so in males; surface and outer margins almost glabrous, with only sparse microsetae........................................ P. (P.) cruciata cruciata ( Brullé, 1837)

– Elytra less notably ovoid, almost subparallel in middle, surface and outer margins distinctly densely setose................................................................................... P. (P.) cruciata pilosula W. Horn, 1923

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Basic diagnostic characters of two subgenera of Phaeoxantha. 1–7—P. (Phaeoxantha). 1–3—male right mandible: 1—P. (P.) nocturna (Dejean); 2—P. (P.) laminata (Perty); 3—P. (P.) bifasciata (Brullé); 4–7—labrum: 4—P. (P.) nocturna (♂); 5—P. (P.) laminata (♂); 6—P. (P.) tremolerasi (W. Horn); 7—P. (P.) bifasciata (Brullé). 8—12—P. (Euphae- oxantha). 8–9—male right mandible: 8—P. (E.) wimmeri (Mandl); 9—P. (E.) klugii (Chaudoir); 10–12—labrum: 10–11—P. (E.) wimmeri (♂, ♀); 12—P. (E.) klugii.