Turbophloeus, Opitz, 2008

Opitz, Weston, 2008, Classification, natural history, and evolution of Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VII. The genera Hapsidopteris Opitz, Iontoclerus Opitz, Katamyurus Opitz, Megatrachys Opitz, Opitzia Nemésio, Pennasolis Opitz, new genus, Pericales Opitz, new genus, Pteroferus Opitz, new genus, and Turbophloeus Opitz, new genus, Zootaxa 1754, pp. 1-40 : 35-37

Turbophloeus , new genus

Type species: Epiphlaeus simplex Schenkling, 1900: 397 . By present designation.

Diagnosis: The corrugated-like appearance of the elytral disc, which also exhibits blotches of yellow setae, along with the oblong rectangulate body form will conveniently distinguish the members of this genus from members of other epiphloeine genera. The presence of a furcal lamina on the metendosternite is unique within Epiphloeinae .

Description: Size: Length 3.7–6.8.mm; width 1.0–2.0 mm. Form: Oblong rectangulate; elytra a little more than three times longer than wide, posterolateral margin gradually curved towards elytral apex. Vestiture: Cranium vested profusely with stout yellow setae; pronotum loosely matted with stout yellow setae; elytral disc vested with primary (1º) setae and secondary (2º) setae, 1º setae stout, erect, and dark, particularly conspicuous along epipleural and sutural margins, 2º setae short, decumbent, and yellow, latter may be matted into ridge-like aggregates; elytral trichobothria prominent near epipleuron. Head (figs. 120–122): Cranium rugosely punctate; eyes very bulgy, finely faceted, ocular notch angle acute at innermost point; antenna inserted at lower angle of eye incision, antenna (fig. 127) comprised of 11 antennomeres, loosely clubbed, scape as long as combined length of pedicel and antennomeres 3–5, scape curvate, funicular antennomeres 3– 5 subfiliform, 6–8 slightly increasing in width, 9 th and 10 th antennomeres narrow triangular, 10 th antennomere oval; labrum (fig. 128) deeply incised; tormal processes horizontal and not welded; mandible (fig. 126) robust, dentes well developed, mandibular penicillus very small; maxillary (fig. 125) and labial (fig. 129) terminal palpomeres digitiform, laterolacinia present; frons not very wide; gular sutures strongly converging (fig. 121); gular pads very small. Thorax (figs 123–124): Pronotum transverse, lateral tubercle prominent, disc finely punctate, pronotal arch roughly punctate, anterior margin curvate, posterior margin transverse, anterior transverse depression well developed, disc of pronotal proper with elevations and depressions, paralateral tumescences usually prominent, depressed obliquely at sides where discal trichobothria are prominent; pronotal projection (fig. 123) slightly extended to middle; lateral carina not extended to anterior margin of pronotum and posteriorly confluent with pronotal bead; procoxal cavities open; interprocoxal process linear (fig. 123), not laterally expanded distally; metendosternite (fig. 131) with furcal lamina; elytra oblong rectangulate, epipleural margins subparallel then gradually becoming more rounded, then gradually converging towards sutural margin, epipleuron extended to elytral distal four-fifth, punctations small, oval, and profusely distributed on elytral disc, become progressively smaller to distal limit of disc, elytral trichobothria present near epipleural margin; metathoracic wing as in figures; mesoscutellum triangular; tibial spur formula 0-1-1, tarsal pulvilli formula 3-3-2, anterior margin of tibia spinous; tarsal claws with large basal denticle. Abdomen: Narrows to posterior, six visible sterna; pygidium transverse, fringed with large setae, sixth visible sternum incised distally in males, not incised in females. Male Genitalia (fig. 132): Aedeagus long and narrow; phallobasic rod present, linear, phallic plates very narrow; spicular fork as in figure 130.

Distribution: The known distribution of this genus is Colombia to Bolivia.

Etymology: The generic epithet is a compound name that stems from the Latin turba (= disorder) and the Greek phloios (= bark). I refer to the taxonomic enigma that this monotypic genus has presented. This is the only epiphloeine species known to me that has fully developed furcal laminae (fig. 131).

Evolutionary considerations: Turbophloeus is most closely allied to those epiphloeine genera with 11 antennomeres that lack the basal portion of the MP1 vein. It is not possible to predict the sister taxon at this time.

MAP 4. Distribution of Pericales albogilvus .