Plocamocera minima, OPITZ, 2004

OPITZ, WESTON, 2004, Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part Ii. The Genera Chaetophloeus Opitz And Plocamocera Spinola, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2004 (280), pp. 1-82 : 39-44

Plocamocera minima , new species Figures 44 , 60, 79, 93, 114; map 5

HOLOTYPE: Male : Panama: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Is., 8 ° 10 ̍ North 79 ° 50 ̍ West, 5­IV­1973, H.A. Hespenheide ( AMNH). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, cursive; support card, white; locality label, white, machine printed; collector label, white, machine printed; natural history label, white, cursive; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Fifteen specimens from the same locality as the holotype ( AMNH, 1; BMNH, 1; CNCI, 1; FMNH, 1; MCZC, 1; MNHN, 1; OSUC; 1; WFBM, 1; WOPC, 7) .

DIAGNOSIS: The most reliable characteristic that distinguishes the members of this species from members of the closely related P. aliguantula and P. manausensis is the shape of the tegmen of the male genitalia. In P. minima the aedeagus (fig. 114) is proportionally small and the phallobasic apodeme is about as long as the length of the phallobase.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 3.0–3.6 mm; width 1.0–1.2 mm. Integumen t: Cranium black; pronotum predominantly piceous, periphery castaneous; elytra variegated, flavous humeral macula well developed, post medial flavous macula transverse; flavous portions of disc densely matted with white setae, piceous portion vested with dark setae; legs flavous. Head: Antenna as in figure 44. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin moderately project­ ed anteriorly, discal swellings shallow; elytra without distinct trigonal post­humeral macula (fig. 60); elytral epipleural margin with four conspicuous trichobothria; protibial anterior margin with four spines. Abdomen: Male pygidium broad­scutiform, subtruncate, female pygidium broad­scutiform; aedeagus as in figure 114.

VARIATION: Except for tone variation involving elytral color the available specimens do not vary significantly.

NATURAL HISTORY: These beetles were collected from the type locality during April through July, form species of Inga .

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): Plocamocera minima specimens are known only from the type locality.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin adjective minimus (smallest). I refer to the small size of these beetles.

SESQUIPEDALIS GROUP Plocamocera prolixa , new species Figures 142, 170 ; map 7

HOLOTYPE: Male. Costa Rica: Alajuela, 20 km S. Upsula, 13–Dec.–1990, F. D. Parker ( INBC). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine print­ ed; support card, white; locality label, white, machine printed; INBC repository label; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: None.

DIAGNOSIS: The dense patches of golden setae on the elytral disc will distinguish these beetles from any other known specimens of the latefasciatus group.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 1.3 mm. Integument: Predominantly castaneous, frons broadly infuscated; pronotum predominantly piceous, borders castaneous; elytra predominantly light castaneous, narrowly piceous along epipleural margin, across middle, and near apex, flavotestaceous regions matted with golden setae; legs flavotestaceous. Head: Antenna as in figure 142. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin prominently projected anteriorly; elytral epipleural margin with three conspicuous trichobothria; protibial anterior margin with three spines; metabasitarsus twice length of metatarsomere two. Abdomen: Male pygidium broad­scutiform, truncate distally; aedeagus lanceolate (fig. 170).

VARIATION: One specimen examined.

NATURAL HISTORY: The holotype was collected from Costa Rica in December.

DISTRIBUTION (map 7): Central Costa Rica.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name prolixa stems from the Latin adjectival prolixus (stretched out). I refer to the extraordinary length of the metabasitarsus.

Plocamocera sesquipedalis , new species Figures 50 , 72, 73, 85, 99, 109, 120, 138, 190, 196; map 5

HOLOTYPE: Male. Guyana: Demerara: Ikuribisi , X­1948 – III­1949, D. J. Atkinson ( BMNH). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, beige, machine printed; natural history label, beige, machine printed, donation label, beige, machine printed; BMNH repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Thirty­four specimens; 22 from the same locality as the holotype ( BMNH, 16; WOPC, 6). Guyana: Bartica: 15­V­1924 ( AMNH, 1). Guyana (‘‘British Guiana’’) ( CMNH, 1). Peru: Loreto, Estiron. Rio Ampiyacu. XI­13 to XII­9, 1961, B. Malkin leg ( FMNH, 6; WOPC, 3). Peru: Tambopata : Madre de Dios, 15 km NE Puerto, Maldonado Reserva , Cuzco Amozonico , 12 ° 33 ̍, 69 ° 03 ̍, 200 m, 17­VII­1989, J. S. Ashe, R. A. Leschen, caught by handnet ( EMEC, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: Within the sesquipedalis group, the members of this species closely resemble those of P. similis, Opitz , new species, from which males can be reliably distinguished by the shape of the apex of the phallus. The latter is digitiform in P. sesquipedalis beetles and trigonal in P. similis beetles. Females of these two species are virtually undistinguishable.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 3.7–4.5 mm; width 1.4–1.8 mm. Integument: Cranium predominantly castaneous, frons and vertex infuscated. Pronotum light cataneous; elytra variegated, flavotestaceous humeral macula not tripartite, spheroid posthumeral macula prominent (fig. 72), middle of disc faintly infuscated, elytral apical third piceous, disc with three patches of white setae; legs predominantly flavotestaceous, tibiae and fem­ ora variously infuscated. Head: Antenna as in figure 50. Thorax: Pronotal collar prominently defined, disc notably swollen; bristles on elytral disc, sutural margin, and epipleural margin particularly robust; elytral epipleural margin with five conspicuous trichobothria (fig. 73); metacoxa and metafemur (fig. 109) particularly robust; metabasitarsus twice length of metatarsal segment two (fig. 109). Abdomen: Male (fig. 99) and female pygidia broad­scutiform, female pygidium somewhat narrowed distally; aedeagus as in figure 120; ovipositor extraordinarily elongate.

VARIATION: The infuscation on the frons, vertex, legs, and elytral disc vary in intensity.

NATURAL HISTORY: The available specimens were collected during October, November, and December; the series from Ikuribisi on Eschwellera sagotianum. The two specimens from Rondonia, Brazil were collected at an altitude ranging from 160–350 m.

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): This South American species is known from Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet stems from the Latin sesquipes (having a measure of one and a half) and the Latin suffix ­alis (condition of). I refer to the extraordinary length of the metafemur.

Plocamocera lucis , new species Figures 51 , 70, 71, 84, 98, 105, 106, 119, 137; map 5

HOLOTYPE: Male. Brazil: Matto Grosso : Sinop, Coordenadas, X­ 74, 350 m, M. Alvarenga ( MZSP). (Specimen point mounted, sex label and metathoracic leg and antenna affixed to paper point; sex label, white, machine printed, pygidium affixed to sex label; support card, white, cursive; locality label, white, cursive; MZSP repository label, white machine printed; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with aedeagus and internal reproductive organs.)

PARATYPES: Six specimens; five from the same locality as the holotype ( JNRC, 1; WFBC, 1; WOPC, 3). Brazil: Matto Grosso , 12 ° 31 ̍ 55 ° 37 ̍, X­1974, M. Alvarenga ( MEMU, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: The members of this species are conveniently distinguished from all oth­ ers of the sesquipedalis group by the following combination of characteristics: elytral integument stramineous; elytral disc (fig. 70) with three faintly indicated white setal fasciae; pronotum broadly piceous; and mesoscutellum piceous.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0–5.5 mm; width 1.5–2.0 mm. Integument: Cranium light castaneous, densely vested with goldenyellow setae; pronotum predominantly castaneous, disc broadly piceous; mesoscutellum piceous; elytra stramineous, disc with faintly visible flavous fascia (fig. 70), vested with two patches of white setae; legs flavotestaceous, femora and tibiae slightly infuscated. Head: Antenna as in figure 51, last article prominently sinuous. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin moderately projected at middle, pronotal collar prominent, discal swellings prominent; stout elytral bristles particularly prominent; elytral epipleural margin with three conspicuous trichobothria (fig. 71); protibial anterior margin with three spines (fig. 84); metabasitarsus twice length of metatarsal segment two. Abdomen: Male pygidium broad­scutiform, truncated (fig. 98); female pygidium trigonal­scutiform; aedeagus as in figure 119, phallic apex conspicuously elongated. Internal Reproductive Organs: Male as in figure 105, female as in figure 106.

VARIATIONS: The extent of infuscation on the legs varies in intensity.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected from the type locality in October, at 350 m. One of these beetles was taken in a Malaise trap.

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): Specimens are known only from the highlands of Matto Grosso, Brazil.

ETYMOLOGY: The Latin adjectival lucis (light) was chosen to accentuate the stramineous coloration of the integument.

Plocamocera similis , new species Figure 58, 59, 158, 177, 189; map 7

HOLOTYPE: Male. Ecuador: Pichincha: 18 km S Tinalandia , 28­IV­1978, L. & C. W. O’Brien & Marshall ( QCAZ). (Specimen point mounted, antenna and sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, white; ma­ chine printed; QCAZ repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red machine printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: One specimen from the same locality as the holotype ( WOPC, 1).

DIAGNOSIS: These beetles are very similar to those of P. sesquipedalis , new species. The males of these two species are most reliably distinguished by the shape of the apex of the phallus which is in P. similis n. sp. and lobate in P. sesquipedalis , n. sp. Females, and males, have the eighth antennomere subrectangulate rather than subovate as is the case in most of the P. sesquipedalis specimens. Females of P. similis , from the more southern latitudes, may be undistinguishable from females of P. sesquipedalis .

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.1–4.5 mm; width 1.6–1.8 mm. Integument: Cranium castaneous, frons broadly piceous, scape flavotestaceous, remainder of antenna brunneus; pronotum light castaneous, disc infuscated; elytra variegated, anterior two­thirds predominantly brunneus, basal third with spheroid macula near sutural margin, middle transversely, irregularly infuscated, flavous humeral fascia indistinct, three irregular aggregates of white setae, middle aggregate broad, disc also with brown and piceous setae (fig. 58), elytral epipleural margin with three conspicuous trichobothria (fig. 59); legs bicolorous, predominantly flavotestaceous, prometafemora predominantly flavotestaceous, feebly infuscated on anterior surface, mesofemur entirely flavotestaceous, tibia and tarsus flavotestaceous. Head: Antenna as in figure 158. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin projected at middle, disc shallowly tumescent, pronotal arch scabrous; elytral epipleural margin feebly serrulate and with eight conspicuous trichobothria; protibial anterior margin with three spines. Abdomen: Male and female pygidium broad ­scutiform; aedeagus (fig. 177) lanceolate.

VARIATION: The paratype specimen does not vary appreciably from the holotype specimen except for the sexual dimorphic nature of abdominal color.

NATURAL HISTORY: The O’Brien expedition to Ecuador provided the two available specimens collected by beating, during May.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name similis (resembling) is a Latin adjectival that is herein used to accentuate the close similarity between these beetles and those of P. sesquipedalis .

CASTANEA GROUP Plocamocera castanea , new species Figures 40 , 52, 53, 75, 87, 100, 101, 110, 144, 187, 213; map 1

HOLOTYPE: Male. Brazil: Goias: Jatai Goias, X­1972, F. M. Oliveira ( MZSP). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, white, cursive; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Twenty­five specimens; two from the same locality as the holotype ( WOPC, 2). Trinidad: Saint Andrew County: Guaico (Sangre Grande), W. I., 12­VII­1989, H. & A. Howden ( CMNC, 1; WOPC, 1). French Guiana: Cayenne: Passoura, II­1907 ( MNHN, 1; WOPC, 2) ; Gourdonville, IX­ 1906, E. Le Moult ( MNHN, 1; WOPC, 1) ; Pariacabo, VII, E. Le Moult ( BMNH, 1; MNHN, 1). Bolivia: Cochabamba: Bolivia tropica, Region Chapare , 15­VIII­ 1950, 400 m, R. Zischka leg ( FMNH, 1). Ecuador: Napo: 2 km NE Ahuano, 6–15­IX­2000, F. T. Hovore, ( JNRC, 1: WOPC, 1) ; 25 km NE Campo Cocha , 16­IV­1999, F. Hovore ( JNRC, 2; WOPC, 1) ; 25 km E. of Alinahui, 450 m, I – II­1991, Puerto Napo, Selva, Edward S. Ross ( CASC, 1) ; Yasuni Res. Sta., 19­30­IX­ 1998, 250 m, O ° 38 ̍ S, 6 ° 36 ̍ W, W. J. Hanson ( EMUS, 2; WOPC, 1). Peru: Amazonas ( MNHN, 1) Brazil: Amazon , Bates ( BMNH, 1) ; Santarem, Acc. No. 2966 ( CMNH, 1) ; Amazones, Manes, Dr. Hahnel ( MNHN, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: These beetles may be diagnosed on the basis of the antennal club articles (fig. 40), elytral shade and setal pattern

(fig. 52), and shape of the male pygidium (fig. 87). Antennal articles eight and nine have the distal margin concave. The last article of the antennal club is as long as the combined length of articles eight and nine. The shades and setal patterns on the elytron are as in figure 52. The male pygidium is deeply incised at its posterior margin.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 7.0–8.0 mm; width 2.4–3.0 mm. Integument: Cranium castaneous, vertex infuscated; pronotum castaneous, disc with central piceous macula; elytral margins piceous, disc pale brunneus, with setal fascia as in figure 52; legs bicolorous, protibia predominantly piceous, mesotibia flavotestaceous, and metatibia flavotestaceous in basal half and piceous in distal half; abdomen flavous in females. Head: Antenna as in figure 40. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin projected at middle, discal swellings prominent; elytral epipleural margin with seven conspicuous trichobothria (fig. 53), disc vested with three setal fascia; protibial anterior margin with two spines (fig. 75). Abdomen: Male pygidium broad­scutiform, somewhat truncate; aedeagus (fig. 110) with phallus considerably longer than tegmen and with outer margin of tegmen base considerably angular (fig. 213). Internal Reproductive Organs: Male as in figure 100, female as in figure 101.

VARIATIONS: The specimen from Bolivia has a third spine on the anterior margin of the protibia. Also, the cranial infuscation varies in intensity as does the general castaneous shade of the elytra.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected from Bolivia during August at 400 m, from Ecuador during February (450 m) and April, and from Brazil in November. In Ecuador, at 250 m, Wilford J. Hanson collected three specimens with a Malaise trap draped over recently felled tree trunks (fig. 181).

DISTRIBUTION (map 1): This species is known from Bolivia and the Amazonian region of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

ETYMOLOGY: Latin, the adjectival castanea (chestnut). The trivial name refers to the col­ or of the dorsal facies of these beetles.

CONFRATER GROUP Plocamocera pupula , new species Figures 41 , 54, 55, 76, 86, 88, 89, 111, 122–132, 145, 194; map 5

HOLOTYPE: Male. Brazil: Matto Grosso : Sinop, X–1975, M. Alvarenga ( MZSP). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, hand printed, pygidium and eighth abdominal sternum glued to paper point; support card, white; locality label, white, cursive; plastic vial with aedeagus; holotype label, red, machine and hand print­ ed.)

PARATYPES: Twelve specimens collected from the same locality as the holotype ( AMNH, 1; BMNH, 1; CASC, 1; CNCI, 1; FMNH, 1; MCZC, 1; MNHN, 1; USNM, 1; WFBM, 1; WOPC, 3) .

DIAGNOSIS: Within the confrater species group these beetles are readily identified by pronotal disc with piceous trigonal macula; elytra with piceous macula behind basal tumescence (fig. 54); antennal article eight and nine rectangulate (fig. 41); protibia with three spines (fig. 76); male pygidium broad­scutiform (fig. 88) feebly emarginate at posterior margin, female pygidium trigonal­scutiform (fig. 89); and aedeagus sagittate (fig. 111).

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 6.0–8.0 mm; width 2.3–3.0 mm. Integument: Cranium castaneous; pronotum castaneous, disc with large trigonal macula; elytra (fig. 54) with piceous punctiform macula behind basal tumescence, setal fascia sinuous in posterior two­thirds; legs bicolorous, predominantly flavotestaceous, pro–mesofemur infuscated anteriorly, metafemur infuscated anteriorly, tibia and tarsus predominantly piceous; abdomen flavous in females, brunneus in males. Head: Antenna as in figure 41. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin projected at middle; elytral epipleural margin with six conspicuous trichobothria (fig. 55), disc vest­ ed with two setal fascia; protibial anterior margin with four spines (fig. 76). Abdomen: Male pygidium broad­scutiform, feebly incised (fig. 88), female pygidium trigonal­scutiform (fig. 89); aedeagus (fig. 111) sagittate.

VARIATIONS: In some specimens there is an indication of a fifth spine on the anterior margin of the protibia, and the cranium and vertex may be infuscated. The piceous markings on the elytra vary in intensity.

NATURAL HISTORY: The available specimens were collected from Central Brazil, in October.

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): This species is known only from central Brazil.

ETYMOLOGY: Latin, the noun pupula (pupil of the eye). I refer to the piceous macula behind the basal tumescence of the elytra.

Figures

Figs. 40–51. Antennae. 40, Plocamocera castanea. 41, P. pupula. 42, P. confrater. 43, P. aliguantula. 44, P. minima. 45. P. manausensis. 46, P. coactilis. 47, P. sericella. 48, P. argentea. 49, P. auratilis. 50, P. sesquipedalis. 51, P. lucis.

Figs. 170–180. Various organs. Aedeagi. 170. Plocamocera prolixa. 171. P. salasis, 172. P. auratilis. 173. P. taruma. 174. P. sericellopsis. 175. P. bolivari. 176. P. ambra. 177. P. similis. Elytra. 178. P. specula. 179. P. quadrula. Antennomere. 180. P. specula.