Iphiclus (Neoogaster) suturalis (Lacordaire)

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 31-33

Iphiclus (Neoogaster) suturalis (Lacordaire) , reinstated species, new combination

Figure 1b, 9, 46, 48, 50, 145

Aegithus suturalis Dejean 1836: 427 ~ Dejean 1837: 451 [both are nomina nuda].

Brachysphaenus (Oogaster) suturalis Lacordaire 1842: 378-379 ~ Crotch 1876: (137)513 [as synonym of B. (O.) guadeloupensis ]; Gemminger and Harold 1876: 3710 [as synonym of Morphoides marginatus ]; Kuhnt 1909: 27 [as synonym of B. (O.) guadeloupensis ].

Brachysphaenus marginatus (Olivier) ~ Leng and Mutchler 1914: 412 [misidentification]; Blackwelder 1945: 459 [catalog].

Iphiclus (Neoogaster) marginatus (Olivier) ~ Peck 2006: 187 [catalog].

Diagnosis. Iphiclus suturalis is recognized by its posteriorly acuminate body shape and black color with yellow-brown elytra bearing a black sutural margin, reduced and indistinct elytral striae and dull elytral surface.

Description. Length: 7.0-10.0 mm; width: 4.5-6.5 mm. Body elongate-oval, dorsally convex (not globose), acuminate posteriorly; weakly microreticulate, body glossy, elytra dull. Body and appendages black except noted: elytra yellow-brown with black sutural margin; abdomen yellow-brown ( Fig. 9, 46, 48).

Head interocular width = 3.5 x ocular width; ocular striae attaining base of epistome; vertex punctures faint to absent, obscured in microreticulations; epistome puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, separated by 2 x their diameter, impressed and readily visible. Antenna attaining pronotal base; antennomere II length = width, length = 0.5 x antennomere III; antennomere III length = 3 x width, length = length of antennomeres IV+V combined; antennomeres IV-VIII equal in length; antennomeres IV-VII each with length = 1.5 x width; VIII triangular, part of club, length = width; antennomere IX trapezoidal, parallel-sided ( Fig. 46), length = 1.3 x width; antennomere X length = 0.66 x IX length; antennomere XI circular, length = 0.75 x IX length. Terminal maxillary palpomere securiform, length = 0.8 x width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, length = 0.8 x width, expanded medially, width = 0.8 x width terminal maxillary palpomere. Mentum with triangular plate, not defined by marginal bead, length = 1.2 x width. Genal lobes present, short, blunt.

Pronotum transverse, width = 2 x length, anterior width = 0.75 x posterior width; punctures fine, weak to absent, obscured by microreticulation; sides depressed, dorsally concave in lateral view; base lacking large punctures; anterior edge with fine, complete marginal bead; base sinuate, marginal bead lacking. Scutellum triangularly rounded, length = width. Elytra with strial and interval punctures lacking or obscured in surface microreticulations, punctures gemellate when visible; base lacking marginal bead.

Prosternum length = 3 x intercoxal width; anterior edge with marginal bead, not pinched; prosternum convex, depressed anterior and posterior of coxa, not punctate; sternal lines continuous around coxal cavity; base weakly concave ( Fig. 48). Mesosternum truncate, lines divergent anteriorly, continuous around coxal cavity; lacking punctures. Metasternum with lines not meeting medially; continuous around mesocoxal cavity; punctures lacking. Abdomen with coxal lines not meeting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures fine, indistinct; with a few punctures at posterior margin of last abdominal ventrite. Male and female lacking small group of setose punctures at center of first abdominal ventrite. Male genitalia ( Fig. 50) similar to I. guadeloupensis .