Pujoliclerus casselorum Opitz, 2014

Opitz, Weston, 2014, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Checkered Beetle GenusPujoliclerusPic (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (4), pp. 727-756 : 727-756

Pujoliclerus casselorum Opitz , new species ( Figs. 1–20 , 85 , 121, 125 )

Holotype. ♂. BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 17°29′S 63°33′, 405 m, 5-15-X-2001, tropical transition forest, M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier ( MNKM).

Paratypes. 127 specimens. Four with same label information as the holotype ( MNKM, 4); idem, 14-19-X-2000, M.C. Thomas ( MNKM, 1); idem, 23-26-X- 2000, 430 m, M.C. Thomas ( MNKM, 1); Buena Vista vicinity Flora & Fauna Hotel, 14-16-X-2000, R Morris ( RFMC, 3); idem, 17-20-X-2000, R. Morris ( RFMC, 3); idem, 23- 25-X-2000, R. Morris ( RFMC, 10); idem, 22-26- X-2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 3); idem, 22-26-X-2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 1); idem, 27-31-X-2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 2); idem, 7-10-X-2004, Morris & Wappes ( WOPC, 1); idem, 4-5 km N. Achira , road to Amboro , 22-X- 2000, M.C. Thomas ( FSCA, 1); idem, Amboro road above Achira Campo , 9-11-X-2004, 1525– 1769 m Morris & Wappes ( WOPC, 13); idem, 10-29-XI-2003, B.K. Dozier ( FSCA, 1); idem, 5- 20-XI- 2004, blacklight, B.K. Dozier ( WOPC, 1); idem, 21-22-X-2000, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 2); Amboro Road above Achira Campo , 244 m, 9-11-X-2004, Wappes & Morris ( JEWC, 2; WOPC, 1); idem, Road to Amboro above Achira , 27-28-X-2011, Road to Floripondo , 1900 m, Wappes & Skillman ( JEWC, 15); idem, Achira , Vicoquin area , 8-X-2007, J. Wappes & R. Morris ( JEWC <1); idem, Road to Amboro above Achira , 10-11-X-2006, Agricultural cutburn area, 1940 m, Wappes , Nearns & Eya ( JEWC, 3); idem, Ambora Road Achira Campo , 9-11-X-2004, 1525- 1769 m, Wappes & Morris ( JEWC, 13, WOPC, 6); 5 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 17°29′S 63°33′, 10-22-X- 2001, J.E. Eger ( WOPC, 1); 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 14-28-X-2000, B.K. Dozier ( WOPC, 1); 4.6 km SSE, Buena Vista , Hotel Flora & Fauna, 22-31-X-2002, Wappes & Morris ( WOPC, 4); Hotel Flora & Fauna, 5-8- V-2004, Wappes & Cline ( MNKM, 1); idem, 4–6 km SSE Buena Vista; idem, 27-29-X-2000, Wappes & Morris ( MNKM, 3); idem, 1-8-XI- 2002, Wappes & Morris ( WOPC, 1); idem, 14- 16-X-2000, Wappes & Morris ( MNKM, 4, WOPC, 1); idem, 22-31-2002, Wappes & Morris ( MNKM, 1); idem, 21-24-XI-2003, Wappes, Morris , & Nearns ( MNKM, 1); idem, 23-26-X- 2000, Wappes & Morris ( WOPC, 3); 4–5 km N Achira, Road to Amboro, 21-22-X-2000, Wappes & Morris ( JEWC, 3; WOPC, 3); 4 km N. Bermejo , 16-21-X-2007, 1000m, J. Wappes & A. Cline ( JEWC, 1); Potrerillos del Guenda , Reserva Natural, 17°40′S 0°27′W, 1-4-X-2007, blacklight, B.K. Dozier ( WOPC, 1); idem, 14-16-2011, 370– 400 m, snake farm, Wappes & Skillman ( JEWC, 1); Florida 4 km N Bermejo, 25-29-X- 2011, Wappes & Skillman ( JEWC, 1); idem, 40 km NW Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 1-10-X-2008, Morris & Wappes ( PFMC, 2); 4 km N Bermejo, 16-21-X- 2007, 1000 m, J. Wappes & A. Cline ( WOPC, 2): Beni: 15-20 k East Rurrenabaque , 13-18-X-2004, J. Wappes & R. Morris ( JEWC, 1); Rio Mamoré , at mouth of Rio Ibaré , 15-21-VIII-1965, Bouseman & Lussenhop ( WOPC, 1): Cochabamba: Germain ( MNHN, 1). BRAZIL: Rondonia. 62 km SW Ariquemes, fzda. Rancho Grande, 5-17-X-1993, J.E. Eger, black light trap ( WOPC, 1) .

Diagnosis. Members of this species are distinguished from superficially similar specimens of P. catarina by the shiny condition of their interstitial spaces.

Description. Size: Length 5.0 mm; width 1.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 121. Integument: Head mostly yellow, upper frons and epicranium black, antenna brown; pronotum black at disc and lower sides, remainder yellow; elytral disc brown, epipleural margin yellow; legs mostly yellow, profemora and tibiae infuscated; pterothorax, and abdomen black. Head: Eyes as wide as frons (12:12); funicular antennomeres slightly expanded, 6 th antennomere not acuminate ( Fig. 1 ). Thorax: Pronotum transverse (35:32), lateral tubercle moderately prominent ( Fig. 11 ); asetiferous punctures end at about distal elytral 4/5, epipleural fold gradually diminishing to elytral apex. Abdomen: Tegminal lobes and phallic apex as in Fig. 85 .

Variation. Size: Length 3.8–5.9 mm; width 1.3–1.8 mm. The sutural margin may be yellow.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during May, August, October, and Novem- ber. Some specimens were taken with a blacklight trap in a slash/burn area or tropical transitional forest, at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1,769 m.

Distribution. Known from Bolivia and Brazil ( Fig. 125 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Steven and Cathy Cassel, two of the nicest people I have ever known.

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Pujoliclerus casselorum. 1) Antenna; 2) Metathoracic wing; 3) Head, frontal view; 4) Head, ventral view; 5) Head, dorsal view. 6) Maxilla; 7) Mandible; 8) Labium; 9) Labrum; 10) Pronotum, ventral view; 11) Pronotum, dorsal view; 12) Metendosternite.

Figs. 13–16. Pujoliclerus casselorum. 13) Head, frontal view; 14) Head and mouthparts, ventral view; 15) Gular region; 16) Funicular antennomeres.

Figs. 17–20. Pujoliclerus casselorum. 17) Antenna; 18) Protarsus; 19) Protarsal ungues; 20) Elytron.

Figs. 76–91. Pujoliclerus species, aedeagi. 76) P. helvinus; 77) P. bilineatus; 78) P. calceatus; 79) P. corumba; 80) P. flavolimbatus; 81) P. ovatus (tegmen only); 82) P. wappesi; 83) P. gilvus; 84) P. hermani; 85) P. casselorum; 86) P. catarina (phallus only); 87) P. argus; 88) P. aspigalbus; 89) P. flora; 90) P. posticalis; 91) P. pallidus.

Fig. 125. Geographic distribution of six Pujoliclerus species.