Pujoliclerus flora, 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

flora species-group

The six species in this group have the elytral punctures end before the elytral apex. The combined distribution of these species extends from Honduras to Bolivia.

they can be distinguished by the mostly black pronotal sides.

Description. Size: Length 3.8 mm; width 1.2 mm. Form: As in Fig. 113 . Integument: Head mostly yellow; epicranium black; antenna mostly brown, capitular antennomeres with yellow makings, apex yellow; pronotal disc mostly black, yellow upper angles, pronotal venter yellow; elytra brown; legs yellow; pterothorax and abdomen brown. Head: Eyes as wide as frons (10:10); funicular antennomeres expanded, 6 th antennomere not very large ( Fig. 41 ). Thorax: Pronotum quadrate (32:32), lateral tubercle very prominent ( Fig. 71 ); epipleural fold gradually diminishing to elytral apex; asetiferous punctures prominent in anterior elytral half. Abdomen: Tegminal lobes and phallic apex as in Fig. 87 .

Variation. The specimens examined are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during February and October, at 200–250 m elevation.

Distribution. Known only from Ecuador ( Fig. 126).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Greek adjective that stems from argus (= white). It refers to the pale regions on the capitular antennomeres.

Figures

Figs. 110–115. Pujoliclerus species, habitus. 110) P. catarina; 111) P. macilentus; 112) P. megalus; 113) P. argus;

Figs. 39–47. Pujoliclerus species, antennae. 39) P. macilentus; 40) P. megalus; 41) P. argus; 42) P. aspigalbus;

Figs. 62–75. Pujoliclerus species, pronota. 62) P. oxinus; 63) P. alajuela; 64) P. megacavus; 65) P. alboordinus; 66) P. pallidus; 67) P. apolegmus; 68) P. catarina; 69) P. macilentus; 70) P. megalus; 71) P. argus; 72) P. aspigalbus; 73) P. flora; 74) P. posticalis; 75) P. ostrinus.

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.