Aphelocerus affaniatis, OPITZ, 2005

OPITZ, WESTON, 2005, Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Genus Aphelocerus Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (293), pp. 1-128 : 34-35

Aphelocerus affaniatis , new species Figures 85 , 144a ; map 4b

HOLOTYPE: Male. Mexico: Yucatan: Cordeleria Mayapan , June 29, 1952, J. & D. Palister ( AMNH). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, white, machine printed; expedition label; AMNH repository label; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Four specimens. Mexico: Yucatan: Chichen Iza , 27­VI­1970, R. E. Beer and party ( EMEC, 1) ; 2 km E Chichen Iza , 26­VI­1981, C. L. Bellamy ( WOPC, 1): Quintana Roo: 18–24 km N San Felipe Cerr. Pte., 27­V–1­VI­1984, J. E. Wappes ( JEWC, 1) ; 3 km N X­Thobil, 17­VI­1990, R. Turnbow ( WFBC, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: The reddish coloration on the basal half of the elytra will distinguish the members of this species from the closely related members of A. echinatus , n. sp. which differ by having the elytra totally blue­black.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0– 6.5 mm; width 1.9–2.2 mm. Integument: Cranium, prothorax, and basal half of elytra reddish, mouthparts, antenna pterothoracic venter, legs, abdomen, and apical half of elytral disc piceous. Vestiture: Head, antenna, venter of thorax, pro­, meso­, and metathoracic femora and tibiae, discal portion of elytral apex, and abdomen with white setae, anterior margin of protibiae, all tarsi, pronotal, and elytral disc vested with dark setae; with a few variously oriented 28 seatae at middle of elytral disc. Head: Width across eyes narrower than width across pronotum (45:52), finely punctate; interocular depression and fronal umbo shallow; eyes subspherical, moderately convex; antenna as in figure 85. Thorax: Pronotum about as wide as long (52:51), considerably narrower than width of elytra across humeri (52:60), finely sparsely punctated, side margins prominently arcuate, anterior transverse depression prominent; elytra moderately convex when viewed from side; depth at humerus 30, greatest depth in posterior half 38, humeral tumescence indistinct. Abdomen: Pygidium posterior margin evenly arcuate; aedeagus as in figure 144a.

VARIATION: The dark posterior portions of the elytral disc vary in intensity. The head and prothorax of the male from Yucatan is dark brown.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected in May and June.

DISTRIBUTION (map 4b): Specimens have been collected from the Yucatan Peninsula.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name affaniatis is a Latin compound name derived from the adjectival affania (5 chatter) and the suffix ­tis (5 action). The name refers to the frequent occasions during which I have discussed with colleagues the generic placement of this and other species akin to this species.

Figures

Figs. 85–120. Antennae, pygidia, and sixth visible abdominal sterna. 85–90. Antennae. 85. Aphelocerus affaniatis. 86. A. dispilis. 87. A. formicoides. 88. A. cheliferous. 89. A. panus. 90. A. calvus. 91– 120. Pygidium and/or sixth visible abdominal sternum. 91–94. A. ciliaris. 91–92. male (91, pygidium; 92, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 93–94. female (93, pygidium; 94, sixth visible dominal sternum). 95. A. coactus, female pygdium. 96. A. domus, female pygidium. 97–100. A. coalitus, male (97, pygidium; 98, sixth visible abdominal sternum), 99–100. Female (99, pygidium; 100, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 101. A. leucomelas, male pygidium. 102–104. A. coactus. 102–103. male (102, pygidium; 103, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 104, female, pygidium. 105–106. A. acutus, pygidea (105, male; 106, female). 107–109. A. lividus. 107, male (pygidium). 108–109, female (108, pygidium; 109, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 110–113. A. sagittarius. 110–111, male (110, pygidium; 111, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 113, female, pygidium. 114–115. A. humerus, female (114, pygidium; 115, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 116–117. A. naevius, female (116, pygidium; 117, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 118–119. A. triangulus, female (118, pygidium; 119, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 120. A. arenatus, male, pygidium.

Figs. 139–153. Tegmina or phallus. 139. Aphelocerus immarginatus, tegmen. 140. A. vietus, tegmen. 141. A. patulus, tegmen. 142. A. yungas, tegmen. 143. A. naevius, tegmen. 144a. A. catie, tegmen. 144b. A. affaniatis, tegmen. 144c. A. echinatus, tegmen. 145. A. scutellaris. 146–147. A. cheliferous (146, tegmen; 147, phallus). 148. A. panus, tegmen. 149. A. formicoides, tegmen. 150. A. acanthus, tegmen. 151. A. bufustis, tegmen. 152. A. batesi, tegmen. 153a. A. calvus, tegmen. 153b. A. capillus, tegmen.