Aphelocerus acanthus, 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 : 43-46

Aphelocerus acanthus , new species Figures 81 , 150 , 181 ; map 14

HOLOTYPE: Male. Argentina: Missiones: Dep. Concep. Sta. Maria, X­1946, M. J. Vianna ( MLPA). (Specimen point mounted, pygidium, sixth visible abdominal sternum, spicular fork, and machine printed sex label affixed to paper point; support card; locality label, white, machine and hand printed; Museo La Plata repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Twenty­five specimens. Nine specimens from the same locality as the holotype ( MLPA, 5; WOPC, 4). Brazil: Rio Grande Do Sul: Itauba, 26­X­1999, Francesschini, Bonaldo , Silva ( MCNZ, 1). Santo Augusto , IV­1966, O. Rappa: Santa Catarina : Hansa Humbolt, Ant. Maller, 1932 ( MNHN, 3) ; Santa Catarina ( JNRC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; Matra , XII­1941 ( AMNH, 2) ; Corpua , XI­1948, Hansa Humbolt ( AMNH, 1) ; Hansa, J. Clemont ( USNM, 1): Sao Paulo: Barneri, XI­ 1966, K. Lenko ( MZSP, 1): Matto Grosso: Serra do Caraca , 27­XI–5­XII­1972 ( MZSP, 1) ; ‘‘ Brazil’ ’ ( ZMHB, 1) ; Rive gauche du PArahyha, IX­1884, P. Germain ( MNHN, 1). Paraguay: Itapua: Hoenau, Zone Sta. Maria, 19­X­1974 ( ZMAN, 2). Argentina: Misiones: Puerto Iguazu, 25­XI–8­XII­1983, C. Bordon ( IZAV, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: The integument is profusely vested with long setae; the elytral discal setal tuft (fig. 181) is dense and extensive, extending from the sutural margin to the epipleural margin.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0– 5.8 mm; width 1.8–2.4 mm. Integument: Piceous, with violaceous hue. Vestiture: Densely pilose; head, prothorax, elytra vested predominantly with dark setae, pterothorax, femora, meso­metatibiae vested predominantly with pale setae; tarsi vested with dark setae, elytral middiscal setal tuft bipartite, tuft extends to epipleural margin. Head: Width across eyes feebly narrower than width across pronotum (26:27), finely punctate, interocular depression and frontal umbo moderately prominent; antenna as in figure 81. Thorax: Pronotum equal in width and length (27:27), narrower than elytra across humeri (27:34), finely punctate, side margins moderately arcuate, subapical depression prominent, elytra shallow, depth at humerus 14, greatest depth in posterior half 16. Abdomen: Posterior margin of pygidium evenly arcuate in both sexes. Male genitalia: As in figure 150.

VARIATION: In some male specimens there is a distinct acumination in the outer margin of the parameral base (as seen in A. inconstans [Gorham], fig. 122). The expression of this accumination is somewhat variable; probably an artifact of KOH treatment of the aedeagus.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected from September through December, and in April.

DISTRIBUTION (map 14): This species ranges from Southeastern Paraguay to Northeastern Argentina and Southeastern Brazil.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin acanthus (a prickly plant). I refer to the ‘‘thorny’’ appearance of the elytral middiscal setal tuft.

Aphelocerus inconstans (Gorham) Figures 20 , 26, 28 , 49 , 121, 122 , 184–186 , 244 , 269 ; map 2

Clerus inconstans Gorham, 1882: 163 . LECTO­ TYPE. Here selected. Guatemala, Duenas, G. C. Champion (BMNH). (Specimen point mounted, pygidium and machine printed sex label affixed to paper point; support card; type label, round with orange outline, machine printed; locality label, white, machine printed; identification label, white, cursive; B. C. A. collection­identification label, white, machine printed; lectotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus. Wolcott, 1927: 73, 75; Barr, 1976: 18.

PARATYPES: Four specimens, two from the same location as the lectotype ( BMNH, 1; USNM, 1). Guatemala: Sacatepequez: Capetillo, G. C. Champion ( BMNH, 2) .

DIAGNOSIS: These beetles may be distinguished from the superficially similar speci­

mens of A. ciliaris , n.sp., by the dense mat of white hairs on the lower side of the pronotum. Also, in A. inconstans (Gorham) specimens, white setae are distributed in the apical half of the elytra (fig. 26), not throughout the elytral surface, which is the case in most A. ciliaris , n.sp., specimens.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.4–7.4 mm; width 2.0– 2.9 mm. Integument: Color highly variable, integument of most specimens black, of some black and castaneous. See below. Vestiture: Integument densely vested with setae, particularily on lateral aspects of pronotum (fig. 28) and apical half of the elytra (fig. 26). Head: Interocular depressions and frontal umbo prominent; width across eyes feebly narrower than width across pronotum (24:26); antenna as in figure 49. Thorax: Pronotum equal in width and length (26: 26), slightly narrower than width of elytra across humeri (26:30), sides moderately convex and feebly incised by subapical depression, disc finely punctate; elytral depth at humerus 19, greatest depth at posterior half 22, surface shallowly scabrous. Abdomen: Pygidia with evenly convex posterior margins. Male genitalia: Tegmen as in figures 121 and 122; ventral sinus twice length of dorsal sinus. Male internal reproductive organs: As in figures 184–186; two pairs of accessory glands; lateral gland loosely coiled and diverticulated basally (fig. 184), medial gland biramous, dorsal branch very short (fig. 185), ventral branch very long. Female internal reproductive organs: As in figure 20.

VARIATION: The specimens examined from Guatemala vary extensively in integumental color and in distribution of white setae on the elytral surface. In some of these beetles the pronotum, legs, and elytra are stramineous, and there is considerable variation in the distribution of white setae on the posterior half of the elytra. Lastly, the outer basal margins of parameres may (fig. 121) or may not (fig. 122) be faintly acuminate.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens from Mexico were collected during June, those from Guatemala in May (1890 m), June, and July; those from El Salvador in May at 1800 m.

DISTRIBUTION (map 2): This species is known to range from southern Mexico to the highlands of Guatemala and El Salvador.

REMARKS: The varieties that Gorham (1882: 163) lists and illustrates represent intraspecific color variants. Schenkling (1906: 274) lists ‘‘ var. inconstans Gorh. – Cracas’’ as a variety of Clerus . I believe this listing is based on a misidentification. The specimen

is probably a member of A. sturnus Kirsch in which the arrangement of elytal setae are as described by Schenkling.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: I have examined a variety of specimens of which 64 were col­ lected from: Mexico: Chiapas: 30 km NM Comitan, 20­VI­1990, R. Turnbow ; 16 km W San Cristobal de las Casas, 4­VI­1974, O’Brien & Marshall: Guatemala: Zacapa: Cerro de Mono , 2275 m, 25–28­V­1997, E. Giesbert. Guatemala: Baja Verapaz: 19–24 km N Salama, 1371 m, 25–31­V­1989, E. Giesbert ; 24 km N Salama, Pantin Rd. , 21­ V­1995, Giesbert, Monzon ; 9 km N Salama on Pantin Rd. , 1600 m, 21­VI­1993, H. & A. Howden ; 3 km S Coban Hwy , 1600 m, 6­ VI­1993, H. & A. Howden ; 19–24 km N Salama , 25–31­V­1989, 1371 m, J. E. Wappes ; 7.8 km W Chilasco , 1700 m, 24­V­1991: Sacatepequez: Antigua, 2000 m, 20­VI­1973, Ginter Ekis ; Antigua, 22­VI­1923, E. G. Smyth. Specimens are deposited in the collections of: BMNH, CMNC, FSCA, RHTC, and WOPC .

Figures

Figs. 62–84. Antennae. 62. Aphelocerus sagittarius. 63. A. irroratus. 64. A. naevius. 65. A. triangulus. 66. A. extensivus. 67. A. humerus. 68. A. argus. 69. A. protenus. 70. A. arenatus. 71. A. patulus. 72. A. monteverde. 73. A. chondrus. 74. A. catie. 75. A. chiriqui. 76. A. immarginatus. 77. A. anticus. 78. A. yungas. 79. A. batesi. 80. A. bufustis. 81. A. acanthus. 82. A. sturnus. 83. A. myrmecoides. 84. A. scutellaris.

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.

Figs. 162–183. Aedeagus, habitus, elytral discal setal tufts. 162. Aphelocerus dispilis, aedeagus. 163. Weevil, Myrmex sp. 164. Aphelocerus myrmecoides, 165–183. Elytral discal setal tufts. 165. A. sagittarius. 166. A. triangulus. 167. A. cornuatus. 168. A. humerus. 169. A. acutus. 170. A. lividus. 171. A. protenus. 172. A. argus. 173. A. arenatus. 174. A. catie. 175. A. chiriqui. 176. A. yungas. 177. A. monteverde. 178. A. anticus. 179. A. batesi. 180. A. bufustis. 181. A. acanthus. 182. A. yungas. 183. A. sturnus.

Figs. 13–21. Various organs. 13–14. Aphelocerus coactus. 13. Tegmen. 14. Spicular fork. 15. A. nitidus metathoracic wing. 16–19. A. coactus. 16–17. Ovipositor (16. dorsal view; 17. ventral view). 18. Male internal reproductive organs. 19. Accessory glands. 20. A. inconstans; female internal reproductive organs. 21. A. coactus brain and ventral nerve cord.

Figs. 25–28. Habitus views. 25. Aphelocerus ciliaris, dorsal. 26. A. inconstans, dorsal. 27. A. coalitus, dorsal. 28. A. inconstans.

Figs. 47–61. Habitus view and antennas. 47. Aphelocerus formicoides (habitus, lateral view). 48– 61. Antennas. 48. A. ciliaris. 49. A. inconstans. 50. A. domus. 51. A. echinatus. 52. A. bispineus. 53. A. citimus. 54. A. leucomelas. 55. A. coalitus. 56. A. inbatus. 57. A. coactus. 58. A. nitidus. 59. A. lividus. 60. A. cornuatus. 61. A. acutus.

Figs. 121–138. Tegmina or phalli. 121. Aphelocerus inconstans, tegmen. 122. A. inconstans, tegmen. 123. A. citimus, tegmen. 124. A. argus, tegmen. 125. A. echinatus, tegmen. 126–127. A. leucomelas (126, tegmen; 127, phallus). 128–129. A. coalitus (128, tegmen; 129, phallus). 130. A. acutus, tegmen. 131. A. lividus, tegmen. 132. A. irroratus, tegmen. 133. A. acutus, tegmen. 134. A. arenatus, tegmen. 135–136. A. sagittarius tegmina (135, ventral view; 136, lateral view). 137. A. sculptillus, tegmen. 138. A. protenus, tegmen.

Figs. 184–192. Internal reproductive organs. 184–186. Aphelocerus inconstans. 184–185, male (184, accessory glands, testis, and ejaculatory duct; 185, base of medial accessory gland; 186, base of lateral accessory gland). 187–189. A. myrmecoides. 187–188, male (187, accessory glands, testis, and ejaculatory duct; 188, medial accessory gland). 189. Female. 190. A. leucomelas, male. 191. A. discapillus, male. 192. A. cheliferous male.

Figs. 241–247. Elytra, habitus, pronota. 241. Aphelocerus coactus, elytra (lateral view). 242. A. immarginatus, elytra (lateral view). 243. A. primigenius, habitus. 244. A. inconstans, habitus. 245. A. panus, pronotum (dorsal view). 246. A. collaris, pronotun (dorsal view). 247. A. hespenheidei, pronotum (dorsal view).

Figs. 269–277. Pronota, elytral setal patches, tegmen. 269. Aphelocerus inconstans, pronotum. 270. A. cirritus, pronotum. 271. A. nitidus, elytral setal patches. 272. A. batesi, pronotum. 273. A. bufustis, pronotum. 274. A. cirritus elytral setal patch. 275. A. torosus, pronotum. 276–277. A. olanchoensis (276, pronotum; 277, tegmen).