Aphelocerus torosus, 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 : 56-58

Aphelocerus torosus , new species Figures 265, 267 , 275 ; map 27

HOLOTYPE: Male. GUAT., Guatemala, 4 km W Sta. Catarina Pinula, 1800 m, 13.VI.1991, H. Howden ( CMNC). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support

Figs. 158–161. Aedeagi. 158. Aphelocerus extensivus . 159. A. chiriqui . 160. A. sturnus . 161. A. myrmecoides .

card, white; locality label, white, machine printed; CMNC repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPE: One specimen from Guatemala: Zacapa: 5–8 km N San Lorenzo, 10­VI­1993, 1800–2000 m, H. & A. Howden ( WOPC, 1).

DIAGNOSIS: Specimens of this species are superficially very similar to specimens of A.

acutus, n.sp., from which they differ by the degree of convexity of the epipleural margin at elytral apical third (compare figs. 267, 268). The aedeagus is proportionally much longer and the parameral apices more acuminate in specimens of A. acutus , n. sp. (compare figs. 133, 265).

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 1.5 mm. Integument: Forebody black, with bluish tinge; remainder of integument piceous. Vestiture: Predominantly dark; elytral setae dark, except disc with two small patches of 28 white setae. Head: Width across eyes slightly narrower than width across pronotum (28:30), finely punctate; interocular depression and fronal umbo moderately developed; eyes subspherical, moderately convex. Thorax: Pronotum as wide as long (30:30), considerably narrower than width of elytra across humeri (30:37), pronotal arch coarsely punctated, pronotal disc finely sparsely punctate, side margins considerably convex, anterior transverse depression prominent; elytra moderately convex when viewed from side; depth at humerus 20, greatest depth in posterior half 27, humeral tumescence moderately developed. Abdomen: Pygidium posterior margin evenly arcuate; aedeagus as in figure 265.

VARIATION: The specimens did not vary appreciably.

NATURAL HISTORY: The available specimens were collected in June, one at an elevation between 1800 and 2000 m.

DISTRIBUTION (map 27): Known only from central Guatemala.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name torosus is a Latin adjective meaning bulging. I refer to the robustness of the body conformation of this small beetle.

Figures

Figs. 261–268. Aedeagi, male internal reproductive organs and elytra. 261. Aphelocerus nitidus, aedeagus. 262–263. A. cirritus (262, aedeagus; 263, internal reproductive organs). 264. A. dispilis, aedeagus. 265. A. torosus, aedeagus. 266. A. capillus, internal reproductive organs. 267. A. torosus, elytron. 268. A. acutus, elytron.

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).