Aphelocerus coactus, 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 : 64-68

Aphelocerus coactus , new species Fronticepiece, figs.1a, 10, 12–14, 16, 17–

19, 21, 57, 95, 102–104; 156, 241; map 5

HOLOTYPE: Male. Mexico, Tabasco, La Chontalpa, VII. 4.1971, G. Ekis ( AMNH). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to point, white, machine printed; support card; locality label, white, machine printed; AMNH repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine print­ ed.)

PARATYPES: One hundred and five specimens. Thirty­three from the same locality as the holytype ( AMNH, 1; BMNH, 1; CASC, 1; ICCM, 1; DEIC, 1; MCZC, 1; MNHN, 1; SEAN, 2; WFBC, 1; WOPC, 22; ZMAN, 1). Mexico: Tabasco: 48 km W Cardenas, 4­VII­ 1971, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaeffner ( SMTD, 2; TAMU, 15; WOPC, 6): Veracruz: 11 km SW Manatitlan , 2­VIII­1974, 45 m, C. W. O’Brien ( WOPC, 1) ; Cordorba , 19­V­ 1957 ( USNM, 1) ; Dr. A. Fenyes ( CASC, 2) ; Coyame, Lake Catemaco , 1–15­VII­1963, D. R. Whitehead ( USNM, 1) ; 2.1 km N of Hotel Playa Azul , L. Catemaco ( CMNC, 1; WOPC, 1; FSCA, 3) ; Estacion Biologia los Tuxtlas , 26­IV–6­V­1989, E. Giesbert ( FSCA, 4) ; Catemaco , 6­IX­1974, W. Hanson, G. Bohart ( EMUS, 1), 18­VII­1966, J. S. Buckett, M. R. & R. C. Gardiner ( EMEC, 1) ; Minatitlan , 8–26­IX­1961, R. & K. Driesback ( MSUC, 2) ; Orizaba , 1­V­ 1921, L. R. Reynold ( FMNH, 3), 28­VII­1941, Tierra Blanca, H. S. Dybas ( FMNH, 1): Yucatan: Old 180 km # 265, 12­V­1997, R. Morris ( RFMC, 1): Oaxaca: 6 km N Matias Romero, 12­VIII­1980, E. Giesbert ( FSCA, 1): Chiapas: Tapachula, Hoge ( ZMHB, 1) ; 6 km Simojovel, 5­VIII­ 1969, Campbell & Bright ( CNCI, 1): Colima: ( ZMHB, 1): Guerrero: Atoyac, April, H. H. S. ( USNM, 1): Mexico: Kolze, ( FMNH, 1). Honduras: Atlantida: 10 km W. La Ceiba , 5­VIII­1977, C. W. O’Brien ( WOPC, 3) ; 12 km W Olanchito, V­1949, E. C. Becker ( CNCI, 1): Cortes: El Agua Azul , 30­IV­ 1993, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1) ; Comayagua: SW corner Lago de Yojoa , 1.2 km. W Pito

Solo , 30­IV­ 1993, 609 km, J. Rifkind, P. Gum ( JNRC, 3; WOPC, 1) ; Lago de Yojoa, SE corner, 26­IV­1993, on Piper sp. , J. Rifkind, P. Gum ( JNRC, 2; WOPC, 1): Santa Barbara: SE end Lake Yojoa , 29­V­1996, F. G. Andrews & A. J. Gilbert ( JNRC, 1): Francisco Morazan: Talanga, 14817.929N, 87814.179W, 27­V­1996, F. G. Andrews & A. J. Gilbert ( CDAE, 2) ; nr. LaVentana , 30­VI­ 1995 ( JNRC, 1) ; vicinity of Tegucigalpa, road to La Tigra , vic. of Jutiapa, 23­IV­1993, sweeping shrub, J. Rifkind, P. Gum ( JNRC, 1) ; vic. El Sitio , 945 m, 2­IV­1993, J. Rifkind, P. Gum, sweeping, beating tropical deciduous forest ( WOPC, 1): Copan: 6 km E El Jaral, 14852.239, N 89803.899W, 2 VI­ 1996, F. Andrews & A. Gilbert ( CDAE, 2; WOPC, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: Specimens of this species are most conveniently identified by the arrangement and configuration of the elytral setal tuft as seen in the frontispiece. The elytral distal tuft is percurrent and acuminate posteriorly. The cluster of setae in the anterior portion of the tuft are directed anteriorly whereas those forming the posterior portions of the tuft are directed to the epipleural margins and/or towards the posterior portion of the elytral apical third, which is profusely vested with white setae.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.0–6.0 mm; width 1.8–2.4 mm. Integument: Piceous. Vestiture: Head, prothorax, elytra, and protibiae vested predominately with dark setae, pterothorax, femora, and meso­metathorax vested predominantly with pale setae, tarsi vested with dark setae; mesocutellum matted with white setae; elytra with distinct, discally located, bipartite setal tuft (fig. 1), setae near epipleural margin pale to white, discal nontuft setae black in anterior two­thirds and pale to white in posterior third; anterior third of elytral sutural margin vested with white setal tuft; metepisternal tuft prominent. Head: Width across eyes narrower than width across pronotum (27:31), finely punctate; interocular depressions and frontal umbo broad and shallow; eyes subspherical, moderately convex; antenna as in figure 57. Thorax: Pronotum equal in width and length, narrower than width of elytra across humeri (32:39), finely puntate, disc sparsely punctate, side margin moderately arcuate and fee­ bly incised by anterior transverse depression; elytra moderately convex in posterior half, depth at humerus 19, greatest depth in posterior half 25, surface finely punctate and shiny. Abdomen: Male pygidium (fig. 102) evenly arcuate in distal margin; sixth visible sternum (fig. 103) transverse and incised at distal margin; female pygidium (fig. 104) conic. Male genitalia (figs. 13, 14, 156): Aedeagus short and moderately sclerotized; parameres feebly developed; ventral sinus five times longer than dorsal sinus; phallic plicae well developed. Female genitalia: As in figures 16 and 17; dorsal lamina trilobed; ventral lamina unilobed. Male internal reproductive organs (figs. 18, 19): Two pairs of accessory glands; lateral gland uniramous, coiled, and basally diverticulated (fig. 18); medial gland biramous, linear; testis composed of 12 follicles. Female internal reproductive system: Spermathecal capsule cylindric, elongate, and notably sclerotized; spermathecal gland attached to base of spermathecal capsule; bursa copulatrix well developed; ovary comprised of 12 ovarioles. Alimentary canal: As in figure 12; proventriculus well developed; ventricular crypts well developed; six cryptonephridial malpighian tubules present. Nervous system: As in figure 21.

VARIATION: Except for the brunneus elytra on some specimens and slight differences in the conic form of the female pygidium, the members of this species do not vary appreciably.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens have been collected in April, May, June, July, August, and September; at altitudes ranging from 8 to 1148 m. In July , in a forest clearing in Tabasco, Mexico, at about 8 m in altitude, I observed and collected 43 specimens scurrying on foliage of Spondias mombin , a woody shrub known locally as ‘‘ Jobo’ ’. J. Rifkind and P. Gum collected one specimen on flowers in a hardwood broadleaf forest .

DISTRIBUTION (map 5): The known range of this Central American species extends from southern Mexico and northern Honduras.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name coactus is a Latin adjective meaning ‘‘thick’’. I refer to the robust body of these beetles.

Aphelocerus scalenus , new species

Figures 204 , 219, 221, 236; map 26

HOLOTYPE: Male. Venezuela, T. F. Amazonas, 13­XI­1982, P. Guanches ( IZAV). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, white, machine and hand printed; IZAV repository label; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: None.

DIAGNOSIS: Posterior patch of midelytral setal tuft comprised of only a few setae that are contiguous with a loose aggregate of decumbent pale setae.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0 mm; width 1.8 mm. Integument: Black. Vestiture: Integument copiously vested with prominent light and dark setae; elytral middiscal setal tuft comprised of two patches, anterior patch not prominent, posterior patch comprised of few setae contiguous with loose aggregate of decumbent setae (fig. 236). Head: Finely punctate; interocular depressions and frontal umbo moderately developed; eyes oval, moderately convex; width across eyes equal to width across pronotum (36:36); antenna as long as length of pronotum (35:35), with elongate club (figs. 219, 221). Thorax: Pronotum as long as wide (35:35), disc finely punctate, subapical depression faintly visible, side margins moderately arcuate; elytra only feebly convex in posterior half, depth at humerus 18, greatest depth in posterior half 25. Abdomen: Posterior margin of male broadly narrowed, truncated. Male genitalia: Aedeagus as in figure 204.

VARIATION: Not studied.

NATURAL HISTORY: The available specimen was collected during November.

DISTRIBUTION (map 26): Known only from the type locality.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet, scalenus , is a Latin adjectival meaning uneven. I refer to the disparity between the development of the setal patches of the elytral middiscal tuft.

Aphelocerus yungas , new species Figures 78 , 142 , 176, 182 , 222, 230; map 22 HOLOTYPE: Male. Bolivia, Chaco, Yungas, 3000, G. Garleep ( MNHN). (Specimen point

mounted; sex label affixed to paper point; support card, lined; locality label, beige, machine printed; Paris Museum repository label, beige, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Nineteen specimens. Three specimens from the same locality as the holotype ( WOPC, 3). Bolivia: Cochabamba: Yungas del Palmar , 15­X­1949, 1000 m, R. Zischka ( FMNH, 1) ; Yungas ( MHNP, 1) ; Cochabamba, Germain ( WOPC, 1) ; Bolivia, Chaco ( MNHN, 3; WOPC, 2). ‘‘ Bolivia’ ’ ( BMNH, 2; DEIC, 1; ZMHB, 2; MNHN, 3) .

DIAGNOSIS: These are shallow­bodied beetles that superficialy resemble the members of A. bufustis , n. sp., from which they differ by having the elytral discal tuft (fig. 182) particularly well developed.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 6.0– 7.4 mm; width 2.0– 2.2 mm. Integument: Head, prothorax, abdomen piceous, pterothorax, piceous, remainder castaneous. Vestiture: Head, prothorax, elytra, and protibia vested predominantly with dark setae, pterothorax, femora, meso­metathorax vested predominantly with pale setae; anterior patch of middiscal setal tuft well developed, posterior patch short and wide; tarsi vested with dark setae. Head: Width across eyes same as width across pronotum (27:27), finely punctate, interocular depressions and frontal umbo shallow; eyes subspherical, moderately convex; antenna as in figures 78 and 222. Thorax: Pronotum subequal width and length (26:27), narrower than width of elytron across humeri (26:36), finely punctated, side margin feebly arcuate, anterior transverse depression prominent; elytra shallow, depth at humerus 13, greatest depth in posterior half 17; humeral tumescence not prominent. Abdomen: Pygidium of both sexes with posterior margin evenly arcuate. Male genitalia (fig. 142): Aedeagus proportionally longer than in other species.

VARIATION: The elongations of the elytral middiscal patches, particularly the anterior patch, is variable in length (see figs. 176, 230)

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected from 1000 to 3000 m, one in October.

DISTRIBUTION (map 22): Known only from the highlands of Bolivia.

Figs. 215–229. Antennae. 215. Aphelocerus acuticolis . 216. A. primigenius . 217. A. sculptillus . 218. A. cohibilis . 219. A. scalenus . 220. A. turnbowi . 221. A. scalenus . 222. A. yungas . 223. A. domus . 224. A. propinquus . 225. A. improcerus . 226. A. akis . 227. A. chelonus . 228. A. cheliferous . 229. A. inbatus .

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name, yungas , constitutes a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Figures

Figs. 193–214. Tegmina and phalli. 193. Aphelocerus delicatulus, tegmen. 194–195. A. bispineus (194, tegmen; 195, phallus). 196. A. aeneus, tegmen. 197. A. acuticolis, tegmen. 198. A. sculptillus, tegmen. 199. A. sabulosus, tegmen. 200–201. A. akis (200, phallus; 201, tegmen). 202–203. A. chelonus (202, tegmen; 203, phallus). 204. A. scalenus, tegmen. 205. A. ebenus, tegmen. 206. A. hespenheidei, tegmen. 207–208. A. ciliaris (207, tegmen; 208, phallus). 209. A. turnbowi, tegmen. 210. A. improcerus. 211. A. anticus, tegmen. 212. A. inbatus, tegmen. 213. A. chondrus, tegmen. 214. A. monteverde. tegmen.

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.