Aphelocerus discapillus, 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 : 100

Aphelocerus discapillus , new species Figures 191 , 264 ; map 25

HOLOTYPE: Male. PANAMA, Colon Pr. Fort Sherman , 98179N, 798599W, 11 May 2002, leg. F. Ødegaard, on Nectandra purpurascens (NINA) . (Specimen point mount­ ed, sex label affixed to paper point, white, machine printed; support card, white; locality label, white, machine printed; NINA repository label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine printed; plastic vial with aedeagus and abdomen.)

PARATYPES: Eleven paratypes from the same locality as the holotype ; 1­VI­2001, Brosimum utile, F. Ødegaard ( WOPC, 1) ; 25­ IX­2001, on Maranthes panamense, F. Ødegaard ( NINA, 1) ; 11­XII­2001, Calophyllum longifolium, F. Ødegaard ( NINA, 1) ; 28­XII­ 2001, on Maranthes panamense, F. Ødegaard ( NINA, 1; WOPC, 4) ; 3­I­2002, Maranthes panamense, F. Ødegaard ( NINA, 1; WOPC, 1) ; 12­I­2002, on Inga cocleensis, F. Ødegaard ( WOPC, 1) .

DIAGNOSIS: These beetles are easily distinguished from those of A. myrmecoides , n.sp., the most probable sister species, by the absence of a white setal tuft on the lower sides of their pronotum. Further, the frontal setal tuft is clearly well developed in A. myrmecoides , n.sp. (fig. 24), but only faintly indicated in specimens of A. discapillus , n.sp.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.5–6.0 mm; width 1.8–2.0 mm. Integument: Black. Vestiture: Lateral aspects of frons vested with white setal tuft (as in fig. 24); leg vestiture predominantly black, but longer black setae sparsely distributed along anterior margin of tibiae; metepisternal tuft (as in A. myrmecoides , n.sp., fig. 23); sutural tuft well developed (as in A. myrmecoides , n.sp., fig. 22); elytral humeral region, epipleural margin, and side region of elytral disc moderately vested with white setae, remainder of elytral disc vested with 18 and 28 dark setae (see fig. 259 for A. leucomelas [Chevrolat]). Head: Genae and epicranium expanded; interocular depression and frontal umbo prominent; frons, epicranium, and gena very finely punctated; eyes spherical, moderately convex; width across eyes slightly narrower than width across pronotum (38:36); antenna elongated, nearly as long as lenght of pronotum (48:50). Thorax: Pronotum longer than wide (40:47), very finely punctated, anterior transverse depression poorly defined, side margins feebly arcuate, considerably narrow­ er than width across humeri (38:45); elytra boldly convex, disc polished, with nine serial rows of punctations, erect and decumbent setae serially arranged, apical slope acute, depth at humerus 15, greatest depth in posterior half 26; metafemora not extended beyond elytral apex. Abdomen: Posterior margin of male and female pygidium evenly arcuate. Male genitalia: As in figure 264; parameral apices somewhat unciform.

VARIATION: The available specimens are quite homogeneous.

NATURAL HISTORY: Frode Øedegaard collected the type series as part of his research involving canopy insects. The holotype was collected on flowers of Nectandra purpurascens . Other specimens were captured by beating canopy vegetation of Maranthes panamense , Calophyllum longifolium , Brosimum utile , Inga cocleensis , and Nectandra purpurascens .

DISTRIBUTION (map 25): Known only from the type locality.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a compound name that stems from the Latin prefix ­ dis (without) and the Latin capillus (hair). I refer to the absence of the pronotal tuft in the members of this species.

Figures

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. 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.