Akonesis Opitz

Opitz, Weston, 2014, Taxonomy of the New World Checkered Beetle GeneraAkonesisOpitz, New Genus, AntennosusOpitz, New Genus, CrusbatusOpitz, New Genus, andDiutiusOpitz, New Genus (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (3), pp. 411-428 : 413-415

Akonesis Opitz , new genus

Type Species. Cregya vittata Spinola, 1844b: 372 .

Diagnosis. Specimens of this genus superficially resemble those of Diutius . Beetles of these genera share similarities in body form and gross morphology, and in the peculiar coloration of the antenna ( Fig. 5 ), but in Akonesis specimens the tarsal spur formula is 1-2-2, whereas in Diutius specimens the formula is 0-2-2.

Description. Size: Length 8.5–11.0 mm; width 3.0–4.0 mm. Form ( Figs. 63, 64 ): Oblong, robust (about 3X longer than broad), body deep. Vestiture: Dorsum profusely vested with pale pubescence, antenna moderately setose, elytra with 1° and 2° setae ( Fig. 58 ) or without 1° but with 2° setae only. Head ( Figs. 1–3 ): Cranium subquadrate, frons narrower or as wide as eye, profusely indented with small, setiferous punctures; gula ( Figs. 2 , 48 ) large, subquadrate, sutures diverging anteriorly, gula with 2 well-developed, setose post-gular processes ( Fig. 48 ); labrum shallow, incised distally ( Fig. 11 ), tormal processes contiguous, epipharyngeal plate small; mandible ( Fig. 8 ) stout, anterior dens acuminate, medial and posterior dens well developed, penicillus well developed; maxilla ( Fig. 10 ) with laterolacinia present as indentation, terminal palpomere securiform; labium ( Fig. 9 ) with ligula deeply incised, ligular lobes narrowed, terminal palpomere securiform, capitulum long and slender ( Figs. 5 , 49, 51 ); eyes large, coarsely facetted, ocular notch large; antenna comprised of 10 antennomeres, capitate, capitulum long and slender, funicular antennomeres subfiliform. Thorax: Pronotum ( Figs. 4, 6 , 52 ) slightly subquadrate, disc flat, side margin with conspicuous tubercle, dorsolateral carina incomplete, anteriorly extended beyond tubercle and confluent with pronotal bead posteriorly, prointercoxal process narrow ( Fig. 52 ), expanded distally, pronotal projections long, approximating prointercoxal process ( Fig. 52 ); elytron with or without asetiferous punctures ( Figs. 55, 58 ), epipleural fold wide and in ventral position, tapered to elytral apex, anterior elytral margin not carinate; metathoracic wing as in Fig. 7 , wedge cell closed; metendosternite ( Fig. 14 ) with furcal lamina, furcal anterior plate triangular; profemora not swollen and without spines; tibial spur formula 1-2-2; tarsal pulvillar formula 3-3-3 ( Figs. 53, 54, 56, 57 ), ungues with basal denticle ( Fig. 56 ). Abdomen: Aedeagus ( Figs. 12, 13 ) shorter than length of abdomen, distal region of phallobase lobed, lateral lobes not fimbriate, tegmen short, phallobasic struts confluent with phallobasic apodeme, phallobasic rod absent, phallic plates wide; spicular fork ( Fig. 15 ) well developed, spicular apodemes fused, intraspicular plate long and linear.

Distribution. This genus is known from Bolivia and Brazil.

Figures

Figs. 1–15. Akonesis vittatis. 1) Head, frontal view; 2) Head, ventral view; 3) Head, dorsal view; 4) Pronotum; 5) Antenna; 6) Prothorax, ventral view; 7) Metathoracic wing; 8) Mandible; 9) Labium; 10) Maxilla; 11) Labrum; 12) Tegmen; 13) Phallus; 14) Metendosternite; 15) Spicular fork.

Figs. 61–64. Habitus. 61) Diutius gallerucoides; 62) Diutius pallidus; 63) Akonesis vittatis; 64) Akonesis pictipennis.

Figs. 53–58. Akonesis vittatis. 53) Apex of protibia; 54) Metatarsus; 55) Elytron; 56) Protarsus; 57) Apex of metatibia; 58) Elytral surface.

Figs. 47–52. Akonesis vittatis. 47) Head, frontal view; 48) Head, ventral view; 49) Antenna; 50) Mouthparts;