Acalanthis semimetallica (Fairmaire & Germain)

Arias, Elizabeth T., Slipinski, Adam, Lawrence, John F. & Elgueta, Mario, 2009, A review of the Chilean Egoliini (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae) with description of a new species of Necrobiopsis Crowson, Zootaxa 2170, pp. 37-45 : 41-42

Acalanthis semimetallica (Fairmaire & Germain)

( Fig. 1 )

Clerus semi-metallicus Fairmaire & Germain, 1861: 3. Acalanthis semimetallica: Léveillé, 1909: 164 ; 1910: 4.

Diagnosis: The body shape and sculpture of this species almost identical to A. mirabilis , and include the relatively large eyes, the pronotum distinctly narrowing posteriorly, the surfaces of head and pronotum coarsely punctate but with extensive smooth, impunctate areas and the elytra with striae reduced to two transverse bands covered by dense setae. It is immediately recognised from A. mirabilis by its bicoloured red and purple elytra.

Description: Length 6.3–7.5 mm. Colour black, elytra in basal half red, apically black with bluish-purple tint, legs and antennae somewhat lighter but only tarsi dark brown; each elytron with two transverse whitish bands near middle formed by dense short and somewhat laterally pointing setae ( Fig. 1 ); vestiture consisting of long and sparse setae and moderately long and shorter, whitish setae concentrated mostly on rugose parts and along lateral parts of head and pronotum, elytral transverse bands and lateral margins.

Head, including eyes, slightly wider than pronotum at anterior angles; punctation very coarse and dense, covering entire head surface except of smooth and shiny central area in middle of frons; interspaces densely reticulate and dull. Terminal maxillary palpomere, three times as long as wide and two times as long as penultimate segment. Antennal club 1.2 times as long as wide and two times as long as penultimate segment.

Pronotum 0.8–0.9 times as long as wide, widest slightly behind blunt anterior angles and strongly narrowing posteriorly; lateral margin complete, crenulated, without distinct bead. Disc evenly convex and smooth anteriorly with Y-shaped, shallow and densely punctate area, extending medially from pronotal base almost to middle and then anterolaterally reaching anterior angles ( Fig. 1 ); elongate area between median and lateral punctate surfaces smooth; the coarse pronotal punctures about two to three times as large as those on vertex; interspaces densely reticulate and feebly shiny. Scutellum dark, pentagonal, transverse and not distinctly elevated.

Elytra two times as long as wide and three times as long as pronotum; sides parallel for most of the length with each elytron rounded apically; disc evenly convex and strongly shiny with nine deeply impressed striae limited to two transverse bands before and behind mid-length of elytron ( Fig. 1 ); intervals in striate area, slightly carinate, dull and setose.

Material examined: Argentina: Pucará, 640 m. s.n.m., Neuquen, 1-i-74, leg. Schajovskoy (1, UMCE). Chile: “ Clerus semimetallica F & G [Germain’s hand]/ 548 or 578 [Philippi’s hand]/ CHILE, Valdivia, 1871” [Kuschel’s hand] (1, MNNC); Chiloe I: Ahoni Alto, xii.1988, Mt primary forest, L. Pena (1, ANIC); Agoni Chiloe, Oct. 1989, leg. Sanchez (2, UMCE); Río Mañihuales, Provincia Aysen, 4/ 6.iii.1961, col. L. E. Peña (1, UMCE); Criadero Las Bandurrias – Coyhaique, 23.i.1971, J. Solervicens. Acalanthis semimetallicus Fairm. y Germain. Comparé au type par Solervicens (1, UMCE).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Adult habitus, dorsal. 1. Acalanthis semimetallica (Fairmaire & Germain); 2. A. mirabilis Reitter; 3. A. quadrisignata Erichson; 4. Necrobiopsis shangrila sp. nov.