Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871) Erwin & Zamorano, 2014

Erwin, Terry L. & Zamorano, Laura S., 2014, A synopsis of the tribe Lachnophorini, with a new genus of Neotropical distribution and a revision of the Neotropical genus Asklepia Liebke, 1938 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 430, pp. 1-108 : 41-43

Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871) comb. n. Lebia-like pattern-wing beetle Figs 36 , 62 , 77

Eucaerus lebioides Bates, 1871:79.

Lectotype.

Brazil, Pará, Santarém, Río Tapajos, 2.4079°S, 54.7969°W, 30m, (H.W. Bates)(MNHP: ADP132553, female). This specimen was labeled “Lectotype” by George E. Ball in 1972.

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, lebioides, is a Latin adjective that adequately describes this species with adults resembling (-oides) some adults in the lebiine genus, Lebia .

Proposed english vernacular name.

Lebia-like pattern-wing beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and medium to large-sized for the genus (SBL = 2.692-3.142). Adults with head and prothorax fuscous, elytral maculae aurantiacus; elytron fuscous with a slender aurantiacus macula crossing apical lateral and proximal quadrants, macula does not reach the lateral margin and the sutural area, and a rounded aurantiacus macula in the proximal apical quadrant, macula reaches the sutural area; metasternum, abdominal sterna III-VI, and epipleuron brunneus, abdominal sternum VII paler; legs testaceous; antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-7 deeply infuscated, 8-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum cordiform, narrowly explanate; apical margin concave, lateral margin explanate; anterior angles markedly produced, hind angle markedly produced; median line moderately defined. Elytral interneurs evident as continuous rows of coarse punctures; punctures of the apical margin each with a halo.

Description.

( Fig. 36 , 62 ). Habitus: ( Fig. 36 ). Size: [See also Table 8 ] Medium to large-size for the genus; ABL = 2.605-3.064 mm, SBL = 2.692-3.142 mm, TW (total width) 1.504-1.790 mm, LP = 0.551-0.647 mm, WP = 0.747-0.869 mm, LE = 1.698-2.023 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 36 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 36 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP, mean both sexes: 0.973) longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.349), wider than long (W/L: mean both sexes: 1.824); markedly cordiform and explanate, lateral margin beaded with seta at anterior third; base markedly constricted and lobed; anterior angles moderately produced, hind angle markedly acutely produced and setose; median line moderately defined, basal and apical transverse impressions punctate, punctures infuscated; surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra slightly convex; at apical third twice as wide as the head across eyes (WH/TW: mean, 0.487) and pronotum (WP/TW: mean, 0.5). Elytral interneurs evident as rows of continuous fine closely spaced coarse punctures; punctures of the apical margin each with a halo. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Abdominal sterna. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male genitalia ( Fig. 62 , see Fig. 61 for attribute labels). Median lobe with phallobase short about a fifth the length of shaft, basal opening small, oriented parallel to shaft’s apical third. Shaft broad, moderately curved ventrally, dorsally sclerotized except for short ostium; in ventral aspect tapered toward rather broadly rounded apex, in lateral aspect, a narrowly rounded apex. Left paramere very large and broad, right small and triangular, apex of left paramere lobate much longer than right paramere, about half the length of shaft (measured in left lateral aspect). Endophallus with 11 medial spines, and one large distal spine. Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 77 ). This species has been found at locations on both the clear-water and white-water systems of the Amazon River drainage system. But that does not at all indicate its real distribution: as has been pointed out above, very small beetles are inadequately sampled, especially in the Neotropics.

Way of life.

See Erwin (1991) for a general description of the genus. Adults of this species are active in lowland Varzea rainforest in the late rainy season.

Other specimens examined.

Brazil, Brazil, Pará, Santarém, Río Tapajos, 2.4079°S, 54.7969°W, 30m, (H.W. Bates)(BMNH: ADP109194, male paralectotype); Amazonas, circa Rio Demiti, 0.5748°N, 66.6869°W, 116m, 22 August 1978 (G.E. Ball, K.E. Ball)(UASM: ADP109208, ADP130048, ADP130052, ADP130050, males), 13 September 1978 (G.E. Ball, K.E. Ball)(NMNH: ADP109202, ADP132689, ADP133133, ADP132506, ADP132731, females, ADP132687, ADP133181, ADP133145, ADP132751, ADP133159, ADP132691, ADP132719, ADP132729, ADP132733, ADP133131, ADP133026, ADP132499, ADP133103, circa Cucui, Rio Negro, 1.1972°N, 66.8382°W, 79m, 17 September 1978 (G.E Ball, K.E. Ball)(NMNH: ADP132701, male).

Note.

Bates (1871) mentions having three specimens. We have studied the lectotype from Paris (MNHP) and a paralectotype from London (BMNH), but we did not see Bates’ third specimen and its location is unknown.

Figures

Figure 33 - 36. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 33 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 133151, Pithecia, Peru 34 Asklepia hilaris (Bates, 1871), comb. n., Brazil ADP 132543, Sao Paulo de Olivenca, Brazil 35 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia 36 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109194, Santarem, Rio Tapajos, Brazil. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 57 - 62. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 57 Asklepia geminata (Bates, 1871) ADP 109186, Rio Samiria, Boca Cano Ingles Camp, Peru 58 Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109196, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 59 Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132585, Rio Demiti, Brazil 60 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 052565, Rio Sucusari, Peru 61 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia. Legend: a apical area; bl basal lobe; bo basal orifice; lp left paramere; ml median lobe; om ostial membrane; oo ostial opening; rp right paramere; sh shaft; pb phallobase; ps phallobase shaft; ms medial spine; ds distal spine 62 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109208, Rio Demiti, Brazil. Scale line = 0.25 mm.

Figure 76 - 77. 76 Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia geminata (Bates) 77 Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia species of the hilaris group.