Epimetopus graniger ( Mulsant, 1851 )

Perkins, Philip D., 2012, 3531, Zootaxa 3531, pp. 1-95 : 39-42

Epimetopus graniger ( Mulsant, 1851)

Figs. 73–76 (habitus), 77 (aedeagus), 126 (map)

Ceratoderus graniger Mulsant, 1851: 2 .

Epimetopus graniger (Mulsant) : Lacordaire 1854: 465, 467.

Epimetopus graniger (Mulsant) : Balfour-Browne (1949: 18); catalog.

Epimetopus graniger (Mulsant) : Rocha (1969: 184).

Type material: Holotype (male; examined): "Colombia" ( MNHN). New collection record: Colombia: C. Amara, La Aguadita, 4° 36' N, 74° 5' W, 7 vii 1970, J. M. Campbell (1 CNC).

Differential diagnosis. Distinguished from other members of the Mendeli group by the very ovate elytra (l/w ca. 1.71/1.55), the relatively small elytral punctures, and the multiple grooves of the pronotal hood carinae ( Figs. 73–76). The aedeagus ( Fig. 77) is not closely similar to other members of the Mendeli group. The distal part of the median lobe of the aedeagus differs from that of other members: the two apical processes are long, slender, and pointed; the hooks are large and claw-like.

Description. Size: holotype (length/width, mm): body (length from anterior margin of pronotum to elytral apices) 2.60/1.55; head (width) 0.73; pronotum 0.98/1.05; elytra 1.71/1.55. Habitus as illustrated (fig. 73). Dorsal surface piceous brown; elytra without hint of fascia; ventral surface piceous black, epipleura reddish brown; antennae reddish brown, maxillary palpi reddish with palpomere 4 brown; trochanters and bases of femora dark brown to brown, distal portions of femora and entire tibiae and tarsi reddish. Body widely elongate, widest at about midlength of elytra, body moderately convex in lateral view, elytra very transversely convex. Eye canthus incomplete, ca. 3 facets between canthus and posterior margin. Pronotum with hood carinae slightly arcuate, confluent anteriorly, grooved throughout, grooves multiple in posterior 1/2; primary lateral lobe with anterior angle roundly produced; secondary lateral lobe extremely small or absent. Elytron with four granulate carinae, third interrupted anteriorly for distance of ca. 3–4 punctures; first three carinae (from suture) very low and very weakly granulate; punctures round, small, each with moderately large granule at anterior margin, non-carinate intervals with irregular row of small granules. Protibiae straight or very slightly emarginate on inner margin, outer margin weakly arcuate. Metaventral depression with less dense granules than remainder of mesoventrite.

Distribution. Currently known from one unambiguous site in Colombia ( Fig. 126); the holotype locality data is only " Colombia."

Notes. The holotype ( Figs. 73–76), which had not previously been dissected, luckily proved to be a male. Two other specimens, one of each gender, were received with the holotype. Neither of these two specimens had any labels, but both were pinned with the same kind of very fine insect pin as the holotype. The second male, which I dissected, is conspecific with the holotype. The female probably is also conspecific. The female differs from the two males in the following: the body size is slightly smaller, the pronotal lateral lobes have the anterior part slightly more indented, the elytral granules are slightly less developed, and the circular transparent serial punctures of the elytra are smaller. The lateral margins of the elytra of the female, in the area slightly anterior to midlength, are straight or slightly emarginate, whereas in males the margins are clearly arcuate; this is probably a sexual dimorphism.