Amithao decemguttatus ( Waterhouse, 1876 )

Ratcliffe, Brett C., 2013, A Revision Of The Neotropical Genus Amithao Thomson, 1878 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 67 (3), pp. 265-292 : 275-276

Amithao decemguttatus ( Waterhouse, 1876) ( Figs. 19–23 )

Gymnetis decemguttata Waterhouse 1876: 423 (original combination). Holotype male at BMNH, examined. Type locality: “ Medellín , Colombia.”

Amithao decemguttatum var. beinlingi Nonfried 1894: 129 (synonym). Holotype female at ZMHU, examined. Type locality: “central Honduras.”

Description. Length 19.5–22.9 mm; width across humeri 11.0– 13.5 mm. Color brown to red-

dish brown to rarely black, shiny, often with weak copper or green sheen and with cretaceous marks as follows: head with 2 elongate spots between eyes; pronotum with band along lateral margins, epimeron mostly covered; elytra on lateral margins with 3 larger, transverse spots and several smaller, round spots, 1 large spot next to suture behind middle, 1 oblique spot on posterolateral margin of apical umbone, and several smaller spots on disc; pygidium with elongate spot on each lateral margin and 1 transverse line across base; thoracic ventrites and coxae extensively covered; abdominal ventrites 1–4 each with transverse spot in posterolateral corner and abdominal ventrites 1–5 each with transverse band on anterior margin either side of middle. All spots and bands may be variably reduced, especially in females. Head: Lateral margins elevated. Frons longitudinally tumescent, surface depressed ether side of middle. Surface of frons and apex of clypeus in males densely punctate; punctures moderate in size (females with punctures usually larger) setigerous (when not abraded away); setae long, moderately dense, tawny. Clypeus with apex broadly emarginate, each anterior angle subacute ( Fig. 19 ), strongly reflexed. Eyes large, interocular width equals 2.5–2.8 transverse eye diameters. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club distinctly longer than antennomeres 2–7 in both sexes. Pronotum: Surface with punctures sparse to moderately dense on disc, small to moderate, punctures becoming larger and denser on lateral thirds. Sides with thick marginal bead. Elytra: Surface punctate, with 2 distinctly elevated, parallel costae terminating at prominent apical umbone; punctures moderate to large, moderately dense, becoming larger and denser laterally, some forming incomplete rows. Apices behind apical umbone densely strigulose. Apices at suture slightly produced. Pygidium: Surface densely, concentrically strigulose, setigerous; setae in males moderately dense, minute, tawny, females with dense, long, tawny setae. In lateral view, profile nearly flat to weakly convex. Venter: Setae tawny or black. Mesometasternal process in lateral view distinctly attenuate and protuberant ( Fig. 21 ), apex narrowly rounded in ventral view. Abdominal ventrites in males nearly smooth in central third; lateral thirds with moderate to large, moderately dense punctures. Females with punctures on lateral thirds usually denser. Legs: Protibia in males slender, with 3 subequally spaced teeth. Protibia in females broader with 3 larger, subequally spaced teeth. Parameres ( Figs. 22–23 ): Form subrectangular, apices rounded and with distinct, sharp spur laterally.

Distribution. Amithao decemguttatus is known from Honduras (?), Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Locality Records. 153 specimens from ADMC, BCRC, BMNH, CMNC, CNCI, DCCC, DEIC, FMNH, INBC, JNNC, JDGC, MEFLG, MGFT, MIZA, MLPA, MNHN, MUCR, PKLC, QCAZ ,

22) Dorsal view; 23) Lateral view.

RMNH, UNAL, USNM, VMPC, WBWC, ZMHU, ZSMC. Some data courtesy of Jhon Neita database (personal communication to BCR, 18 February 2012) and from Neita et al. (2006) and Suárez and Amat (2007). COLOMBIA (121): ANTIOQUIA (6) : Andes, Bello, Copacabana, Medellín, No data. BOYACÁ (3) : Muzo. CAUCA (7) : No data. CHOCÓ (44) : Acandí, Lloro Boraudo, Quibdó, Río Sucio No data. CUNDINAMARCA (2) : Anolaima, Mosquera. DISTRITO CAPITAL (1) : Bogotá. PUTAMAYO (1) : Mocoa. QUINDÍO (1) : Buena Vista. RISARALDA (5) : Pereira. SANTANDER (2) : Guepsa. VALLE DEL CAUCA (35) : Anchicaya, Anchicaya Dam (60 km E Buenaventura), Buenaventura, Calima Valley, Buga (35 mi. W), Buga (45 km W), Cali. NO DATA (14) . COSTA RICA (25): ALAJUELA (5) : Reserva Florestal San Ramon, Rio San Lorencito (5 km N Colonia Palmareña, San Ramón. GUANACASTE (12) : Santa Cecilia (9 km S), Upala. HEREDIA (2) : Estacion Magsasay (Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo). SAN JOSÉ (7) : Cascajal (Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo), Estación Carrillo ( Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo ). ECUADOR (24): BOLÍVAR (1) : Caluma. GUAYAS (1) : Guayaquíl. LOJA (3) : Celica, Loja. MORONA SANTIAGO (3) : Macas. NAPO (10) : Chonta Yacu. SUCUMBÍOS (3) : Lumbaqui. NO DATA (3) . HONDURAS (1): NO DATA (1) . PANAMA (13): COCLÉ (1) : El Valle. PANAMÁ (10) : Altos de Cerro Azul, Cerro Campana, Cerro Jefe. NO DATA (2) . NO DATA (14) .

Temporal Distribution. January (1), March (3), April (3), May (19), June (2), July (1), August (12), September (9), October (4), December (19).

Diagnosis. Amithao decemguttatus is distinguished by its shiny brown ground color with copper reflections and numerous cretaceous spots on the elytra, pygidium, and ventrites ( Figs. 19–20 ). The type and a no-data specimen each from Colombia and Panama are black (not brown); the cretaceous markings on the pronotum, pygidium, and abdominal ventrites are nearly obsolete; and the ventral setae are noticeably black (instead of tawny).

Nomenclature. Amithao decemguttatus var. beinlingi Nonfried is simply a black morph, instead of the more typical brown to reddish brown color, that was described from Honduras.

Natural History. In Costa Rica, specimens have been captured at elevations of 400–900 m from April to June in banana traps and at lights ( Solís 2004). In Colombia, specimens have been collected at elevations from near sea level to 2,000 m in fruit traps and resting on vegetation (label data). Neita et al. (2006) captured adults on the flowers of Annona muricata L. ( Annonaceae ) in Colombia and observed they are most active from May to October.

Figures

Figs. 19–21. Amithao decemguttatus. 19) Dorsal view; 20) Ventral view; 21) Lateral view.

Figs. 22–23. Amithao decemguttatus, parameres.