Charisius fasciatus Champion

Campbell, J. M., 2014, New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae), ZooKeys 415, pp. 269-293 : 272-273

1. Charisius fasciatus Champion Figs 1-3, 13, 17

Charisius fasciatus Champion (1888: 421, pl. 19, Figs 12, 12a, 13); Campbell (1965: 67, Figs 3, 9, 15, 16).

Type.

Lectotype, male, Quiché Mountains, Guatemala ( Campbell 1965: 47). The specimen is in the BMNH.

Distribution and records.

Charisius fasciatus was previously known from six specimens collected from the highlands of Guatemala. The following records extend the known range of this species into the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador. It has been collected between the elevations of 1500 to 2750 meters.

EL SALVADOR: Cerro Verde, 2000 m, 1.V.1971, HF Howden (CMNC) 1.

GUATEMALA: El Progresso: 28-29 km N San Augustin, 7000-8500 ft, 17-21.IV.1990, JE Wappes (JEWC) 1. Jalapa: Miramundo, 8400 ft., 3.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 4. Quetzaltenango: Santa María, Los Pirineos, 4500 ft, 15.VI. 1966, JMC (JMCC) 1; Santa María, 5,000 ft, 18.V.1966, JMC (JMCC) 1; Santa María, 6,000 ft, 10.VII.1965, JMC (JMCC) 1; 4 km W Santa María, 5000 ft, 27.III.1966, JMC (JMCC) 1; 3 km SE Zunil, Tzanjoyan, 2400 m, 1.XI.1965, JMC (JMCC) 2; 12 km SE Zunil, NW face Cerro Zunil, Fuentes Georginas, 2700 m, 17.VI.1993, R Anderson (CMNC) 1. Quiché: Nebaj, 6000 ft, 9.VIII.1947, C & P Vaurie (AMNH) 1. Suchitepéquez: 5 km S Santiago Atitlan, 1500 m, 13.IX.1965, JMC (JMC) 1; Zunilito, 2 km N Finca Colimas, 6000 ft, 28.IV.1966, JMC (JMCC) 2. Zacapa: 3 km NE San Lorenzo, Sierra de las Minas, 1800 m, 6.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI) 1; 6 km NE San Lorenzo, 6500 ft, 17.VI.1993, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 2; 8 km NE San Lorenzo, Sierra de las Minas, 2100 m, 10.VII.1986 and 18.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI) 2.

HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: 21.5 km N Tegucigalpa, PN La Tigra, 1950 m, 15. VIII– 2.IX.1994, S&J Peck (CMNC) 1.

MEXICO: Chiapas: Cerro Huitepec (Pico), ca 5 km W San Cristobal de las Casas, 2750 m, 23.IX.1991, R Anderson (CMNC) 1; 5 km W San Cristobal, 3.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 1; 6 km E San Cristobal, 9.V.1969, HF Howden (JMCC) 1; 8 km NE San Cristobal, 17.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 1; 8 mi S Simojovel, 10.VI.1969, JMC (CNCI) 1; San Cristobal de las Casas, 26.VII.1969, LA Kelton (CNCI) 2; 8 mi NE San Cristobal, 28.VI.1969. JMC, (CNCI, JMCC) 5; same locality, 5.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 2; 11 mi NE San Cristobal, 18.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 3; Tinijapa, 8 mi NE San Cristobal 26.V.1969 and 18.V.1969, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 12; 11 mi NE San Cristobal, 18.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 2; Rte. 190, 16.8 mi SE Teopisca, 6700 ft., 2.IX.1967, Ball, TL Erwin, RE Leech (CNCI) 1.

Remarks.

This species is the most variable in color of any species of the genus. It closely resembles Charisius picturatus , Charisius mexicanus , and Charisius granulatus in some of its color patterns. No differences were noted in the structure of the aedeagus and the male seventh and eighth sternites between the males of these color forms. In my earlier revision I recognized two distinct color forms, one with three yellow, transverse bands across the elytra (from Totonicapán and the Quiché Mountains of Guatemala) and the second form with only two transverse bands (from Cerro Zunil, near Quezaltenango and Calderas, near Antigua in Guatemala). A long series of specimens from a number of areas near San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas and a number of different localities in Guatemala are intermediate between these two previously recognized color forms, so I am unable to distinguish various color forms based on geographical variation.

Adults of Charisius fasciatus may be distinguished from those of Charisius mexicanus by differences in the structure of the male eighth sternal lobes and by the distinctly finer and sparser punctation of the pronotum (Figs 13, 14). Adults of Charisius fasciatus differ from those of Charisius picturatus (Fig. 4) by having the yellow regions of the elytral bands (Figs 1-3) less irregular and the basal band larger, extending to near the sutural margin. Some of the specimens from San Cristóbal are virtually indistinguishable in color from those of Charisius mexicanus . They may be distinguished only by dissection of the male eighth sternal lobes and by the distinctly finer punctation of the pronotum. Adults of Charisius granulatus closely resemble the other species of the fasciatus group in the color patterns, however adults of this species may be easily distinguished from all other species of this group by the more coarsely punctate pronotum, by having the surface between the punctures coarsely granulate and not shining and by the narrow apicale having the sides distinctly sinuate before the apex (Fig. 25).

I have provisionally assigned one specimen from El Salvador to this species, but it differs in having the apical two yellow bands reduced to small spots and in having the elytral striae completely unimpressed between the strial punctures on the apical fourth of the elytra. No other differences were noted.

Adults were collected by beating dead leaves in a pine-oak forest, from a Malaise trap set in an oak forest and from dead leaves alongside a logging road in the Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala. I reared adults from larvae and pupae collected from wood in hollow logs and from dead wood found in a tree hole.