Mexiluperus, Viswajyothi & Clark, 2022

Viswajyothi, Keezhpattillam & Clark, Shawn M., 2022, New World genera of Galerucinae Latreille, 1802 (tribes Galerucini Latreille, 1802, Metacyclini Chapuis, 1875, and Luperini Gistel, 1848): an annotated list and identification key (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 842, pp. 1-102 : 31

Genus Mexiluperus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F3061F04-546A-409E-B089-AE430CE5BAEE

Type species

Luperus dissimilis Jacoby, 1888 , by present designation.

Diagnosis

In this genus, the distance between the antennal fossae equals less than twice the diameter of a fossa, the third antennomere is less than half as long as the second, the pronotum is equipped with a fine basal bead, the elytra lack a transverse impression at the basal third, the elytral punctation is conspicuous, and the apical lobe of the male abdomen is less than half as long as broad. Males lack the extraordinary modifications found in some other genera of Scelidites (greatly swollen antennomeres, large apicolateral fovea on the elytra, large apical extension to the metatibia, unusually enlarged tarsi on the middle or hind legs, abdominal appendages). The aedeagus (which may be either symmetrical or asymmetrical) lacks a sclerotized covering to the orifice. See the following key for additional diagnostic characters.

Etymology

The name of this new genus refers to the geographic distribution, which is principally in Mexico. It should be treated as a male noun.

Remarks

Mexiluperus gen. nov. includes two described species, both of which are here transferred from the genus Pseudoluperus : M. dissimilis ( Jacoby, 1888) [originally named in Luperus ] comb. nov., and M. wickhami ( Horn, 1893) [originally named in Luperodes ] comb. nov. See Clark (1987b) for a key to the species, including numerous undescribed species (as part of Pseudoluperus ). See Fig. 119 for a habitus illustration. The genus occurs in Arizona and Mexico.

Figures

Figs 118–126. Dorsal views. 118. Monoaster fulgidus (Wilcox, 1965) comb. nov. 119. Mexiluperus sp. 120. Amplioluperus maculicollis (LeConte, 1884) comb. nov. 121. Monoaster linus (Wilcox, 1965) comb. nov. 122. Cornuventer tuberculatus (Blake, 1942) comb. nov. 123. Pseudoluperus longulus (LeConte, 1857). 124. Triarius lividus (LeConte, 1884). 125. Keitheatus blakeae (White, 1944). 126. Metacoryna fulvicollis Jacoby, 1888.