Aegomorphus purulensis ( Bates, 1885 )

Heffern, Daniel, Santos-Silva, Antonio & Botero, Juan Pablo, 2022, Two new species and taxonomical and geographical notes on Aegomorphus Haldeman (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 62, pp. 1-12 : 2

Aegomorphus purulensis ( Bates, 1885) ( Fig. 1 B-1E)

Acanthoderes purulensis Bates, 1885: 379 ; Chemsak & Linsley,1970:406 (lect.); Chemsak et al., 1992:130 (cat.).

Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus) purulensis ; Aurivillius, 1923: 387 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946: 611 (checklist); Gilmour, 1965: 614 (cat.); Monné, 1994: 67 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 231 (checklist).

Psapharochrus purulensis ; Monné, 2005: 211 (cat.); Hovore, 2006: 376 (distr.).

Aegomorphus purulensis ; Santos-Silva et al., 2020: 36.

Acanthoderes umbrata Bates, 1885: 379 ; Chemsak & Linsley, 1970: 406 (lect.); Chemsak et al., 1992: 130 (cat.). Syn. nov.

Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus) umbrata ; Aurivillius, 1923: 388 (cat.).

Psapharochrus umbrata ; Turnbow et al., 2003: 29 (distr.); Monné, 2005: 214 (cat.); Hovore, 2006: 376 (distr.).

Psapharochrus umbratus ; Maes et al., 2010: 375 (distr.).

Aegomorphus umbratus ; Santos-Silva et al., 2020: 36.

Bates (1885) described Acanthoderes purulensis as follows(translated):“Similar to Acanthodereslugens [currently, Scythropopsis lugens (Thomson,1865) ].Triangular-oblong, brownish black, grayish-white and brownish-gray pubescent; frons white; thorax dorsally with well-elevated compressed-conical carinae [tubercles],indented on apex; elytral apex narrowed, sinuous-truncate, outer angle slightly projected, dorsal carinae flexuous, elevated, and granulat- ed toward base, the entire base and humeri sparsely granulated, with large oblique humeral macula and sutural area grayish-white or grayish, with small fuscous spots; posterior area of prosternal process and apex [base] subvertical, bituberculate; antennae black with white rings, antennomere III and IV together as long as V-IX. Length, 13.8-14.80 mm. From Guatemala, Purula [= Purulhá, Baja Verapaz] (Champion [leg.]).Three examples.”

In the same work and page, Bates (1885) described Acanthoderes umbrata as follows (translated): “Similar to A. lateralis . Short, dark fulvous; with dark area on sides of thorax; elytra with dark areas, two oblique and very dentate bands (one laterally about middle, another apically), and small spots close to suture; dorsal tubercles of thorax compressed-conical, apex bituberculate; elytra triangular, apex truncate,with long spine on outer angle,dorsal carina very divergent toward base and elevated,multituberculate, base with sparse, nearly absent granules; antennae short, antennomeres III and IV together as long as V-IX; pro- and mesosternum [processes] vertical, bituberculate. Length, 10.60-14.85 mm. From Guatemala, Cerro Zunil [Volcán Zunil,Quezaltenango] (Champion leg.). Many examples.”

Reading the original descriptions, and seeing photographs of the types of both species, it is very difficult to understand why Bates (1885) did not compare the two species to each other. The only reliable difference is the shape of the outer elytral angle, which is distinctly spiniform in A. umbrata ( Fig. 1 D-1E), and not spiniform in A. purulensis ( Fig. 1 B-1C). However, we believe that this is only a specific variation. In fact, this type of variation also occurs in other species of the genus, as for example, in Aegomorphus jaspideus (Germar, 1823) ( Fig. 1 F-1I). Therefore, we synonymize Acanthoderes umbrata with Acanthoderes purulensis .

Given that Acanthoderes purulensis and Acanthoderes umbrata were described in the same work ( Bates, 1885) and in this case the principle of priority does not apply, we, as first revisers, select the name Acanthoderes purulensis Bates, 1885 as the valid name.

The general appearance of this species is very similar to that of Scythropopsis sallei (Thomson, 1865) , but it differs by the lateral tubercles of the pronotum at least slightly bifid apically (simple in S. sallei ). It is possible that Aegomorphus umbratus belongs to Scythropopsis Thomson, 1864 . However, without seeing the size of the ommatidia, it is not possible to be sure.

Figures

Figure 1. (A) Acanthoderes crocostigma Bates, 1880, holotype female, dorsal habitus. (B-C) Acanthoderes purulensis Bates, 1885: (B) Lecotype, dorsal habitus; (C) Paralectotype, dorsal habitus. (D-E) Acanthoderes umbrata Bates, 1885 (apparently, both are paralectotypes): (D) Specimen 1, dorsal habitus; (E) Specimen 2, dorsal habitus.(F-I) Aegomorphus jaspideus (Germar,1823),elytral apex:(F) Female;(G) Male,specimen 1; (H) Male,specimen 2; (I) Male,specimen 3. Figs.A-E by Jesus Santiago Moure.