Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, 2014

Erwin, Terry L. & Zamorano, Laura S., 2014, A synopsis of the tribe Lachnophorini, with a new genus of Neotropical distribution and a revision of the Neotropical genus Asklepia Liebke, 1938 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 430, pp. 1-108 : 40-41

Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin sp. n. Colombian pattern-wing beetle Figs 35 , 61 , 77

Holotype.

Colombia, Amazonas, Leticia, 4.1896°S, 69.9711°W, 72m, no date, (F.M. Oliveira, P. Wygodzinsky)(AMNH: ADP109190, male).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, laetitia, from the Latin greeting laetitia used in the nominative case, is a singular feminine noun in apposition, based on the name of the town near which these beetles were found, and meaning happiness, joy, gladness, and delight.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Colombian pattern-wing beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and small in size for the genus (SBL = 2.494 mm). Adults with head fuscous, prothorax brunneus, elytral maculae aurantiacus; elytron brunneus with a broad rectangular-shaped aurantiacus macula crossing basal and medial lateral and proximal quadrants, macula not extended to lateral margin or sutural area and, a rounded flavous macula in the apical proximal quadrant, sutural area fulvous; metasternum, abdominal sterna III-VI, and epipleuron testaceous, abdominal sternum VII paler; legs testaceous; antennal scape, pedicel, and antennomere 3 testaceous, antennomeres 4-7 deeply infuscated, 8-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum cordiform, narrowly explanate; anterior angles feebly produced; lateral margin beaded; hind angle angulate, moderately prominent; median line well defined; basal and apical transverse impression punctate, punctures infuscated. Elytral interneurs evident as rows of continuous coarse punctures closely spaced.

Description.

( Fig. 35 , 61 ). Habitus: ( Fig. 35 ). Size: [See also Table 7 ] Small-size for the genus; ABL = 2.99 mm, SBL = 2.494 mm, TW (total width) 1.463 mm, LP = 0.489 mm, WP = 0.706 mm, LE = 1.633 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 35 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 35 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP: 1.032), longer than head (LP/LH: 1.316), wider than long (W/L: 1.444); markedly cordiform and explanate, lateral margin beaded with seta at anterior third; apical margin straight; base markedly constricted; hind angle moderately produced and setose; median line well defined, basal and apical transverse impression punctate, punctures infuscated; surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra slightly convex; at apical third markedly wider than head across eyes (WH/TW: 0.468) and twice as wide as pronotum (WP/TW: 0.504). Elytral interneurs evident as rows of continuous, coarse punctures widely spaced, coarse punctures with infuscated halo in the proximal basal and apical quadrants. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Abdominal sterna. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male genitalia ( Fig. 61 ). Median lobe (ml) with phallobase (pb) of moderate length about a fourth the length of shaft (ps), basal opening (bo) large, oriented parallel to shaft’s apical third. Shaft broad, moderately curved ventrally, dorsally sclerotized except for short ostium (oo, om); in ventral aspect tapered toward rather rounded apex (a), in lateral aspect, a narrowly rounded apex. Left paramere (lp) very large and broad, right (rp) small and triangular, apex of left paramere lobate and much longer than right paramere, about half the length of shaft (measured in left lateral aspect). Endophallus with 5 medial spines (ms), and one very large distal spine (ds). Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 77 ). This species has been found at only one location on the white-water system of the Amazon River drainage system. But that does not at all indicate its actual distribution, as has been pointed out above, very small beetles are inadequately sampled, especially in the Neotropics.

Way of life.

See Erwin (1991) for a general description of the genus. No way of life information is available for this species other than they occur in lowland Amazonian rainforest.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Figures

Figure 33 - 36. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 33 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 133151, Pithecia, Peru 34 Asklepia hilaris (Bates, 1871), comb. n., Brazil ADP 132543, Sao Paulo de Olivenca, Brazil 35 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia 36 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109194, Santarem, Rio Tapajos, Brazil. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 57 - 62. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 57 Asklepia geminata (Bates, 1871) ADP 109186, Rio Samiria, Boca Cano Ingles Camp, Peru 58 Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109196, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 59 Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132585, Rio Demiti, Brazil 60 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 052565, Rio Sucusari, Peru 61 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia. Legend: a apical area; bl basal lobe; bo basal orifice; lp left paramere; ml median lobe; om ostial membrane; oo ostial opening; rp right paramere; sh shaft; pb phallobase; ps phallobase shaft; ms medial spine; ds distal spine 62 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109208, Rio Demiti, Brazil. Scale line = 0.25 mm.

Figure 76 - 77. 76 Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia geminata (Bates) 77 Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia species of the hilaris group.