Axina plagiata Schenkling, 1900

Opitz, Weston, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Axina Kirby (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Insecta Mundi 2020 (793), pp. 1-70 : 15-16

Axina plagiata Schenkling, 1900

Figures 42 , 69 , 81 .

Axina plagiata Schenkling, 1900: 390 . Lectotype. Male. Here designated. Type locality: Goyas, Brasil, Donckier (SDEI). Paralectotypes: 4 specimens. Brazil: Estado do Goiás, Collection date not noted, Donckier (FMNH, 1; SDEI, 2); idem, Jatahy (SDEI, 1). Corporaal 1950: 98. There is indication that Schenkling examined more than one specimen in his description of this species, but he did not select a holotype, therefore, I invoke Recommendation 73F of the ICZN (1999) and designate a lectotype for this nominal species.

Diagnosis. The brown streaks on the elytral disc will distinguish the members of this species from congeners. Redescription. Size. Length 13.0 mm; width 3.2 mm. Form. As in Fig.81 . Color. Cranium and pterothorax castaneous; antenna testaceous; prothorax bicolorous, venter and pronotal sides black, pronotal middle disc castaneous; pterothorax black; elytra bicolorous, admixture of brown and testaceous streaks; legs bicolorous, proximal 1/3 of femora and tarsi castaneous, rest black; abdomen flavotestaceous. Head. Cranium finely punctate, frons about as wide as length of antennal pedicel; EW/FW 75/15. Thorax. Pronotum finely punctate, with 2 tumescences, narrowly concave at middle; PW/PL 130/175; elytra, asetiferous punctures substriate, punctures extend to slightly beyond elytral middle, interstitial spaces very wide in some places, narrow in others; EL/EW 580/100. Abdomen. Female pygidium entire along distal margin; aedeagus ( Fig. 42 ), phallobasic lobes very short, curvate; phallic plates not serrate; phallobasic apodeme well developed.

Variation. Size. Length 8.5–14.0 mm; width 2.0–4.0 mm. The brown streaks on the elytron disc vary in their prominence.

Natural history. Specimens were collected in Bolivia during November through March, some at 350 to 534 m. Other specimens were collected in Brazil, during May, October through December, some at 400 m., and others from Argentina during March.

Distribution (for map see Fig. 69 ). In addition to the lectotype and paralectotypes, I examined 87 specimens from: Bolivia: Departamento de Santa Cruz, 8 km NW Terebinto, 1-XII-2012, Javier Chaco; 4-6 km SE Terebinto, 21-XI-2013, Skillman & Wappes; idem, 2-9-I-2004, Robin Clarke; 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna, 15-22-XI- 2001, 430 m, blacklight in tropical transition forest, B. K. Dozier; idem, 5-15-XI- 2001, 405 m, M. C. Thomas & B. K. Dozier; 4k SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna, 22-25-XI-2013, 350- 400 m, Wappes & Skillman; 3 km N Brazilio, 27-II-8-III-1999, 1750 feet, M. Erwin & F. Parker. Brazil: Estado do Bahia, Santo Antônio da Barra,?-?-1890, Ch. Pujol; Barro Preto, collection date not noted, Ch. Pujol; Chapada,?-X-?, collector not noted; idem,?-V-?, collector not noted; Estado do São Paulo, Pereira Barreto, metropolitan area,?- XII-1999, S. R. S. Silva; Regente Feijo,?-X-?, B. Pohl. Estado do Mato Grosso, Fazenda Santa Luzia, Três Lagoas,?-X-XI-1977, E. P. Teixeiratol; Estado do Minas Gerais, Sertão de Diamantina, Fazenda das Melacias , 10-XI-1902, E. Gounelle; Pedra Azul,?- XI-1970, F. M. Oliveira; Estado do Espírito Santo, Linhares,?- IX-1973, M. Alvarenga; Estado do Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia,?- I- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann; idem,?- XI- 1953, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann; idem,?- XII- 1953, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann; idem, 1-X- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann; idem, Estado do Goías, Jatai,?- XI- 1972, F. M. Oliveira; idem,?- XI-1972, F. M. Oliveira; Minaçú, Serra de Mesa, 9-20-XII-1996, A. Franceschini; Trindade, collection date not noted, Ch. Pujol; Mineiro,?-?-1912, H. Donckier. Argentina: Yulio, 14-III-1957, F. Moonros. Specimens are deposited in: ACMT, AMNH, BMNH, CASC, CMNC, CMNH, CUIC, FMNH, FSCA, FWSC, MCNZ, MNHN, SDEI, USNM, WFBM, and WOPC.

bella species group

There are seven species in this group, whose members are characterized by showing fewer than 50 asetiferous punctures on the elytral disc. Most of the punctures occur in the basal half of the elytra near the sutural margin. The combined geographical distribution of this species group involves French Guiana, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Figures

Figure 69. Distribution map for Axina species: A. atmis, A. bahia, A. brunnea, A. longevittata, A. diversesignata, A. lobispinula, A. orcastomata, A. plagiata, A. adelosa, A. bella, A. bifasciata.

Figures 40–43. Aedeagi. 40) Axina diversesignata. 41) A. orcastomata. 42) A. plagiata. 43) A. adelosa.

Figures 78–81. Habitus of Axina species. 78) Axina diversesignata. 79) A. lobispinula. 80) A. orcastomata. 81) A. plagiata.