Erymanthus vesuvioides Thomson, 1856

Gerstmeier, Roland & Salvamoser, Max, 2014, Revision of the checkered beetle genus Erymanthus Spinola, 1841 (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), Zootaxa 3755 (6), pp. 501-548 : 542-544

Erymanthus vesuvioides Thomson, 1856

( Figs 37–38 , 41 E)

Thomson 1856: 114, t5 f8; Murray 1867: 319; Schenkling 1903: t5 f9; Schenkling 1906: 282.

Specimens examined: Lectotype (designated here): Gd. Bassam, Type J. Thom., Vesuvioides Thoms. R. Z. 56.114.5.3., Ex Musaeo James Thomson, Muséum Paris 1952, Coll. R. Oberthúr, (MNHN).

Comment on the type specimens: As Thomson (1856: 114, 115) does not mention number of specimens, it cannot be assumed that E. vesuvioides is based on a single specimen. The specimen from Grand Bassam is therefore considered a syntype ( ICZN 1999: Article 73.2) and available for Lectotype designation ( ICZN 1999: Article 74.1).

Others: Guinea, Type Thom., Vesuvioides Thoms. R. Z. 56.114.5.3., Var A., Ex Musaeo James Thomson, Muséum Paris 1952, Coll. R. Oberthúr, ( MNHN). Grand-Bassam, Aquentin, Bassam, Ex Musaeo Parry, Muséum Paris 1952, Coll. R. Oberthúr ( MNHN). Gabon, Muséum Paris, Collection Leon Fairmaire 1902 ( MNHN). Riviére Haut San Benito, Coll. Sedillot ( RGCM). Congo Franç., Benito, Muséum Paris, Coll. M. Pic ( MNHN). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, E. Le Moult. 1923 ( MNHN). Côte d'Ivoire, Rég. De San Pedro, G. Thoire 1901, Schenkling vid. 1901 ( MNHN). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, Coll. M. Pic ( MNHN). Côte occid. Afrique, Ch. Alluaud 1886, Muséum Paris 1952, Coll. R. Oberthúr ( RGCM). Congo Français, N' Djole, J. Arrighi, Muséum Paris 1952, Coll. R. Oberthúr ( MNHN). Gabon, Bas- Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, E. Le Moult. 1923 ( MNHN). Gabon, W. Africa, Mocquerys ( MNHN). Côte d'Ivoire, Env. De Dimbokro, Capitaine Posth 1910 ( MNHN). Gabon, W. Africa, Mocquerys ( MNHN). La Maboke, Rep. Centrafic., PL. 26.II.1973, Michel Boulard et Paul Kombo, Photographié, Museum Paris ( MNHN). Gabon, Compare au type, ex Mus. R. Oberthur ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, 1923 acq. Le Moult, J. B. Corporaal det. 1923 ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex- Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, 1923 acq. Le Moult, J. B. Corporaal det. 1923 ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, 1923 acq. Le Moult, J. B. Corporaal det. 1934 ( RGCM). Sierra Leone, Falaba (2), 24.VIII.1912, Jas. J. Simpson, Sierra Leone, J. J. Simpson, 1912–425, 1926 ex British Museum, J. B. Corporaal det. 1946 ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, 1923 acq. Le Moult, J. B. Corporaal det. 1923 ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Muséum Paris, 1923 acq. Le Moult, J. B. Corporaal det. 1923 ( RMNH). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Coll. R I. Sc. N. B., J. B. Corporaal det. 1936 ( ISNB). Congo Franç., Benito, Coll. S. Schenkling, Schenkling det., Erymanthus vesuvioides West., Coll - 0 3102 ( SDEI). Span. Guinea, Nkolentangan, XI.07–V.08, G. Teßmann S. G., Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms. , Museum f. Naturkunde Berlin ( ZMB). Guinea, Buquet, Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms., Hist. Coll. (Coleoptera) Nr. 17813, Zool. Mus. Berlin ( ZMB). S. O. Kamerun, Lolodorf, 8.II.–27.III. 95, L. Conradt S., Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms., Determ. E. Hintz ( ZMB). Span. Guinea, Nkolentangan, XI.07–V.08, G. Teßmann S. G., Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms. , Museum f. Naturkunde Berlin ( ZMB). Gabon, Libreville et env., Don M Babault Fév. 1922, Erymanthus vesuvioides Ths., R. Det. E 2225 ( MRAC). Gabon, Bas-Ogooué, Ex-Collection Favarel, Sammlung P. Lepesme Eing. Nr. 2, 1949, Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms., P. Lepesme det. ( ZMUH). S. Leone 67·71, Sierra Leone 67·71, Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms., J. B. Corporaal det. 1926, Erymanthus vesuvioides Thoms., J. J. Menier det. 1981 ( BMNH).

Diagnosis: Erymanthus vesuvioides can be confused with E. melanurus . Erymanthus melanurus is 9–12mm long and has light brown femora. Erymanthus vesuvioides is clearly recognizable by its black metafemora and the total length of 12–20mm.

Length: (31 specimens measured) 12–20mm (average 15.77mm).

Head: Light brown, on disc darker; frontal umbo with two rounded grooves; with flavous anteriorly directed pilosity; antennae brown.

Pronotum: Pronotal length to width ratio 1.06:1 to 1.18:1 (average 1.11:1); light brown, posteriorly darker; pronotal groove dark and quite deep; gibbosities inconspicuous; with dense fine punctation; with relatively dense anterior directed flavous pilosity.

Scutellum: Black; vested with white setae.

Elytra: Elytral length to width ratio 1.82:1 to 2.18:1 (average 1.98:1); anterior half light brown, posteriorly dark brown to black; conspicuously dilated apically; punctation basally circular, apically elongate-ovate, first 2–4 rows slightly rasp-like, width of interstices variable, irregularly distributed; anteriorly with isolated black and flavous pilosity, posteriorly partly with dense white and flavous pilosity; gibbosities A, B, C and D with dense white setal tuft, E with black setae.

Legs: Pro- and middle legs light brown with dark marking dorsally on the femora, hind legs dark brown to black.

Lower surface: Dark brown to black with indication of light spots lateral of each abdominal segment; with white pilosity.

Male genitalia, pygidium, ventrite VI: Tips of tegminal lobes blunt, tegminal lobes one-fifth length of tegmen; tegminal struts broadened until one-fourth length and tapering lanceolate until tip; phallic tip clavate; posterior side of pygidium angular and very slightly pointed; processes of ventrite VI pointed.

Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.

Seasonal occurrence: Collected from November to August.

Figures

FIGURE 37. Erymanthus vesuvioides: (A) Aedeagus ventral, (B) Phallus lateral, (C) Tegmen dorsal, (D) Spicular fork, (E) Pygidium, (F) Ventrite VI; (scale bars 1 mm).

FIGURE 38. Distribution of Erymanthus vesuvioides.

FIGURE 41. (A) Erymanthus semirufus ab., (B) Erymanthus testaceus, (C) Erymanthus transversopustulatus n. sp., (D) Erymanthus variolatus, (E) Erymanthus vesuvioides; (scale bars 5 mm).