Lasiodera kirbyi ( Gray, 1832 )

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Subfamily Peloniinae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part XII. Taxonomic Revision of the South American Genus Lasiodera Gray, The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (1), pp. 45-61 : 50

Lasiodera kirbyi ( Gray, 1832)

( Figs. 21, 23 , 35 , 41 )

Clerus kirbyi Gray 1832: 376 . Type locality: Brazil.

In BMNH. Enoplium kirbyi (Gray) : Klug 1842: 362. Pelonium superba Lucas 1857: 94 . Lasiodera kirbyi (Gray) : Gahan 1910: 75; Corporaal

1948: 245, 1950: 278; Ekis 1975: 52.

Diagnosis. Basal 2/3 of elytra testaceous, with two black, narrow, angular lines; distal third of elytra black, with a large orange spot. These characteristics will distinguish the members of this species from its congeners.

Redescription. Size: Length 13.0 mm; width 5.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 41 . Color: Mostly black, except 1 st 3 antennomeres testaceous ventrally, and elytra tricolored, basal 2/3 of elytra testaceous, with 2 narrow black angular lines, distal third of elytra black, with large circular orange spot. Head: Frons vested with patch of white setae, epicranium densely vested with black setae; funicular antennomeres filiform, antennomeres 9 and 10 triangular, antennomere 11 sublunulate ( Fig. 21 ); eyes small, much narrower than width of frons (EW/ FW = 55/120); cranium finely punctate. Thorax: Pronotum slightly oblong (PW/PL = 120/125), side margin with tubercle ( Fig. 23 ); elytral disc without asetiferous punctures, slightly tumescent at base, slightly depressed in middle third; EL/EW = 295/90; anterior protibial margin roughened. Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 35 ; phallobasic rod quadripartite

Variation. Length 16.0–17.5 mm; width 4.3–6.5 mm. Other than body size, the available specimens are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. This species, in consort with a species of Enoclerus Gahan ( Fig. 42 ), is clearly involved in a Batesian mimetic relationship with the velvet ant Haplomutilla spinosa (Swederus) ( Hymenoptera : Mutillidae ).

Distribution. In addition to the holotype, I examined 10 specimens from: BRAZIL: Estado do Espirito Santo; Estado do Minas Gerais, Mar de Hespanha, J. F. Zikán ( Fig. 48 ). Specimens are deposited in BMNH, FMNH, FSCA, MNHN, MRSN, USNM, and WOPC.

Figures

Figs. 20–26. Lasiodera species. Antennae: 20) L. trifasciata; 21) L. kirby; 22) L. ruficollis. Pronota: 23) L. kirbyi;

Figs. 35–38. Lasiodera species, abdominal terminalia. 35) L. kirbyi; 36) L. ruficollis; 37) L. rufipes; 38) L. trifasciata.

Figs. 41–44. Possible Batesian mimicry. 41) Lasiodera kirbyi; 42) Enoclerus obliquevittis; 43) Haplomutilla spinosa (Mutillidae); 44) Ameris dufresnii (Curculionidae).

Fig. 48. Geographic distribution of Lasiodera species.