Phlegon herculeanus ( Lacordaire, 1857 )

Otto, Robert L., 2017, A revision of Phlegoninae (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), with descriptions of a new genus and four new species, Insecta Mundi 2017 (569), pp. 1-27 : 7-8

Phlegon herculeanus ( Lacordaire, 1857) stat. res.

Fig. 15–19

Euryptychus herculeanus Lacordaire, 1857: 123 [footnote (2)]; pl. 41: 2–2a (as P. herculeanus ).

Diagnosis. Rounded punctures along elytral sutures distinguish this species from both P. giganteus and P. chiriquiensis . Males are distinguished from those of P. buqueti by subequal length of antennomere IX in relation to X; antennomere IX shorter than X in P. buqueti . Males are further distinguished from male P. panamensis by shorter, thicker antennal rami on antennomeres IX–X; elongate and narrower in P. panamensis . Females of P. herculeanus are distinguished from those of P. panamensis by relative length of antennomere IX in relation to X; IX longer than X in P. herculeanus and IX as long as X in P. panamensis . Females are further distinguished from those of P. buqueti by shape of antennomeres IX–X; simply serrate in P. buqueti and asymmetrically serrate in P. herculeanus .

Specimens Examined. Thirty-seven specimens were available for study: BRAZIL: 1, “ No, INPA-spda Manaus, 25-III-1976 Am, A.P.A. Luna Dias” (“INPA-spda”, day, month and year handwritten) / “INPA” / “Colecao, do INPA” / Phlegon buqueti, Laporte 1840 , J. Muona det. 2014” / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (INPA); 1, “Brazil – Am – Manaus, INPA, 30-4-1976, PARALUPPI” (day, month and year handwritten) / “Colecao, do INPA” / “ Phlegon buqueti, Laporte 1840 , J. Muona det. 2014” / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (INPA); FRENCH GUIANA: 1, “ Eur. herculea, nus Chevr, Cayenn.” (green label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (JMC); 1, (small, discolored square) / “ Phlegon , buqueti, Cayenne Cast. ” (handwritten in calligraphy; green-framed discolored label) / “MUSÉUM PARIS, ex coll., Castelnau, COLL. E. FLEU- TIAUX” (“ex coll. Castelnau” handwritten) / “ TYPE ” (red printed label) / “Female specimen is, not the type for, Phlegon buqueti Lap., Robert L. Otto 2016 ” / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (MNHN); 2, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Saül vpr trap, 30.XII.2010, SEAG” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 1, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti 21.X.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 1, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti 29.X.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (greenframed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 2, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti, 4.XI.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 4, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti 12.XI.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 6, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti 19.XI.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 1, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti 26.XI.2011, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 4, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti, 21.X.2012, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 3, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti, Nov. 2012, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (greenframed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 4, “FRENCH GUIANA:, Matiti, XII.2012, JLG leg.” / “Collection of the Global, Eucnemid Research Project, (Robert L. Otto)” (green-framed white label) / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , Det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (GERP); 4, “French Guiana Matiti, 30 km NNW Cayenne, 5°3’ N 52°36’ W 12-2014, Jean Louis Giuglaris det” / “ Phlegon buqueti, Laoprte 1840 , J. Muona det. 2014” / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (JMC); VENEZUELA: 1, “Venezuela” (green label) / “Rivière, Caroni.” / “ Phlegon , buqueti Cast., FLEUTIAUX det. 1945 ♂ ” (genus, species, author, sex symbol and year handwritten) / “ Phlegon buqueti, Laporte 1840 , J. Muona det. 2014” / “ Phlegon , herculeanus, (Lacordaire) , det. R.L. Otto, 2017” (MNHN).

Description. ♂: length 12.0–18.0 mm, width, 4.0–6.0 mm. ♀: length 16.0–26.0 mm, width, 5.0–7.0 mm. Body stout, oblong, elongate; uniformly dark reddish brown; antennae brown; femora, tibiae and tarsi dark reddish brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with elongate, semierect yellowish setae ( Fig. 15–16 ).

Head: Subspherical; frons convex, with shallow, round fovea above frontoclypeal region; surfaces shiny, densely punctate; punctures variably sized; apical margin of frontoclypeal region rounded, about 2 times wider than base; mandibles slender, without teeth.

Antenna: ♂ ( Fig. 17 ): Antennomere III slightly longer than IV; antennomeres IV–VII longer than wide; antennomere VIII quadrate; antennomeres IX–X enlarged, pectinate; ramus thicker, as long or slightly longer than length of respective segment, arising near apices; antennomeres IX–X subequal, each as long as antennomeres VII–VIII combined; antennomere XI simple, tubular, longer than either IX or X. ♀ ( Fig. 18 ): Antennomere III slightly longer than IV; antennomeres IV–VII longer than wide; antennomere VIII quadrate; antennomeres IX–X enlarged, asymmetrically dentate; antennomere IX longer than X, as long as antennomeres VII–VIII combined; antennomere X short, shorter than antennomeres VII–VIII combined; antennomere XI simple, longer than either IX or X, obliquely bent.

Pronotum: Surfaces shiny, densely, deeply punctate; punctures variably sized; wider than long, with large, sharp hind angles; sides gradually narrowing anteriorly, constricted above hind angles; disc convex; base sinuous.

Scutellum: Setose, punctate, subtriangular and distally rounded.

Elytra: Striae indicated, formed from round punctures; interstices slightly elevated; surfaces shiny, shallowly punctate; apices ( Fig. 19 ) with deep, arrow-shaped cavities near elytral suture.

Legs: First tarsomere shorter than the combined length of remaining four on meso- and metatarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated, bilobed; metatarsomere V elongate; pretarsal claws simple.

Venter: Closely punctate, with elongate, recumbent yellowish setae; hypomeron simple, without lateral antennal grooves; metepisterna parallel-sided; metacoxal plates medially 3.0–6.0 times wider than laterally.

Distribution. Two specimens have been taken from separate localities in Brazil. Thirty-four specimens have been taken from various localities in French Guiana. One specimen was taken in Venezuela.

Biology. Two specimens were taken from a mercury vapor light trap in French Guiana. Chassain and Touroult (2011) reported finding the species (as P. buqueti ) to be relatively common in the country. Larvae and pupae are unknown.

Note. Lacordaire (1857) reported a number of specimens of P. herculeanus from both Chevrolat’s and La Ferte’s collections. He indicated one of the specimens was nearly an inch long and noted that specimens were taken in California. I regard that location to be erroneous.

Presumably the types were retained in the collections of Chevrolat and La Ferte. According to Horn and Kahle (1935), Laferté-Senéctère’s eucnemids went to Bonvouloir and Chevrolat’s ended in Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien. I had no success in tracing them.

Identification of the species was based on comparisons with recently collected specimens and illustrations of a female ( Lacordaire 1857; pl. 41: 2–2a), even though types of the species were not available for study. Males were identified based on association with females collected together. Comparison of antennal structures among females of the species compared with Lacordaire’s illustration and recently collected specimens of P. buqueti indicate consistent differences in antennal structures between the two species. Female antennomeres IX–X are simply serrate in P. buqueti and asymmetrically serrate in P. herculeanus . Associated males of both species also exhibit differences in the antennal structures. Antennomere IX is shorter than X in males of P. buqueti , whereas both segments are of subequal length in males of P. herculeanus . Based on these observations, P. herculeanus is resurrected from synonymy with P. buqueti .

Figures

Figures 15–19. Phlegon herculeanus (Chevrolat). 15) Male (JMC), dorsal habitus. 16) Female (JMC), dorsal habitus. 17) Male antenna (JMC), dorsal view. 18) Female antenna (JMC), dorsal view. 19) Male elytral apices (JMC), dorsal view. (Scale: 15–16 = 10.0 mm; 17–19 = 1.0 mm)