Pygmodeon obtusum (Bates, 1874)

(Figure 81)

Heterachthes obtusus Bates, 1874: 221; Aurivillius, 1912: 111 (cat.); Melzer, 1935: 180.

Ibidion obtusum; Bates, 1880: 33; 1885: 264.

Compsa obtusa; Lameere, 1883: 15 (cat.).

Heterachthes obtusa; Blackwelder, 1946: 570 (checklist).

Pygmodeon obtusum; Martins, 1970: 1181; 1971: 170 (distr.); Chemsak et al., 1992: 53 (checklist); Monné, 1993a: 70 (cat.); Maes et al., 1994: 21 (distr.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 81 (checklist); Noguera & Chemsak, 1996: 399 (checklist); Maes, 1998: 896 (distr.); Turnbow et al., 2003: 13 (distr.); Monné, 2005: 387 (cat.); Hovore, 2006: 373 (distr.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 100 (checklist); Swift et al., 2010: 22 (distr.); Maes et al., 2010a: 357 (distr.).

Heterachthes obtusus var. segregatus; Melzer, 1935: 180.

Ibidion obtusum var. segregatum Bates, 1885: 265 .

Ibidion obtusum var. segretatum; Bates, 1885: pl. 17, fig. 22 (error).

Bates (1874) described Heterachthes obtusus based on a single female from Nicaragua. Later, Bates (1880) transferred the species to Ibidion Audinet-Serville, 1834 (currently, Neoibidion Monné, 2012), and Bates (1885) described Ibidion obtusum var. segregatum, stating: “The following is an extreme variety, in which all the spots are reduced in size: Var. I. segregatum . Slender and substraight; both elytra with five small yellowish-brown spots.” Melzer (1935) reported in the description of Heterachthes mutabilis (translated): “This new species [ H. mutabilis] is similar to H. chiriquinus and H. integripennis Bates, but differs in the drawing, the sculpture and the form. In a way, it also approaches H. obtusus Bates. Of this species, Bates gives the variety segregatus, which is not listed in Catalogue by Aurivillius. According to the drawing, this variety is extremely deviant in the form of the type, so that one can entertain legitimate doubts that it is a variety.” Martins (1970) considered I. obtusus segregatus as equal to Pygmodeon obtusum . Unfortunately, we could not examine a photograph of the holotype of I. obtusus segregatus . However, if the illustration of the holotype provided by Bates (1885) is accurate, we agree with Melzer (1935), because the species appears to be much more slender than P. obtusum .

Bates (1880) described Ibidion cribripenne based on a single female from Costa Rica, and Bates (1885) described I. chiriquinum based on a single female from Panama. Martins (1970) synonymized the latter under the former, and reported (translated): “ P. cribripenne can be separated from P. obtusum by the fine and dense sculpturing on vertex, by the upper eye lobes with only 3 rows of ommatidia, by the setae of the inner side of the basal antennomeres more elongated, with about twice the width of the segment (female), by the prothorax more cylindrical, slightly constricted anteriorly and posteriorly, and by the elytral pattern (typical form). Furthermore, in I. cribripenne the general color is more reddish, and the dimensions are smaller.” However, according to Martins (1970), the elytral pattern in P. obtusum is noticeable variable, and they are nearly identical in the holotypes of P. obtusum and P. cribripenne . Unfortunately, we did not examine specimens identified as P. cribripenne . Thus, we are unable confirm if the shape and number of ommatidia in P. cribripenne is really different from that in P. obtusum . However, all specimens of the latter species examined by us have 4 rows of ommatidia in the upper eye lobes.

Material examined (only specimen of the new record). PANAMA, Chiriquí: near Volcan ( Mount Totumas Cloud Forest; 8º53’6.01”N / 82º4’’1.32”W; 1920 m), 1 male, V-VI.2018, A. Kozlov & Y. Kovaleva col. (MZSP).