Heilus asperulus (Erichson, 1847)

(Fig. 13)

Heilipus asperulus Erichson, 1847:130 (description); Blackwelder 1947:817 (checklist).

Hilipus asperulus: Gemminger & Harold 1871:2425 (catalog); Dalla Torre et al. 1932:26 (catalog).

Heilus asperulus: Kuschel 1955:297 (combination); Wibmer & O’Brien 1986:144 (checklist).

Type material. Heilipus asperulus Erichson, 1847: we examined the images of three paratypes (Fig. 13), one bearing the following labels “43908; Peru mont. Thomm.; Paratypus; Heilipus asperulus Er. ”, and two specimens bearing the following labels “33444; Peru mont., Philippi.; asperulus Er.; Type; Berlin, Heilus asperulus (Erichson) Kuschel det. 1960; Hist.- Coll. ( Coleoptera), Nr. 33444, Heilipus asperulus —Er. X, Peru mont., Philippi, Zool. Mus. Berlin; SYNTYPE Heilipus asperulus Erichson, 1847 labelled by MFNB 2017” and “Berlin; Hist.- Coll. ( Coleoptera), Nr. 33444, Heilipus asperulus —Er. x, Peru mont., Philippi, Zool. Mus. Berlin; SYNTYPE Heilipus asperulus Erichson, 1847 labelled by MFNB 2017”.

Diagnosis. Bright black integument, and ferruginous tarsus. Body densely covered with yellowish setae, with uneven clusters of dark setae, forming small macula scattered over the elytra, and a larger velvelty black macula in the middle of interstria 4; pronotum with oblique granules on the sides and moderately transverse on the pronotal disc, elytra with transverse granules, more concentrated in the basal third.

Geographical distribution. We did not examine any specimens of this species. Wibmer & O’Brien (1986) mentioned that this species occurs only in Peru (type locality) ; however, more recently, Rheinheimer (2010) recorded it in French Guiana.

Associated plants. Unknown.

Remarks. Heilus asperulus differs from the other Heilus species by the presence of a velvet black median macula on the elytra and longer body size (10.6 mm).