Pujoliclerus wappesi Opitz, 2014

Opitz, Weston, 2014, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Checkered Beetle GenusPujoliclerusPic (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (4), pp. 727-756 : 727-756

Pujoliclerus wappesi Opitz , new species ( Figs. 27 , 56 , 82 , 99 , 123 )

Holotype. ♂. BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 430 m, 1-8-XI-2002, J.E. Wappes ( MNKM).

Paratypes. Seventy specimens. BRAZIL: Rondonia: 62 km SW Ariquemes, Fzda. Rancho Grande , 6-X-1993, C.W. & L.B. O’ Brien ( WOPC, 4) ; idem, 16-XI-1994, C.W. L.B. O’ Brien ( WOPC, 1): Pará: Sta. Isabel do Pará, 30-III-1962, J. Bechyne ( WOPC, 1). BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 SSE Buena Vista, Flora & Fauna Hotel , 14-19-X-2002, M.C. Thomas ( WOPC, 3) ; idem, 14-28-X-2000, B.K. Dozier ( FSCA, 1) ; idem, 14- 16-X-2000, R. Morris RFMC, 2 ); idem, 17-20-X- 2000, R. Morris ( RFMC, 3) ; idem, 23-25-X-2000, R. Morris ( RFMC, 1) ; idem, 22-26-X-2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 1) ; idem, 27-31-X- 2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 3; WOPC, 3) ; idem, 7-10-X-2004, Morris & Wappes ( WOPC, 2); 5 km SSE Buena Vista, Flora & Fauna Hotel , 10-22-X- 2004, 440 m, J.E. Eger ( FSCA, 1) ; idem, 23-26-X-2000, M.C. Thomas ( FSCA, 1) ; idem, 14-28-X-2000, 430, m, B.K. Dozier ( FSCA, 2); 4-6 k SSE Buena Vista , Flora & Fauna Hotel, 1-8-XI-2002, J.E. Wappes ( JEWC, 6; MNKM, 2, WOPC, 2) ; idem, 3.7 SSE Buena Vista , Flora & Fauna Hotel, 5-15-XI- 2001, 405 m, tropical transition forest, M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier ( FSCA, 3; MNKM, 3; WOPC, 6) ; idem, 4-6 k SSE Buena Vista , Flora & Fauna Hotel, 22-31-X-2002, J.E. Wappes & Morris ( JEWC, 5; MNKM, 3; WOPC, 3) ; idem, 27-29- X-2000, J. Wappes & Morris ; idem, 5-8-V-2004 ( WOPC, 1) ; idem, 23-25-IX-2004, Wappes & Cline ( MNKM, 1) ; idem, 10-29-XI-2003, blacklight trap, B.K. Dozier ( MNKM, 1); Amboro road above Achira Campo, 9-11-X-2004, 1525-1769, Morris & Wappes ( WOPC, 1); Potrerillos del Guendá , 40 km NW Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 17°40′ S 063°27′ W, 5-20-XI-2004, B.K. Dozier ( MNKM, 1) ; idem 16-22-X- 2006, 370 m, Wappes, Nearns, & Eya ( JEWC, 1); 10-15-X- 2007, 370 m, J. Wappes A. Cline ( JEWC, 1) .

Diagnosis. The large, seriate elytral punctures present in members of this species will distinguish

them from superficially similar specimens of P. biordinus .

Description. Size: Length 6.3 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 99 . Integument: Head mostly reddish-brown, frons black; antenna brown, capitulum with some pale spots; pronotum tricolorous, anterior margin narrowly white, then reddish brown, then black; elytra mostly brown, narrowly yellow around periphery; fore and middle legs mostly dark, hind legs mostly yellow; pterothorax and abdomen brown. Head: Eyes wider than frons (19:12); funicular antennomeres moderately expanded, 6 th antennomere not very large ( Fig. 27 ). Thorax: Pronotum quadrate (47:47), lateral tubercle very prominent ( Fig. 56 ); epipleural fold gradually diminishing to elytral apex; asetiferous punctures prominent throughout elytral disc. Abdomen: Tegminal lobes and phallic apex as in Fig. 82 .

Variation. Size: Length 4.0–7.0 mm; width 1.3-2.3 mm. Some specimens are more melanistic on the pronotum, and not all specimens have the sutural margin yellow.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during March in Brazil and during October and November in Bolivia at altitudes ranging from 405 to 440 m.

Distribution. Known from Bolivia and Brazil ( Fig. 123 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet recognizes Jim E. Wappes for his many contributions to the field of entomology.

Figures

Figs. 21–38. Pujoliclerus species, antennae. 21) P. helvinus; 22) P. maracayensis; 23) P. bilineatus; 24) P. calceatus; 25) P. corumba; 26) P. ovatus; 27) P. wappesi; 28) P. amplus; 29) P. flavoapicalus; 30) P. gilvus; 31) P. hermani; 32) P. alajuela; 33) P. orellana; 34) P. megacavus; 35) P. oxinus; 36) P. alboordinus; 37) P. apolegmus; 38) P. catarina.

Figs. 48–61. Pujoliclerus species, pronota. 48) P. helvinus; 49) P. maracayensis; 50) P. modestus; 51) P. bilineatus; 52) P. calceatus; 53) P. corumba; 54) P. flavolimbatus; 55) P. ovatus; 56) P. wappesi; 57) P. amplus; 58) P. flavoapicalus; 59) P. gilvus; 60) P. hermani; 61) P. orellana.

Figs. 76–91. Pujoliclerus species, aedeagi. 76) P. helvinus; 77) P. bilineatus; 78) P. calceatus; 79) P. corumba; 80) P. flavolimbatus; 81) P. ovatus (tegmen only); 82) P. wappesi; 83) P. gilvus; 84) P. hermani; 85) P. casselorum; 86) P. catarina (phallus only); 87) P. argus; 88) P. aspigalbus; 89) P. flora; 90) P. posticalis; 91) P. pallidus.

Figs. 98–103. Pujoliclerus species, habitus. 98) P. ovatus; 99) P. wappesi; 100) P. amplus; 101) P. flavoapicalus;

Fig. 123. Geographic distribution of six Pujoliclerus species.