Pujoliclerus alajuela 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 alajuela Opitz , new species ( Figs. 32 , 63 , 106 , 127 )

Holotype. ♀. Sect. San Ramon de Dos Rios , Prov. Alaju., COSTA RICA, 620 m, 16 ENE FEB 1995, C. Cano ( INBC).

Paratype. One specimen. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Quebrada Bonita , X-1989, 50 m, R. B. Carara, X-1989, R. Zuniga ( WOPC) .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguishable from the superficially similar specimens of P. megacavus by the smaller size of the elytral punctures.

Description. Size: Length 5.0 mm; width 1.4 mm. Form: As in Fig. 106 . Integument: Head mostly yellow, frons black; antenna brown; pronotum tricolorous, anterior margin narrowly white, then reddish brown, then black, base black and disc with a black streak; elytra mostly brown, apex white; legs mostly yellow, infuscated; pterothorax and abdomen brown. Head: Eyes narrower than frons (10:12); funicular antennomeres moderately expanded, 6 th antennomere enlarged ( Fig. 32 ). Thorax: Pronotum quadrate (31:31), lateral tubercle very prominent ( Fig. 63 ); epipleural fold gradually narrowed to elytral apex, asetiferous punctures prominent to distal elytral 2/3. Abdomen: Aedeagus not available.

Variation. The two specimens examined are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during February and October, at altitudes ranging from 50 to 620 m.

Distribution. Known only from Costa Rica ( Fig. 127 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet, alajuela , constitutes a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

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. 62–75. Pujoliclerus species, pronota. 62) P. oxinus; 63) P. alajuela; 64) P. megacavus; 65) P. alboordinus; 66) P. pallidus; 67) P. apolegmus; 68) P. catarina; 69) P. macilentus; 70) P. megalus; 71) P. argus; 72) P. aspigalbus; 73) P. flora; 74) P. posticalis; 75) P. ostrinus.

Figs. 104–109. Pujoliclerus species, habitus. 104) P. orellana; 105) P. oxinus; 106) P. alajuela; 107) P. megacavus;

Fig. 127. Geographic distribution of four Pujoliclerus species.