Enoclerus melissae Rifkind

Rifkind, Jacques, 2012, New Central American and Mexican Enoclerus Gahan (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae): Part II, Zootaxa 3397, pp. 1-27 : 13

Enoclerus melissae Rifkind , n. sp.

( Fig. 12 )

Type specimens. Holotype male: Panamá, Panamá Province, Cerro Campana, 2700', May 17–19, 1987, E. Giesbert, coll. Holotype deposited in CSCA. Paratypes: PANAMÁ: 1, same data as holotype; 1, Panamá Province, Cerro Campana, 800–860 m, 19 Aug. 1978, E. M. Fisher, collr.; 1, Panamá Province, El Llano–Corti Rd., km 8, el. 300 m, 3 May 1992, Stockwell, coll.; 1, Panamá Province, Cerro Jefe, ca. 2800', May 21, 1987, E. Giesbert, coll.; 1, Veraguas Province, Alto de Piedra, above Santa Fe, el. 800 m, 24 June, 1996, A. Gillogly, coll. COSTA RICA: 1, Guanacaste Province, 3 km SE R. Naranjo, 1–15 August, 1993, F. D. Parker, coll. Paratypes are deposited in CSCA, WFBM and JNRC.

Diagnosis. Separable from congeners on the basis of coloration, elytral markings and surface sculpturing. The new species' small size, shining metallic blue pronotum and shining deep metallic purple elytra marked with two sets of cream colored maculae make it easily identifiable. Its closest affinity is almost certainly with the species described immediately below, which, however, displays three sets of pale elytral markings. Enoclerus melissae is also somewhat similar to the Brazilian E. lateluteus Pic , though that species is larger, has black antennae and pronotum, and differently shaped median elytral markings.

Description (Holotype). Length: 5.60 mm. Color: Head, pronotum and venter dark metallic blue; antennae, mouthparts and legs, reddish testaceous; elytra dark metallic purple–brown, with two sets of cream colored maculae arranged as in Fig. 12 , incomplete at lateral margins. Head: shining; sparsely, finely punctulate; set with short and medium length suberect, posteriorly directed ashy setae, intermixed with longer, erect dark setae. Pronotum: a little longer than broad, narrower than elytra at base; transverse impression U–shaped at middle; disk subflattened above; surface shining, punctulate as on head; shallowly, minutely rugulose at sides; moderately but inconspicuously clothed with fine, suberect ashy setae and fewer longer, more robust, erect dark setae. Elytra: elongate (ratio of length to width 17:10); broadest posterior to middle; umbones prominent; subbasal tumescences obsolete; posterior slope gradual; surface shining, a little more densely and distinctly punctulate than pronotum, punctures appearing dark against cream–colored maculae; vestiture inconspicuous, consisting of fine, suberect, pale setae over pale maculae, and fine, suberect dark setae over darkened integument, intermixed with robust, infuscate, erect setae. Mesosternum: posterior median process slightly raised at apex. Metasternum: convex; shallowly, minutely granulate–punctate; vested with rather long, fine, ashy setae; anterior median process not elevated distally. Abdomen: shining; coarsely, sparsely and shallowly punctate; vested as on metasternum; visible sternite 6 with sides oblique, hind angles rounded, posterior margin slightly inflexed at middle. Visible tergite 6 slightly longer than visible sternite 6; posterior margin narrowly rounded. Legs: robust.

Variation. Size ranges from 4.40 mm to 6.20 mm. The female has visible sternite 6 and visible tergite 6 with their posterior margins contiguously rounded. Specimens are otherwise similar.

Etymology. I am delighted to name this beautiful beetle for my friend Melissa Brady.

Distribution. Panamá and the northern Pacific slope of Costa Rica.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 18. Habitus of: 10. Enoclerus cavei Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male). 11. Enoclerus hespenheidei Rifkind n. sp. (holotype female). 12. Enoclerus melissae Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male). 13. Enoclerus opitzi Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male). 14. Enoclerus urbanus Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male (? )). 15. Enoclerus crinitus Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male). 16. Enoclerus mocho Rifkind n. sp. (holotype female). 17. Enoclerus regnadkcin Rifkind n. sp. (holotype female). 18. Enoclerus citricornis Rifkind n. sp. (holotype male).