Enoclerus cavei Rifkind

Rifkind, Jacques, 2012, New Central American and Mexican Enoclerus Gahan (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae): Part II, Zootaxa 3397, pp. 1-27 : 10-11

Enoclerus cavei Rifkind , n. sp.

( Fig. 10 )

Type specimens. Holotype male (?): El Salvador, Dept. Ahuachapan, Bosque El Imposible, 15–vi–1979, on flowers of Casearia aculeata Jacq., R. D. Cave , colr., #80–851.1. Holotype deposited in CSCA. Paratype: same data as holotype except 18–vi–1979, #8–851.2. Paratype deposited in JNRC.

Diagnosis. A unique combination of elytral surface sculpturing, vestiture and integumental color pattern serves to distinguish this species from its congeners. It is only likely to be confused with E. quadrinotatus (Chevrolat) , from which it can be separated as follows: posterior margin of stramineous midelytral band sinuate laterally and broadly transverse at middle in E. cavei , arcuately emarginate laterally and produced at middle along the suture in E. quadrinotatus ; surface of subbasal tumescences obscured by densely arrayed dark setal patch in E. cavei , tubercle crowning subbasal tumescences clearly visible in E. quadrinotatus ; abdomen bicolorous (black and orange) in E. cavei , unicolorous (black) in E. quadrinotatus ; head reddish–brown in E. cavei , typically black or castaneous in E. quadrinotatus .

Description (Holotype). Length: 7.70 mm. Color: orange to orange-testaceous; clypeus, genae, labial palpi, prosternum, anterior of mesosternum, metasternum, visible abdominal sternites 1–3, internal surfaces of trochanters and femora, posterior 2/3 of pronotum, elytral subbasal tumescences, and a transverse fascia at approximately posterior elytral 2/5, castaneous to black; non–infuscate surfaces of legs reddish–brown; elytra with a broad, transverse stramineous fascia, complete to lateral margins and internally, anterior margin irregularly subsinuate, posterior margin sinuate laterally on disk, broadly transverse at middle. Head: antennae rather robust; antennomeres 9–11 forming an abruptly enlarged club; surface finely, densely, shallowly granulate–punctate, densely covered with subrecumbent, pale orange setae of moderate length. Pronotum: as long as broad; a little narrower than elytra at base; transverse impression mostly obscured by vestiture; disk subflattened above, posterior slope rather precipitous; surface sculpture as on head, densely set with subrecumbent and erect, rather robust orange setae, interspersed with fewer suberect, elongate, dark setae. Elytra: rather robust (ratio of width to length 8:14); rather deep in cross section; widest across umbones and then again at about posterior 1/3; anterior margin transverse; humeri subquadrate; umbones gibbous; sides subsinuate posterior to umbones, then broadly, gradually expanded posterior to middle, then broadly, arcuately convergent from posterior 1/3 to separately rounded, dehiscent apices; subbasal tumescences prominent, longitudinally expanded, their crown obscured by a thick covering of robust, elongate, erect black setae; middle disk slightly depressed above; surface coarsely, deeply and densely punctate on anterior 4/ 7, punctures irregular, subcribrate in areas, with their raised interstices forming a few longitudinal striae; sculpturing finer, more shallow and less distinct on posterior 3/7; vestiture as follows: anterior 1/4 moderately densely covered with short and medium length subrecumbent orangish setae, intermixed with fewer longer, robust, erect black setae (subbasal tumescences densely thatched with black setae); stramineous median fascia moderately densely but inconspicuously arrayed with short, suberect and a few longer, erect pale setae; anteapical black fascia rather densely covered with very short, fine, suberect black setae, interspersed with fewer longer, robust, suberect black setae and a few longer, erect black setae; posterior 1/4 with a wedge shaped covering of moderately densely arrayed, moderately long, adpressed orangish setae, swirled in several directions and intermixed with a few robust, erect pale setae. Mesosternum: posterior median process prominently elevated, cleft at apex. Metasternum: surface rugulose, densely set with long, recumbent silvery setae; anterior median process sulcate and slightly raised at base, somewhat elevated at apex. Abdomen: shining, very sparsely punctulate, set with very few fine, pale setae; visible sternite 5 very slightly, arcuately emarginate posteriorly; visible sternite 6 with sides rounded, posterior margin subtruncate at middle; visible tergite 6 with posterior margin subtruncate at middle, surpassing visible sternite 6; setal daggers absent. Legs: femora robust; all tibiae robust and comparatively short.

Variation. The paratype specimen measures 7.50 mm in length. It has visible abdominal sternites 5 and 6 orange, but sternite 4 variegated orange and castaneous.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronymic honoring tropical biologist Ronald D. Cave, collector of the type specimens.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, Bosque Imposible, one of the few remaining areas of primary forest in El Salvador.

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).