Phloeodes venustus (Champion) Foley & Ivie, 2008

Foley, Ian A. & Ivie, Michael A., 2008, A phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Zopherini with a review of the species and generic classification (Coleoptera: Zopheridae), Zootaxa 1928 (1), pp. 1-72 : 48

Phloeodes venustus (Champion) NEW COMBINATION

Figs. 38 , 42, 46

Nosoderma venustus Champion, 1884: 45 .

Nosoderma venustum ; García-París et al., 2006: 230.

Noserodes venusta ; Casey, 1907b: 481. Gebien, 1936: 670. Blackwelder, 1945: 515. Arnett, 1983: 16.

Verodes venustus ; Foley and Ivie, 2007: 71 .

Diagnosis: This large elongate species is distinguished from all Zopherini with 10-segmented antennae by the lack of a visible scutellum, having tubercles present on the ventral body surface and the tomentose vestiture which is mottled in color, primarily whitish, golden, and dark brown to black. The species can appear largely black if the vestiture has worn off, or is obstructed by greasy exudate. The antennal cavity of Ph. venustus is weakly defined but the anterior portion of the hypomeron is produced ventrally relative to the pleurosternal suture, producing a distinct groove for the antenna. The central portion of the hypomeral face is concave laterad the pleurosternal suture in a weak but clear indication of the cavity.

Distribution: Central America from the countries of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama, at elevations between 600 – 1500 m.

Recorded distribution: A summary of the 22 specimens examined is (for complete label data, see Foley 2006) COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, Puntarenas. GUATEMALA: Escuintla. NICARAGUA: Matagalpa. PAN- AMA: Panamá .

Types: Nosoderma venustum : LECTOTYPE ♂, intact in BMNH. Orange ringed circle Type/V. de Atitlan, 25–3500 ft.; Champion./ Nosoderma venustum ; Champ MS./Sp. Figured/B.C.A.Col.IV.1.; Nosoderma venustum /red square Lectotypus; Nosoderma ; venustum Champion ; García-París des 2000. PARALECTOTYPE ♀, intact in BMNH. Zapote; Guatemala; G.C. Champion./ Nosoderma venustum ; Champ MS./Sp. Figured/ B.C.A.Col.IV.1.; Nosoderma venustum /red square; Paralectotypus; Nosoderma ; venustum Champion García- París des 2000.

Notes: This species was described in the genus Nosoderma but was placed in the genus Noserodes Casey by Gebien (1936) based on Casey’s suggestion (1907b) that it was probably a member of that genus. The genus Noserodes was then synonymized with Nosoderma ( Doyen and Lawrence 1979) moving the species back into the later genus. In comparison with the Californian species of this genus, very little information has been published on this large and very distinctive species.

Figures

FIGURES 35–38. Dorsal habiti. 35. Phloeodes diabolicus, California, San Diego Co.; 36. Phloeodes diabolicus, California, Napa Co.; 37. P. plicatus, California, Los Angeles Co.; 38. P. venustus, Costa Rica.

FIGURES 42–46. 42. Lateral view of P. venustus hypomeron. 43. Ventral view of tarsus of P. venustus. 44–46. Male genitalia. 44. P. diabolicus; 45. P. plicatus; 46. P. venustus.