Priocera batesi OPITZ, 2021

Opitz, Weston, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Priocera KIRBY (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 1145-1255 : 1160

Priocera batesi OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 30 , 91 , 108 )

HOLOTYPE: ♂. Type locality: BRAZIL, Rondonia, 62 km SE Ariquemes , 22-31-Oct-1997, W. J. Hanson ( FSCA) . PARATYPES: 18 specimens. Colombia: Departamento de Meta, PNN Tinigua, Cano Nevara , 20-23-XII-2001, D. Campus ( WOPC, 1). Venezuela: Estado de Falcón, Cerro Capadre, 17-VII- 1971, 300 m, Bordón ( AMNH, 1; WOPC, 1)) ; Bolivia: Departamento de Santa Cruz, Potrerillos del Guenda , 16-22-X- 2006, 370 m, Wappes, Nearns & Eya ( ACMT, 2) ; idem, 10- 15-X-2007, J. Wappes & A. Cline ( WOPC, 1) ; idem, Preserva Natural, 40 km NW Santa Cruz , 30- IX- 2007, 370 m, Wappes & Morris ( FMNH, 1) ; idem, Snake Farm , 14-16-X-2011, Wappes & Skillman ( ACMT, 1) ; idem, 40 km NW Santa Cruz , 22-XI-12-XII-2005, B. K. Dozier ( FSCA, 1) ; 4-6 km SSE Buena Vista, F & F Hotel , 22-31-X-2002, Wappes & Morris ( ACMT, 1) ; Las Juntas,?- XII-1913, Steinbach ( CMNH, 1). Ecuador: Provincia de Napo, vicinity Misahualli, 27-31-X- 2002, E. M. Fisher ( JNRC, 1). Peru: Provincia de Tambopata , 15 km NE Puerto Maldonado, 19- VII- 1989, 200 m, at night on logs, J. Ashe, R. Leschen ( SEMC, 1) ; Provincia de Puno, Yurac, 67 miles E Tingo Maria, 4-X-1954, E. I. Schlinger & E. S. Ross ( CASC, 1). BRAZIL: Estado do Rondonia, 62 km SW Ariquemes, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 17-XI-1994, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien ( WFBC, 1) ; idem, 5-16-XI-1996, W. J. Hanson ( EMUS, 1) ; idem, 7-18-XI-1995, W. J. Hanson ( EMUS, 1; USNM, 1). Brazil, Amazon, collection date not noted, Bates ( BMNH, 1) .

D i a g n o s i s: Cranium black; antenna testaceous; pronotum tricolored, pronotum proper black except lower sides testaceous, pronotal arch castaneous, pronotal collar testaceous; pterothorax and legs testaceous, except tibiae infuscated; elytra tricolored, mostly testaceous, each elytron with 3 white markings, one oblong, at basal margin near mesoscutellum, one oblong premedial of disc, one transverse/curvate, postmedial, premedial marking outlined in brown; abdomen testaceous.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 6.0 mm; width 1.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 108 . Head: Cranium finely punctate; frons about as wide as length of antennal pedicel ( EW /FW 44/10). Thorax: Pronotum finely punctate, with 2 tumescenses ( PW /PL 80/100); elytra slightly depressed at middle, disc sculptured with striate, asetiferous punctures that extend beyond basal 1/2, elytral apex rounded ( EL /EW 260/60); metathoracic femur gradually increasing in width to femoral apex. Abdomen: Aedeagus as in Fig. 30.

V a r i a t i o n: The pronotal arch is testaceous in the specimen from Venezuela.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: The available specimens were collected during July, October, November, and December, at altitudes that range from 300 to 370 m, one during night on a log.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 91 ): This species is known from Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, batesi, is a patronym dedicated to Henry Walter Bates for his dedication and contributions to our knowledge of Amazonian natural history.

Figures

Figs 91. Approximate distribution of species as noted.

Figs 25-33. Aedeagus. Priocera acrobela (25), P. angulata (26), P. aperturosa (27), P. apicalis (28), P. aurosignata (29), P. batesi (30), P. bibulla (31), P. campbelli (32), P. catalinae (33).

Figs 108-111. Habitus. Priocera batesi nov.sp. (108), P. bibulla nov.sp. (109), P. bispinosa (110, 111).