Axina proxima (Chevrolat), 1876

Opitz, Weston, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Axina Kirby (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Insecta Mundi 2020 (793), pp. 1-70 : 29-30

Axina proxima (Chevrolat), 1876 , new combination

Figures 54 , 71, 107.

Priocera proxima Chevrolat, 1876: 10 . Holotype. Male. Type locality: Brasilia, Santa Rita (MNHN). Corporaal 1950: 100.

Priocera podagrica Schenkling, 1900: 385 . Holotype. Type locality: Brasil (SDEI). Dos Santos and Filho 1986: 63. New synonymy

Priocera podagrica variety pygmaea Schenkling, 1902: 321 . Holotype. Type locality: Brasil (SDEI). New synonymy Diagnosis. The small size of these beetles (± 7 mm) in combination with the elytral color patterns, as shown in Fig. 107 , will distinguish the members of this species from congeners.

Redescription. Size. Length 7.0 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form. As in Fig. 107 . Color. Forebody dark castaneous; antenna testaceous; pterothorax, legs, and abdomen testaceous; elytra bicolorous, mostly testaceous in basal 1/3 and totally testaceous in distal third; basal 1/3 with oblique brown line at middle that begins at elytral basal margin, oblong brown macula behind elytron middle. Head. Cranium finely punctate, frons wider than length of antennal pedicel; EW/FW 30/15. Thorax. Pronotum finely punctate, with 2 tumescences, concave at middle; PW/PL 70/95; elytra with substriate asetiferous punctures extend backwards slightly beyond elytral middle; EL/EW 310/60. Abdomen. Aedeagus ( Fig. 54 ), phallobasic lobes short, inner margin with spine; outer margin of phallic plates minutely serrate; phallobasic apodeme abbreviated.

Variation. Size. Length 5.5–9.0 mm; width 1.3–2.5 mm. The brown markings on the elytral disc vary in prominence.

Natural history. Specimens were collected in Brazil during March, September, November, and December, some at 800 m.

Distribution (for map see Fig. 71 ). In addition to the holotype, I examined 90 specimens from: Brazil: Estado do Minas Gerais, Pedra Azul,?- XII- 1970, 800 m, F. M. Oliveira; idem,?- XI-1971, Seabra & F. M. Oliveira; Matusinhos,?- III-1885, E. Gounelle; Estado do Espírito Santo, Linhares,?- IX-1973, M. Alvarenga; Estado do Goías, Jatai, 19-XI-1972, F. M. Oliveira; Estado do Bahia, Villa Victoria,?-?-1890, C. H. Pujol; Cachimbo,?-?-1890, C. H. Pujol; Santo Antonio de Barra, 12-XI-1988, Gounelle; Estado do Goiás, Rio Verde,?-?-1908, G. A. Baer; Mineiro,?-?-1912, H. Donckier; Estado do Pernambuco, Serra de Communaty, 3-XII-1893, Gounelle; Estado do São Paulo, Val. Du Rio Pardo,?- XII-1898, E. Gounelle. Specimens are deposited in: AMNH, BMNH, CASC, CMNH, CUIC, FMNH, FSCA, MCNZ, MNHN, USNM, WFBM, and WOPC.

Figures

Figure 71. Distribution map for Axina species: A. luzia, A. munda, A. minas, A. pallidioccabus, A. picta, A. pollex, A. polycaula, A. proxima, A. rio, A. villa, A. vista, A. nigrifrons, A. ochra.

Figures 50–55. Aedeagi. 5) Axina basalis. 51) A. lateralis. 52) A. munda. 53) A. phallospina. 54) A. proxima. 55) A. trinalis.

Figures 106–109. Habitus of Axina species. 106) Axina polycaula. 107) A. proxima. 108) A.rio. 109) A. villa.