Charisius zunilensis Champion

Campbell, J. M., 2014, New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae), ZooKeys 415, pp. 269-293 : 282-283

7. Charisius zunilensis Champion Fig. 9

Charisius zunilensis Champion (1888: p. 422, pl. 19, fig. 14); Campbell (1965: p. 50, Figs 6, 12).

Charisius interstitialis Champion (1888: p. 422); Campbell (1965: p. 50) [Syn. n.].

Charisius floridanus Linell (1901: p. 184); Campbell (1965: p. 51).

Types.

Lectotype, male, Cerro Zunil, 4,000-5000 feet, Guatemala ( Campbell 1965, p. 50). The type of Charisius interstitialis is a lectotype, male, from Jalapa, Mexico. These lectotypes are in the collection of the BMNH. The holotype of Charisius floridanus is type 4174 in the USNM.

Distribution and records.

The species is now known from the Mexican state of Veracruz south to Honduras. It is common and widely distributed in the highlands of Guatemala and southern Mexico. The species has been collected at elevations ranging from 1500 to 2500 m.

GUATEMALA: Baja Verapaz: km 4.1 Chilasco Rd., 4.VI.1993, JMC (JMCC) 1; 6.5 km W Chilasco, 1600 m, 22.V.1991, R Anderson (CMNC) 6; 6.5 km W Chilasco, 19.VI.1993, 1800 m, JMC (JMCC) 2; 7.8 km W Chilasco, 1700 m, 24.V.1991, H & A Howden (CMNC) 2; 8.6 km W Chilasco, 1500 m, 24.V.1991, R Anderson (CMNC) 3; 8 km S Purulhá, 1600 m, 25 & 29.V.1991, H & A Howden (CMNC) 2; 127.6 km S Purulhá, 1500 m, 21.V.1991, R Anderson (CMNC) 1; border of departments of Chimaltenango and Sololá, near Los Robles, 6000 ft, 12.IX.1965, JMC (JMCC) 1. Guatemala: Guatemala City, Cerro Alux, 2200 m, 9.VI.1991, R Anderson (CMNC) 1. Quezaltenango: Santa María, 18.V.1966, 5,000 ft, JMC (JMCC) 1; 2 km N Santa María, near tunnel, 5500 ft, 10.VII.1965, 25-27, VIII.1965, 24.X.1965, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 5; Volcán de Chicabal, 2100 m, 25.VIII.1965, JMC (CNCI) 1; 5.4 km SE Zunil, 2200 m, 19.VI.1993, R Anderson (CMNC) 1. Sacatepequez: Finca Florencia, 24.VI.1993, JMC (JMCC) 1. San Marcos: 20 km. W San Marcos, 2200 m, 3.X.1965, JMC (JMCC) 2; 8 km NE San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta, 2000 m, 4.VI.1966, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 2. Suchitepequez: 5 km S Santiago Atitlan, 1500 m, 29.VIII.1965, JMC (JMCC) 1; Zunilito, 2 km N Finca Colimas, 6000 ft, 28.IV.1966, 6.V.1966, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 7; 10 km NE Yepocapa, 8000 ft, 29.V.1966, JMC (JMCC) 1. Zacapa: San Lorenzo, Sierra de las Minas, 1740 m, 9-17.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI) 17; same locality, 7.VII.1986, L LeSage (CNCI) 1; same locality, 17-18.VI.1993, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 7; 3 km NE San Lorenzo, Sierra de las Minas, 1800 m, 6.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI) 7; 5-8 km N San Lorenzo, 1900-2000 m, 10.VI.1993, H & A Howden (CMNC) 1; 5 mi N San Lorenzo, 12.VII.1986, JMC (JMCC) 3; 6 km N Lorenzo, 17.VI.1983, 6500 ft, JMC (CNCI, JMC) 6; 8 km NE San Lorenzo, 2100 m, 18.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI) 3; 8 km N San Lorenzo, 10.VI.1993, 6700 ft, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 11.

HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: 30 km E Tegucigalpa, Cerro Uyuca, 1800 m, 19.V.1994, H & A Howden (CMNC) 3; La Tigra Nat. Pk., NE Tegucigalpa, 1900 m, 4.VI.1994, H & A Howden (CMNC) 2; 10 km W Zamorano, Cerro Uyuca, 1950 m, 18.VIII.-2.IX.1994, S & J Peck (CMNC) 2.

MEXICO: Chiapas: 20 km N Bochil, Yerba Buena, 5700 ft, 8.VI.1969, JMC (CNCI) 1; 5 mi SW El Bosque, 4.VII.1969, Campbell & Bright (CNCI) 1; San Cristobal de las Casas, 17.V.1990, H & A Howden (CMNC) 1; 5 mi W San Cristobal, 19.V.1969, JMC (CNCI) 1; 8 mi NE San Cristobal, Tinijapa, 18.V.1969, 26.V.1969, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 16; 8 mi NE San Cristobal, 28.VI.1969, JMC (CNCI) 4; 11 mi NE San Cristobal, 8.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 1; 15 km SE San Cristobal, 11.VI.1989, H Howden (CMNC) 1. Veracruz: 7 km E Huatusco, 22.VI-2.VII.1983, 1250 m, S Peck (CMNC) 1; Jalapa, JT Mason (AMNH) 1.

Remarks.

Charisius zunilensis was previously known from only a few specimens collected on the Cerro Zunil near Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and Charisius interstitialis was known only from a few specimens collected at Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. In my previous revision of the genus ( 1965), I suggested that the two species could by synonyms, but delayed placing one of them in synonymy until additional material was available. Based on the new records cited below, there is little doubt that only one species is at hand.

There is considerable variation in the development of the microsculpture on the head and pronotum of this species ranging from almost completely lacking to moderately coarsely and densely granulate, and in the density and coarseness of punctation between the eyes and on the center of the pronotum. However, all degrees of variation can be found in specimens from throughout the range so there is no justification for recognizing more than one species. Most adults of this species were collected by beating dead leaves, particularly of oak trees and coffee shade trees.