Decorosa limatula, Opitz, 2008

Opitz, Weston, 2008, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part V. Decorosa Opitz, a New Genus of Checkered Beetles from Hispaniola with Description of Its Four New Species, American Museum Novitates 3628 (1), pp. 1-20 : 8

Decorosa limatula , new species

Figures 12, 15–18 , 46

HOLOTYPE: Female. Loma Vieja, S Constanza, Aug. ’38, Dom. Rep., c. 6,000 ft., Darl. ( MCZC). (Specimen point mounted, gender label affixed to paper point; support card; locality label; holotype label.)

PARATYPES: None.

DIAGNOSIS: The broadly flattened pronotum, less acute lateral pronotal tubercle, bispinous condition of the anteroapical margin of the protibia, and configuration of the elytral pattern (fig. 12) readily distinguish the members of this species from congeners.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0 mm; width 1.3 mm. Integumental Color: Cranium and pronotum light red-brown, vertex infuscated; antennae yellow; elytra as in figure 12; legs predominantly yellow, tibiae infuscated; venter dark brown. Vestiture: Cranium and pronotum densely vested with pale decumbent setae. Head: Vertex about two times wider than width of eye (19:34); antennae generally as in figure 4. Thorax: Pronotum only slightly longer than broad (70:68), broadly flattened; pronotal lateral tubercle obtuse; side margins not very sinuous; anterior margin conspicuously wider than posterior margin (65:60); protibial anteroapical region with two spines. Abdomen: No aedeagal information available.

VARIATION: One specimen examined.

NATURAL HISTORY: The unique specimen was collected in August at 1829 m.

DISTRIBUTION (fig. 46): This species is known from the highlands of south-central Dominican Republic.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a Latin adjective derived from limatulus (‘‘rather polished’’) with a feminine ending to modify the genus name. I refer to the shimmering characteristic that the short pale decumbent setae bestow on the cranium and pronotal disc.

Figures

Figs. 12–22. Habiti and aedeagi. 12. Habitus, Decorosa limatula Opitz. 13–14. Habiti, D. iviei Opitz. 15– 18. Aedeagus, D. limatula (15, tegmen, ventral view; 16, tegmen, lateral view; 17, phallus, dorsal view; 18, phallus, lateral view). 19–22. Aedeagus, D. iviei (19, tegmen, ventral view; 20, tegmen, lateral view; 21, phallus, dorsal view; 22, phallus, lateral view).

Fig. 46. Geographic distribution of Decorosa Opitz species.