Plochionocerus puncticeps (Sharp, 1885)

Sterculia puncticeps Sharp, 1885: 470; Herman, 2001: 3746 ( Plochionocerus). Araeocnemus lauta Casey, 1906: 360; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 315 ( Sterculia); Herman, 2001: 3745 ( Plochionocerus), syn. nov.

Type material (2 specimens). Holotype of Sterculia puncticeps, male: “ Sterculia puncticeps, Type D.S., Costa Rica, Van Patten (specimen on card) / Type / Costa Rica, Van Patten / B. C. A. Col. I. 2. Sterculia puncticeps, Sharp / Sharp Coll. 1905–313 / Holotype ” (BMNH). Holotype of Araeocnemus lauta, male: “Casey, bequest 1925 / Panama / Type USNM 48182 / Araecnonemis lauta Cay. Washington” (USNM).

Additional material (57 specimens). COSTA RICA: Puntarenas, Monte Verde, Chomogo Trail, 1690 m, 23.V.1898, J. Ashe, R. Brooks & R. Leschen ex., pitfall trap (SEMC, 2ɗ, Ψ); Puntarenas Prov., Monteverde Biol. Sta., 1540 m, 10°19.672’N, 84°49.141’W, 10–17.VI.2001, S. & J. Peck, ex FIT, cloud forest (SEMC, ɗ); Puntarenas, Monte Verde, IV.1989 (SEMC, ɗ); idem, except: 1610 m, 26.VI.1990, S. E. Roberts, ex. flight intercept trap (SEMC, ɗ); idem, except: 1520 m, 21.V.1989, J. Ashe, R. Brooks & R. Leschen (SEMC, ɗ); Puntarenas Prov., Las Alturas Biol. Sta., 1660 m, 08°56.17’N, 82°50.01’W, 2.VI.2004, J. S. Ashe, Z. Falin & I. Hinojosa, ex: fungus covered logs (SEMC, Ψ); idem, except: ex: flight intercept trap (SEMC, Ψ); San José Prov., Santo Domingo, Hotel Robledales, 1100 m, 14.XI.2001, R. Brooks, ex. misc. collections (SEMC, ɗ); San José Prov., 3 km S San Antonio de Escazú, 1700 m, 9.VI.1988, W. Wcislo (SEMC, ɗ); San José, San Antonio de Escazu, 1300 m, 9°39’16”N, 84°9’16”W, 1.VII–30.VIII. 1998, W. Eberthard & P. Hanson (SEMC, Ψ); San José, Zurquí de Moravia, 1600 m, 1–30.V.1995, P. Hanson, ex: malaise trap (SEMC, Ψ); Puntarenas, Wilson Botanical Garden, 14.VIII.1992, D. Brzoska (SEMC, ɗ); Puntarenas, Las Cruces, Wilson Bot. Res., 25.V.1989, D. Brzoska (SEMC, ɗ); Cartago Prov., Refugio Nac. De Fauna Silvestre Tapantí, 1 km E Station, 1300 m, 9°44.974’N, 83°46.902’W, 31.X.2001, R. Brooks, ex. under fermenting bark (SEMC, ɗ); Alajuela, Peñas Blancas, 800–870 m, 19.V.1989, J. Ashe, R. Brooks & R. Leschen (SEMC, Ψ); Prov. Puntarenas, Est. Biol. Las Alturas, 1500 m, Coto Brus, LS 322500, 591300, X.1991, M. A. Zumbado (INBC, 3ɗɗ); idem, except: XI.1991, M. Ramírez (INBC, ɗ, Ψ); idem, except: I.1992 (INBC, ɗ, 2Ψ); Prov. Heredia, Transecto Las Alturas, Cerro Echandi, Z. P. Las Tablas, Coto Brus, LS 328000, 592500, 2000–2500 m, 15– 17.X.1991, M. A. Zumbado (INBC, Ψ); Prov. San José, Est. Zurqui, P. N. Braulio Carrillo, 500 m antes del Tunel, LN 226800, 535200, 1600 m, V.1991, G. Maass (INBC, 3ɗɗ); idem, except: IV.1991 (INBC, ɗ); Prov. Puntarenas, Est. La Casona, Res. Biol. Monteverde, LN 253250, 449700, 1520 m, IV.1993, N. Obando (INBC, ɗ); idem, except: XII.1992 (INBC, Ψ); Prov. Puntarenas, Coto Brus, Est. Pittier, Send Cerro Pittier, LS 330030 578645, 1670 m, 9.IX.1999, R. González, red de golpe (INBC, ɗ); idem, except: 1680 m, 4– 16.VIII.2000, Intersección (INBC, ɗ); Prov. Puntarenas, San Luis, R. B. Monteverde, LN 250850, 449250, 1040 m, X.1992, Z. Fuentes (INBC, 1?, ɗ); idem, except: Buen Amigo, 1000–1350 m, VIII.1994, Intersección (INBC, ɗ); Prov. San José, Est. Las Nubes de Santa Elena, LS 372500 507700, 1400 m, 7.IX.1995, E. Alfaro (INBC, ɗ); Prov. San José, Send. Rio #2, 1 km al NE de la Estación Sta. Elena, LS 372000 508800, 1300 m, 9–12.I.1996, A. M. Maroto (INBC, ɗ); Prov. Puntarenas, Cerro Frantzius, LS 334150 574450, 2134 m, 7.VIII.—7.IX.1997, R.Villalobos (INBC, ɗ); Puntarenas, Cerro Quemado, LS 335600, 575100, 2100 m, 3–6.VI.1996, R. Villalobos (INBC, Ψ); Puntarenas, Est. Pittier, Pila-Acla, LN 330900, 1670– 2050 m, 5– 18.I.1995, Z. Fuentes (INBC, ɗ); Estrella de Cartago (IRSNB, 3ɗɗ); idem, except: Underwood (IRSNB, ɗ); Irazu (IRSNB, ɗ); El Gallita (Barba), 1600 m, VI.1942 (FMNH, ɗ); Volcan Irazu, 1500–2000 m, Westing Vulkan Irazu, 1500–2000 m (FMNH, ɗ); San J. de Coronado, 30.VI.1926, T. Assmann (CC-UAEH, ɗ); San Isidro Coronado, V.1931. (T. Assmann) (FMNH, ɗ); San Isidro Coronado, 22.I.1933 (FMNH, 1?); Pittier (FMNH, Ψ); Cartago (BMNH, Ψ); Coronado, 1400–1500 m, T. Assmann, F. Nevermann, 4.IX.1932, “in kaffepo Flansung Auf Erdboden” (BMNH, ɗ); Puntarenas, Las Alturas Field Station, 20 km N San Vito de Hava, 1500 m, 21–24.VI.1992, Zinder, malaise trap (AMNH, ɗ); Pacayas (AMNH, ɗ). PANAMA: Volc. Chiriqui, 5000 ft, VII.1930 (FMNH, 1?); Chiriqui (FMNH, 1?).

Diagnosis. Total length 18.3–26.4 mm; metallic violet-blue, metallic green in abdomen and legs; head subquadrate, slightly longer than wide (1.19–1.34 times), wider than pronotum (1.25–1.46 times), dorsally slightly convex, ventrally almost flat (in some specimens slightly convex), with very dense, expanded, umbilicate punctures (> 30 in each half of head), arranged in “v” (Fig. 53); apical antennomere in males moderately oblong (length/width: 1.33–1.64), shorter than antennomeres 9+10 combined (0.78–0.90 times; Fig. 28); mandibles with basal external channel (Fig. 63); pronotum 1.6–1.7 times as long as wide, shorter than elytra (0.81–0.90 times their length), with two slightly visible depressed areas in posterior third; prosternum moderately transverse (length/width: 0.75–0.86); aedeagus ovate, length 2.6–3.4 mm, parameres 0.37–0.48 times as long as median lobe, apical area of median lobe 0.32–0.38 times as long as the total length of median lobe, and internal sac moderately visible (Fig. 89).

Variation. The body is violet-blue, but in one specimen the abdomen is green. In most specimens (mostly males) the head is wider at the posterior angles than the anterior ones, in some they are equal in width. The majority of the specimens has dense punctation that covers almost the entire ventral surface of the head, in some specimens the punctures are less dense and are confined to the lateral and posterior areas.

Comparative notes. Based on the revision of the holotypes, P. l a u t u s (Casey, 1906) is a junior synonym of P. puncticeps (Sharp, 1885) . Casey (1906) was unable to identify P. lauta with any species of Sterculia, Agrodes or Plochionocerus described in the Biologia Centrali-Americana. He probably did not study the type specimens of the species described by Sharp (1885) and only examined a small number of specimens; however, the original description of both species are coincident in describing the development of the punctures in the ventral surface of the head and the length/width proportions of the antennomeres. It is similar to P. impressipennis; the main differences are discussed in the Comparative notes of that species.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica and Panama (Herman 2001).