Aphelocerus, Kirsch, 1871

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biol. Beitr. 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 964

Aphelocerus nodus OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 1, 181, 204, 265)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: Stann Creek Dist. Belize, Middlesex Village , 186 m, TREES Field Station, 37 km W of Dangriga. A second label reads: 19 May-6 June 2016, L. G. Bezark, collector, malaise trap, N17.05218 W088.56543 ( FSCA).

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Aphelocerus KIRSCH was revised in 2005 (OPITZ 2005). This work included a key to species. Aphelocerus nodus specimens key out to A. formicoides OPITZ from which A. nodus specimens differ by showing a more oblong pronotum and broader phallobasic lobes.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 4.5 mm; width 2.3 mm. Form: As in Fig. 265. Color: Black; row of white setae on metepisternum. Head: Genae and epicranium extended; gena wrinkled behind eyes; interocular depression and frontal umbo shallow; antenna ( Fig. 1) capitate, funicular antennomeres filiform, progressively shorter and wider towards capitulum, capitulum not compact; eyes finely facetted, eye narrower than frons (EW/FW 18/40). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 181) sub-globose, very finely punctate; (PW/PL 75/95); elytra short and boldly convex, with shallow longitudinal carina behind basal tumescence, disc with striae of very small setiferous punctures (EL/EW 165/70). Abdomen: Pygidium transverse / scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 204.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimen was collected during a period between May and June, at 186 m.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: ThisspeciesisknownfromBelize.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, nodus, is a Latin adjective meaning "swelling"; with reference to the tumescence at the base of the elytra.