Parapelonides aodontus, Opitz, Weston, 2019

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 973

Parapelonides aodontus OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 169 , 281 )

Holotype: ♀. MEXICO, Jalisco, Est. Biol. Chamela, 'Eje Central', 2-VII-95, R. L. Wescott ( CASC).

D i a g n o s i s: There are two species in Parapelonides that have the elytral disc mostly black, P. chamelae BARR, and now P. aodontus , whose specimens differ by showing the testaceous elytral region at the base of the elytral disc. In P. chamelae specimens, the testaceous fascia is at elytral middle. The genus Parapelonides BARR was revised during 2014 ( OPITZ 2014b).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 7.5 mm; width 3.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 281 . Color: Forebody, antenna, pterothorax, and legs black; elytra mostly black, with testaceous fascia at base, fascia extends posteriorly along epipleural margin. Head: Cranium finely punctate, lower frons slightly indented; antenna capitate, funicular antennomeres gradually shorter and wider from pedicel to 8 th antennomere, capitular antennomeres 8 and 9 triangular, antennomere 10 ovoid; eyes small, ommatidia small, ocular notch large, eye much narrower than frons (EW/FW 20/45). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 169 ) slightly transverse (PW/PL 105/100), anterior transverse depression absent; disc finely punctate, pronotal sides convex; elytral asetiferous punctures minute, profusely distributed throughout disc; epipleural fold wide in basal 3/4 th, then tapered to elytral apex (EL/EW 350110); Abdomen: Pygidium quadrate / scutiform.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The holotype was collected during July.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from México.

E t y m o l o g y: Thetrivialname, aodontus, is a Greek compound name that stems from the prefix a- (without) and odon (= tooth); in reference to the absence of a tarsal denticle.

Figures

Figs 163-170: Pronota; (163) Artoadenus atrafinus; (164) Cregya triguttula; (165) C. biguttula; (166) Perilypus schusteri (167) Platynoptera potaro; (168) Pelonium erudiatum; (169) Parapelonides aodontus; (170) Isoparis cassidilis.

Figs 278-281: Habitus; (278) Phonius versus; (279) Agnatis curvabilis; (280) A. vaurieae; (281) Parapelonides aodontus.