Skelley, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 53-54

Genus NOTAEPYTUS Skelley , new genus

Type Species: Ischyrus flavitarsis Lacordaire 1842 , here designated.

Diagnosis. Recognized from other Tritomini genera by the following combination of characters: triangular mental plate, femora lacking posterior marginal bead, antennomere IX usually longer than wide and triangularly narrowed, terminal antennomere(s) distinctly pale, and body brown to black often with a color pattern.

Description. Length 5.3-11.5 mm; width 2.6-5.1 mm. Body elongate, slightly flattened to robust, somewhat parallel-sided; dorsal punctation fine to coarse, microreticulation present on all species, often obscure, rarely strong; variously colored brown to black (never blue or with metallic sheens), often with pale brown to red-brown appendages (never pale yellow), some terminal antennomeres pale brown to creamcolored (never entirely pale); pronotum and elytra often with orangish marks or banding pattern, a few are unicolorous black -brown; legs always brown to black, never pale yellow.

Head finely to coarsely punctate; ocular striae present, not surpassing antennal base anteriorly ( Fig. 3 , 17 ); stridulatory files absent. Eye facet size moderate to coarse, eyes in some appear slightly reduced in size. Antennae elongate, often attaining or surpassing pronotal base; antennomere II globose, length usually slightly greater than width; antennomere III length = 3 x width; antennomeres IV-VIII variously proportioned but always longer than wide; antennomere VIII little wider than VII, apically rounded, not appearing as part of club, antennomere IX narrowed at base, triangular, basal sides straight ( Fig. 25 ), length = 1.0-1.5 x width. Mentum with triangular plate ( Fig. 14 ), width = length. Terminal maxillary palpomere symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical, triangular to somewhat hemispherical, width = 1.5-2.0 x length. Terminal labial palpomere expanded medially, asymmetrical, length usually half width, width usually 1.2 x width of terminal maxillary palpomere. Genal lobes weakly developed, bluntly rounded.

Pronotum with anterior marginal bead only behind eyes; base lacking marginal bead; sides at anterior angle arch toward eyes; base often with small group of coarse puncture in shallow depression either side of midline.

Prosternum with anterior marginal bead, not pinched medially. Mesosterum posteriorly truncate to slightly sinuate, transverse, width = 1.5 x length, punctation small to moderate, usually indistinct. Mesocoxal lines on metasternum absent or short and weak. Metasternum shortened in flightless members, distance between meso-and metacoxae = 1.0-2.0 x intermesocoxal width ( Fig. 85-86 ), sternal line faint medially. Meso- and metafemora rounded in cross-section, lacking sharp posterior marginal bead ( Fig. 21 ). Male genitalia with median lobe laterally flattened, sclerotized apical part obliquely truncate; flagellum modified and species specific ( Fig. 87-88 , 105-120 ).

Distribution. Members are restricted to the Greater Antilles and nearby islands.

Larvae. Larvae of N. flavitarsis have been described and illustrated by Candèze (1861: 70-71, t.6, f.5) and subsequently included in a larval key by Roberts (1958: 283). Larvae available for study were collected in association with adults of N. modestus (WIBF, Fig. 81-82, 84 ) and others collected in association with adults of N. fulvitarsis from El Seibo (FSCA) and Barahona Prov. (FSCA). The diagnosis that follows is based on a survey of characters from these resources. While similar in many characters, they differ slightly in color pattern and more notably in development of dorsal spines.

Head mostly darkly pigmented above; T1 notum yellowish with single distinct spot on each side of disc, appearing as a fake eye-spot, ventral membranous area pale; T2-A8 terga entirely darkly pigmented; A9 with tergal plate and apex of urogomphi dark, base yellowish as notum, ventral membranous areas pale. T1-A8 terga with distinct lateral tubercles; tergal surfaces from T1-A8 with prominent medial tubercles which become slightly larger on more posterior segments, the lateral tubercles often larger than medial tubercles; A9 tergum with single urogomphal prominence apically forked; A1-8 spiracles borne on small prominence.

Etymology. The generic name is based on the Latin “ nota ” meaning “mark” or “spot” in combination with the old name Epytus . Thus, members are “spotted- Epytus ”. This name also has a dual meaning as members are “not - Epytus ”. Gender is masculine.

Remarks. Notaepytus is erected to include the majority of previously described West Indian Tritomini . Historically, species were placed in Epytus , Ischyrus , or Oocyanus . Curran (1944) consolidated them all into Oocyanus because the terminal maxillary and labial palpomeres are nearly equal in width. This character was traditionally used to separate Oocyanus from Ischyrus , which supposedly possesses palpi unequal in width. Skelley (1998b) demonstrated that these proportions varied too greatly to be considered diagnostic. Detailed study of Ischyrus and West Indian Tritomini revealed a set of characters that readily separate the Epytus (= Oocyanus ), Notaepytus , and Ischyrus .

Within Notaepytus are many easily distinguishable taxa, however others require careful study. Curran (1944) maintained that N. fulvitarsis was a highly variable species with typical and dark forms. However, the discovery of flightless members, male genitalic differences, and study of distributions revealed morphological differences and geographical isolation, which represent distinct species within the N. fulvitarsis phenotype sensu Curran, herein termed the ‘fulvitarsis species group’.

The fulvitarsis species group can be confidently identified by the elytral apex with an apical and often subapical orangish spot, and the pronotum usually with an orangish spot on the anterior lateral angle. Several species have male flagella with exceptional apical modifications, but not all. This group also has a general shortening of the metasternum with a more robust body than other Notaepytus ; characters most often associated with flightless taxa.

Within the fulvitarsis species group, difference in color pattern, wing development, male genitalic flagellum, and distribution distinguish individual species. The fulvitarsis species group contains the following species: N. baorucoensis , N. decoregens , N. fulvitarsis , N. haitensis , N. ignotensis , N. inversus , N. lavegaensis , N. neibaensis , and N. tarsalis from Hispaniola; along with N. cubanacan from Cuba; and N. cyanoros from Jamaica. Even with these species recognized, some populations considered N. fulvitarsis (sensu stricto) may eventually be considered valid species.

Figures

Figure 2-11. Key characters. 2-3) Anterior view of head and pronotum. 2) Iphiclus suturalis. 3) Notaepytus flavitarsis. 4-5) Lateral habitus. 4) Aegithus clavicornis. 5) Iphiclus suturalis. 6-11) Dorsal habitus. 6) Aegithus clavicornis. 7) Aegithus lebasii. 8) Iphiclus guadeloupensis. 9) Iphiclus suturalis. 10) Cubyrus sapphirus. 11) Ischyrus quadripunctatus.

Figure 12-17. Key characters. 12-15) Ventral view head and mouthparts. 12) Dacne ducke. 13) Antillengis epochthidius. 14) Notaepytus flavitarsis. 15) Epytus cyaneus. 16-17) Anterior diagonal view of head. 16) Altisessor ater. 17) Notaepytus flavitarsis.

Figure 18-25. Key characters. 18-21) Mesofemur. 22-25) Antenna. 18, 22) Cubyrus sapphirus. 19, 23) Ischyrus quadripunctatus. 20, 24) Epytus cyaneus. 21, 25) Notaepytus flavitarsis.[White arrow points at posterior marginal bead, or note its absence, on mesofemur.]

Figure 85-88. Notaeptyus spp., key characters. 85) N. flavitarsis, normal long metasternum. 86) N. cubanacan, shortened metasternum of wingless form. 87) N. fulvitarsis (DR: La Vega) male genitalia with flagellum everted. 88) N. lavegaensis male genitalia, with flagellum inverted. Genitalic scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 105-120. Notaepytus spp., male genital flagella. 105) N. flavitarsis. 106) N. tarsatus. 107) N. modestus. 108) N. elateroides. 109) N. cyanoros. 110) N. cyclosignatus. 111) N. inversus. 112) N. neibaensis. 113) N. haitensis.114) N. ignotensis. 115) N. fulvitarsis (DR: Hato Mayor). 116) N. fulvitarsis (DR: La Vega). 117) N. fulvitarsis (DR: Barahona). 118) N. decoregens. 119) N. baorucoensis. 120) N. lavegaensis. All reproduced to same scale, scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 81-84. Notaepytus spp. 81-83) Larva associated with N. modestus adults. 85) N. flavitarsis adult on fungus in Cuba (photo by J. Genaro).