Neocallotillus elegans (Erichson, 1847) Erichson, 1847

Burke, Alan F. & Zolnerowich, Gregory, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the New World genus Callotillus Wolcott (Cleridae, Tillinae), with the description of the new genus Neocallotillus, and an illustrated key of identification to species, ZooKeys 617, pp. 65-89 : 69-71

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Cleridae

Neocallotillus elegans (Erichson, 1847) comb. n.

Tillus elegans Erichson 1847: 85.

Callotillus occidentallis Gorham 1882: 129.

Callotillus vafer Wolcott 1921: 270 syn. n.

Holotype depository.

Zoologisches Museum Berlin, Germany (ZMB). Holotype locality: "Republica Peruana".

Distribution.

USA: AZ, CA, LA, NM, NV, TX, UT; Mexico: Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Yucatan; Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua (Fig. 8A).

Differential diagnosis.

Neocallotillus elegans can be differentiated from similar species based on the integument color, fascia pattern, and wide geographic distribution. The species is most similar to Neocallotillus intricatus but can be easily differentiated from the latter based on the fasciae pattern on the elytral disc. Neocallotillus elegans has the elytra adorned with a light testaceous to almost whitish median, longitudinal, slightly protruding fascia, and a pair of protruding maculae on the anterior half near the humeral angles (Fig. 1 A–C), these maculae may be absent in some individuals (Fig. 1D). Neocallotillus intricatus has the elytral disc decorated with an intricate design of light testaceous fasciae and a pair maculae arranged in the following manner: each elytron with one macula situated posterior to the humeral angle; one strongly procurved fasciae located on the anterior half of the elytral disc, this fascia initiates on the elytral suture and do not reach the epipleural fold; and a second fascia situated immediately posterior to the first, this band is strongly oblique, initiating on the epipleural fold and not reaching the elytral suture (Fig. 1E). The geographic distribution of these species can also serve to separate them. Neocallotillus elegans is found from the United States to Costa Rica (Fig. 8A), while Neocallotillus intricatus is restricted to Costa Rica and Panama (Fig. 8B).

Redescription.

Form: Small individuals, feebly to moderately slender (Fig. 1 A–D). Body: elongate, slender. Color: body integument variously colored, from piceous to ferruginous, with tones ranging from fuscous to testaceous; each elytron with one macula and one fascia, both markings ranging from almost albus to testaceous; thefascia is located on the median region of the elytral disc and can range from conspicuously wide to almost imperceptible; the macula is located on the median region of the first third of the elytral disc, initiating on the epipleural fold and almost reaching the elytral suture; these markings can be medially interconnected or not. The maculae may be absent in some specimens (Fig. 1D).

Head: Including eyes wider than pronotum; eyes conspicuously bulging laterally, taller than wide, large, finely faceted, very strongly emarginate; emargination subtriangular, extending 3/4 the eye width; integument moderately to strongly punctate; antennal notch located in front of antennal emargination; frons feebly to moderately bi-impressed. Antennae consisting of 10 antennomeres; antennomeres 2-3 small, beadlike; fourth antennomere strongly serrate, robust; antennomeres 4-9 pectinate, gradually increasing in size toward distal end; last antennomere enlarged, ovoid in shape, laterally compressed (Fig. 3A, B). Anterior portion of clypeus wide, approximately 3 × the length of eye emargination (Fig. 6A).

Thorax: Pronotum longer than broad, moderately to strongly punctate, punctations ranging from coarse and deep to moderately shallow and fine; sides subparallel in dorsal view, then abruptly constricted on posterior fourth; disc feebly convex. Prosternum smooth to feebly punctate; punctations coarse, finely to moderately vested with pale, recumbent setae. Mesoventrite smooth, feebly punctate; finely vested with some pale, semi-recumbent to recumbent setae. Metaventrite moderately punctate; strongly convex; surface smooth, vested with fine, recumbent and semi-recumbent setae; longitudinal depression present; metaventral process absent.

Elytra: Humeri indicated, slender, elongate; lateral margins subparallel, slightly to moderately broader on last third, then moderately to strongly depressed on second third, and conspicuously convex again on last third; sculpture consisting on shallow, irregularly arranged punctations; elytral apices subtriangular to almost rounded, feebly dehiscent; interstices at elytral base about 3 × the width of punctuation; scutellum subquadrate, not depressed; epipleural fold complete, narrowing toward apex.

Legs: Femora swollen on posterior half; shiny; very feebly rugulose; weakly clothed with some semi-recumbent setae. Tibiae more profusely vested than femora.

Abdomen: Six ventrites; ventrites 1-5 shiny, smooth, subquadrate, not depressed laterally. Fifth ventrite subquadrate; lateral margins subparallel; posterior margin broadly, shallowly emarginate. Sixth ventrite small, conspicuously excavated, moderately, coarsely punctate, conspicuously broader than long; lateral margins strongly oblique, procurved; posterior margin broadly, moderately deeply, U-shaped emarginate; posterolateral angles broadly rounded (Fig. 5 A–B). Fifth tergite subquadrate, moderately, coarsely punctate; posterior margin broadly, shallowly emarginate. Sixth tergite concave, wider than long; surface smooth; lateral margins moderately oblique; posterior margin broadly, moderately deeply, U-shaped emarginate. Posterolateral angles broadly rounded, fully covering sixth ventrite from dorsal view.

Aedeagus: Phallobasic apodeme present; phallus with copulatory piece moderately swollen at apex; phallic plate devoid of denticles; intraspicular plate present, elongate; phallobasic apodeme short, expanded distally; phallobase subparallel; phallobasic lobes free; tegmen complete, fully covering phallus; phallobasic lobes pointed anteriorly; endophallic struts long, extending beyond the length of tegmen; endophallic struts slender throughout their length, weakly robust distally (Fig. 7 A–B).

Female variation: Females can be distinguished from males based on the antennal structure and the shape of the last abdominal segment. The antennal shape of females is moderately to strongly serrate; antennomeres 2-3 are slender, filiform; antennomeres 4-9 are serrate, the serrations gradually increase in size toward distal end (Fig. 3D, E). The posterior margin of the sixth ventrite of females is strongly procurved, producing a semicircular pygidium (Fig. 5 C–D).

Remarks.

The species Callotillus occidentalis , described by Gorham (1882) for individuals collected in Guatemala and Nicaragua, was later synonymized with Callotillus elegans by Schenkling (1903). We examined one female paratype of Callotillus occidentallis (Fig. 2A) and agree with Schenkling’s synonomy. Barr (1950) proposed that Callotillus vafer be reclassified as a subspecies of Callotillus elegans on the basis of integument color, geographic distribution discontinuity, and differences in the structure of the elytral punctation. Individuals inhabiting Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, western Texas, Utah, and the Baja California peninsula were classified by Barr as Callotillus elegans vafer while specimens from western Louisiana, eastern Texas, Mexico and Central America were recognized as Callotillus elegans elegans. Barr also indicated the existence of intermediate forms of these subspecies in the United States and Baja California; however, we have found intermediate forms exist throughout much of the geographic range of the species. It is possible to find both color morphotypes (Fig. 1 A–B), including intermediate forms (Fig. 1 C–D), as well as conspicuously similar antennal forms (Fig. 3A, B), throughout North and Central America. Aside from integument variation, no other morphological evidence was found to differentiate these subspecies as separate taxa. As more material from these subspecies has been accumulated, we consider Neocallotillus elegans a species with a wide spectrum of color variation throughout an extensive geographic distribution (Fig. 8A).

Material examined.

PARATYPE: 1 female: [ Callotillus occidentalis Gorham], Pantaleon, 1700 ft., Champion, paratype depository: BMNH. (Fig. 2A).

Additional material examined

(N= 241). USA: 2 males: SW Hidalgo Co., TX, 17-III-1946, George B. Vogt, beating flowers and foliage, on Prosonis juliflora DeCandolie; 1 male, 3 females: Riverside Co., CA, Chuckawalla Mts., Corn Spg. Campground, 25-IV-1987, A. J. Mayor; 1 female: Imperial Co., CA, 9 mi N Winterhaven, 2-IV-1997, F. G. Andrews and A. J. Gilbert, sweeping Prosopis ; 1 female: TX, 12 mi W Guthrie, 14-VII-1969, K. Polk; 1 male, 1 female: Hidalgo Co., TX, Sta. Ana Natl. Refuge, vic. Willow Lake, T. C. McRea; 1 male, 1 female: Val Verde Co., TX., Pecos River, 29-VIII-1970, no collector data; 1 male: Rio Grande City, Starr Co., TX, on Prosopis ; 1 male: NM, 12 mi W Carlsbad, 25-IV-1971, on mesquite, C. R. Ward; 1 male: San Diego Co., CA, Borrego State Park, 17-20-IV-1969, no collector data; 1 female: Painted Canyon, Riverside Co., Calif., 25-III-1962, F. G. Andrews; 1 male: N. M., Hidalgo Co., Coronado Natl. Forest, 26-V-1976, W. Iselin; 3 males, 2 females: AZ, Sta. Catalina Mts., Pima Canyon, 7-IX-1970, K. Stephan; 1 female: TX, 5 mi NW of Alpine, 17-VI-1965, on Sapindus drummondii , G. H. Nelson; 2 males: Starr Co., TX, 2 mi W of Sullivan City, reared from Pithecelobium flexicaule , G. H. Nelson; 1 female: Socorro Co., NM, Bosque de Apache Nat. Wildlife Ref., 2-VII-2000, F. W. Skillman Jr.; 2 females: AZ, Sta. Catalina Mts., Pima Canyon, Bred ex Palo Verde, K. Stephan; 1 female AZ, Sta. Catalina Mts., Sabino Canyon, 11-VIII-1961, G. H. Nelson;; 1 female: CA, Imperial Co., 7 mi N of Glamis, 29-VIII-1987, on Cercidium floridum , Wood; 2 males, 1 female: Imperial Co., CA, Frink Spr., 7-VII-1993, on Olneya tesota , G. H. Nelson; 1 female: San Diego Co., CA, 3 mi E of Jacumba, reared Acacia greggii , 22-V-1987, G. H. Nelson; 1 male, 3 females: AZ, Pima Co., Green Valley, 15-VII-976, no collector data; 1 male, 1 female: Eddy Co., NM, 26 mi E of Carlsbad, 2-VI-1977, no collector data; 1 female: Dona Ana Co., NM, 9 miles west of Santa Teresa, 8-V-1999, J. C. Schaffner; 1 female: Bastrop Co., TX, Bastrop, 3-VI-1997, S. G. Wellso; 1 female: Cochise Co., AZ, 12 mi N of Douglas, 24-VII-1982, J. E. Wappes; 1 male: TX, 3 mi southeast Presidio, 12-IV-1968, J. G. Hafernik; 1 male, 1 female: Pima Co., AZ, Mt. Lemon, V-17-1976, R. Lenczy; 1 male: Cochise Co., AZ, Wilcox Dry Lake, 6-VI-1970, A. R. Hardy; 1 male: TX, Brownsville, VII-1937, H. S. Barber; 2 males: AZ, Tucson, VIII-193 [], Bryant; 1 female: Riverside Co., CA, 25-III-1962, F. G. Andrews; 10 males, 5 females: CA, Mecca, 20-V-1924, B. Warwick; 1 female: CA, Calipatria, 6-V-1924, B. Warwick; 1 female: CA, Calipatria, 1-V-1924, B. Warwick; 1 male: CA, Calipatria, 10-V-1924, B. Warwick; 10 females: Hidalgo Co., TX, J. N. Knull, 28-III-1954; 3 males, 4 females: TX, Brownsville,, 25-V-1934, J. N. Knull; 2 females: Cameron Co., TX, 25-III-1952, J. N. Knull; 5 males, 3 females: Hidalgo Co., TX, 26-III-1957, J. N. Knull; 6 males, 6 females: Hidalgo Co., TX, 20-III-1952, D. J. and J. N Knull; 1 male: AZ, Huachuca Mt., 5-VI D. J. and J. N. Knull; 2 females: Starr Co., TX, D. J. and J. N. Knull, 28-III-1950; 1 male: Uvalde Co., TX, 20-V, D. J. Knull; 1 male, 2 females: Hidalgo Co., TX, 29-III-1968, D. J. and J. N Knull; 2 females: Hidalgo Co., TX, 26-III-1953, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 male, 1 female: Hidalgo Co., TX, 24-III-1954, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 male: Hidalgo Co., TX, 28-III-1954, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 male, 4 females: CA, Santa Rosa L., VIII, J. L. Knull; 3 males, 1 female: AZ, Wilcox, 4-VII-1951, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 2 males: AZ, Wilcox, 6-VI-1954, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 female: AZ, Patagonia Mts., 2-VII-1953, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 male: Culberson Co., TX, 9-VII-1953, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 2 male, 2 females: Pima Co., AZ, 9-VII-1975, N. M. Downy; 1 male: Bell Co., TX, Holland, 12-VII-1988, S. G. Wellso; 2 males: Hidalgo Co. TX, Sta. Ana Natl. Refugee, VIII-1977, J. E. Wappes; 1 male, 1 female: Calipatria Co., CA, 15-VII-1925, B. Warwick; 1 female: Uvalde Co., TX, VII-27, J. N. Knull; 1 female: CA, Mecca, 12-V-1924, B. Warwick; 4 males, 1 female: CA, Calipatria, 1-6-V-1924, B. Warwick; 15 males, 9 females: AZ, Chiricahua Mts., 1-3-VI, J. N. Knull; 1 male, 2 females: AZ, Tucson, VIII-19, J. N. Knull; 2 females: Hidalgo Co., NM, 24-III-1954; D. J. and J. N. Knull; AZ, Wilcox, 11-VI-1954, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 2 males: Imperial Co., CA, 15 mi W of Calexico, 5-6-VI-1961, light trap, H. F. Howden; 1 female: CA, Palm Springs, 15-VI-1948, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 female: TX, Davis Mts., 24-VI-1957, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 4 males, 7 females: TX, Chisos Mts., V-25, J. N. Knull; 2 males: Jeff Davis Co., TX, 20-VI-1957, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 1 male: TX, on live oak, 17-V-1965, J. L. Bottmer; 2 males: AZ, Mt. Huachuca, 5-8-VI, D. J. and J. N. Knull; 3 males: Hidalgo Co., TX, 20-IV-1968, D. J. and J. N Knull; 4 males, 6 females: Jim Wells Co., TX, 8 mi S of Alice, 6-8-April-1984, S. G. Wellso; 2 females: Jim Wells Co., TX, Alice, 15-IV-1986, S. G. Wellso; 1 male: Brewster Co., TX, Castolon, 14-IV-1983, S. G. Wellso; 1 female: Brewster Co., TX, Big Bend Natl. Park, 16-IV-1983, S. G. Wellso; MEXICO: 1 male, 1 female: Chiapas, Mex., 4 mi NW of Pueblo Nuevo River Bajada, 15-VII-1965, G. H. Nelson; 1 male: Baja Calif. S., Mex., 4 mi S La Paz, 14-IX-1978, B. K. Dozier; 1 male: Baja Calif., Mex., Catavina, riparian palm oasis, on Acacia greggii , G. H. Nelson; 1 male, 2 females: Baja Calif. S., Mex., La Paz, 29-VI-1973, B. F. Chamberlain; 2 females: Baja Calif. S., Mex., 1-3 mi E Cabo San Lucas, G. Riley; 1 female: Baja Calif. Sur, Mex, 9 mi N San Jose del Cabo, G. Riley; 2 males: Baja Calif. S., Mex., 66 km NE Insurgentes nr. Ultima Agua, on Prosopis articulata , 13-IV-1994, D. Yanega; 2 males: Morelos, Mex., Tlaquiltenango, Huaxtla, 18.37598 N, 99.04804 W, 1053 m, 13-XII-2009, V. H. Toledo; 1 male: Sonora, Mex., 29 km SE Tecoripa y 3 km S Rancho Las Peñitas, 733 m, on Acacia sp., 22-IV-2004, V. H. Toledo; 2 males, 1 female: Baja Calif. S., Mex., Las Barrancas, 27-V-1984, P. DeBach, Malaise trap; 1 female: Yucatan, Mex., Tekom, 04-VIII-1940, I. Sanderson; 1 male: Baja Calif., Mex., Santa Rosa, 08-10-I-1914, G. Beyer; 1 male, 2 females: Chiapas, Mex., 4 mi NW of Pueblo Nuevo, 15-VII-1968, G. H. Nelson; 1 male: Tamaulipas, Mex., El Encino, 15-IV-1984, S. G. Wellso. 8 males, 3 females: Baja Calif. S., Mex. 6 km E of San Antonio, 350 m, on Prosopis articulata , 11-IV-1994, no collector data; CENTRAL AMERICA: 2 males: Guanacaste, [Costa Rica], Cerro El Hacha, 800m, 12 km SE La Cruz, 320000, 364000, 1998; 1 male: Heredia Province, Costa Rica, Sarapiqui, Chilamate, La Marita Farm, 26-II-1992, R. L. Johnson and R. Ochoa; 1 female: Rivas, Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur, 11' 15° N, 82' 52° W, 10-III-1998, L. J. Clark; 1 female: Granada, Nicaragua, Volcan Mombacho, Finca San Joaquin, 15-V-1998, malaise trap, in organic coffee, J. M. Maes.