Atelodesmis mannerheimii Duponchel and Chevrolat, 1841

Santos-Silva, Antonio & Wappes, James E., 2018, A new genus, a new species, new combinations, and notes on synonymy and nomenclature in American Desmiphorini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Insecta Mundi 605, pp. 1-16 : 4-5

Atelodesmis mannerheimii Duponchel and Chevrolat, 1841

( Fig. 1–18 )

Atelodesmis vestita Dejean 1835: 348 . Nomen nudum.

Atelodesmis vestita Dejean 1836: 374 . Nomen nudum.

Atelodesmis mannerheimii Duponchel and Chevrolat 1841: 287 .

Atelodesmis hirticornis Buquet 1857: 335 ; Thomson 1864: 105; 1866: 105; 1868: 108; Lacordaire 1872: 625; Gemminger 1873: 3108 (cat.); Thomson 1878: 17 (type); Aurivillius 1922: 305 (cat.); Blackwelder 1946: 599 (checklist); Zajciw 1958: 16 (distr.); Buck 1959: 598 (distr.); Breuning 1963: 513 (cat.); 1974: 181 (rev.); Zajciw 1974: 72 (distr.); Monné 1994: 62 (cat.); Monné and Giesbert 1994: 215 (checklist); Monné 2005: 375 (cat.); Monné and Hovore 2006: 241 (checklist); Monné et al. 2010: 248 (distr.); Monné 2012: 93 (cat.); 2017: 329 (cat.). Syn. nov.

Atelodesmis vestita Buquet 1857: 335 ; Thomson 1868: 108; Lacordaire 1872: 625; Gemminger 1873: 3108 (cat.); Thomson 1878: 17 (type); Aurivillius 1922: 305 (cat.); Blackwelder 1946: 599 (checklist); Buck 1959: 598 (distr.); Breuning 1963: 513 (cat.); 1974: 182 (rev.); Zajciw 1974: 72 (distr.); Monné and Giesbert 1994: 215 (checklist); Monné 1994: 63 (cat.); 2005: 376 (distr.); 2017: 329 (cat.). Syn. nov.

Remarks. According to Buquet (1857), A. vestita differs from A. hirticornis by its size, which is somewhat larger; its glossy black color with yellowish spots; the head is finely punctate in A. hirticornis , while in A. vestita it is very strongly punctate; and the prothorax is slightly wider than long in A. hirticornis , and longer than wide in A. vestita . However, all these differences are only variations within a single species, and can occur in differing combinations. For example, there are small, very densely pubescent specimens with an elongate prothorax as well as much larger, sparsely pubescent specimens with a prothorax that is distinctly wider than long. These differences occur independently of the sex and collection locality. The difference regarding punctation pointed out by Buquet (1857) is mostly due to the pubescence, which can obscure the punctures (sometimes nearly completely). It is clear from examining many specimens that densely pubescent specimens tend to correspond to “ hirticornis ”. In some, the pubescence on the head can be sparse (sometimes nearly absent) on the entire frons and on the center of the vertex (as in the holotype of A. vestita ), or in others, notably dense (as in the holotype of A. hirticornis ), although intermediate forms between these two extremes are also found. The same occurs in the pronotal pubescence, which can be nearly absent centrally (as in the holotype of A. vestita ) or dense throughout, especially on a central band (as in the holotype of A. hirticornis ) but, again there are intermediate forms. Regarding the elytral pubescence, there are two extreme forms, those with very similar densely pubescent maculae, including their placement, corresponding to typical A. hirticornis , and those with less densely pubescent maculae. Again, intermediate forms exist with sparser maculae than in the holotype of A. vestita . In summary, the variation in pronotal shape, dorsal pubescence and punctures, all found in varying combinations, clearly indicates that A. hirticornis and A. vestita are the same, rather variable species.

According to Thomson (1864: 105), “ A. mannerheimii Dej. Cat. p. 374” is a synonym of A. hirticornis . Also, according to Gemminger (1873: 3108), “ Mannerheimi [sic] Dejean i. litt. —Brasilia” is a synonym of A. hirticornis . It is difficult to ascertain how these authors arrived at this conclusion, as there is no citation of Atelodesmis mannerheimii in Dejean’s catalogues (1835, 1836). One can only guess that they were aware of the fact that the name A. mannerheimii was published in Duponchel and Chevrolat (1841) and came to an erroneous conclusion that it had originated from Dejean’s collection.

The holotype of A. mannerheimii is probably in the BMNH in the Dejean, or Chevrolat, collection. Although we could not examine the holotype, the original description of the species, as well as that of the genus, and that Brazil was the origin of all the taxa, supports the conclusion that A. vestita and A. hirticornis are synonyms of A. mannerheimii . In this case, it is not possible to apply Article 23.9 of ICZN (1999) and regard one of the junior synonyms as the valid name of this species because the conditions demanded by Article 23.9.1.2 are not present.

Material examined. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte , 1 male, no date indicated, O. Monte col. ( MZSP) ; Passa Quatro (915 m), 1 male, 12.II.1922, Zikán col. ( MZSP); (Fazenda dos Campos) , 1 female, XI.1917, Zikán col. ( MZSP) ; Poços de Caldas, 2 males, 12.XII.1970, A. Becher col. ( MNRJ). Espírito Santo: Linhares ( Parque Sooretama ), 1 male, 19.X.1959, no collector indicated ( MNRJ). Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro ( Corcovado ), 1 male, 09.XI.1956, Zajciw col. ( MNRJ) ; 1 female, 14.XII.1956, Zajciw col. ( MNRJ). São Paulo: Peruíbe , 1 male, 03.XII.1938, ex Zellibor collection ; São Paulo, 1 male, no collector and date indicated ( MZSP); ( Saúde ) , 1 male, 27.XII.1914, Melzer col. ( MZSP). Santa Catarina: Rio Vermelho , 1 male, no date indicated, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, 2 females, XII.1948, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, XII.1948, A. Maller col. ( MZSP) ; 1 female, II.1950, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, IV.1950, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 female, I.1952, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, X.1952, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 female, I.1953, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, XII.1955, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 female, I.1957, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 2 males, I.1958, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, 3 females, II.1960, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 2 males, 3 females, I.1961, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 2 males, 1 female, III.1961, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 female, III.1962, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 female, II.1963, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 6 males, 5 females, III.1963, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 4 females, III.1964, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP) ; 1 male, XII.1966, Fragoso col. ( MNRJ); (São Bento do Sul) , 2 males, 2 females, XI.1963, ex Diringshofen collection ( MZSP). Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre, 1 female, Buck col. ( MZSP) .

Geographical distribution. Brazil (Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul).

Figures

Figures 1–9. Atelodesmis mannerheimii. 1–5) Male, dorsal view. 6–8) Female, dorsal view. 9) Male, mesotibia.

Figures 10–16. Atelodesmis mannerheimii. 10) Male, dorsal view. 11) Male, ventral view. 12) Male, lateral view. 13) Male head, frontal view. 14) Female, dorsal view. 15) Female, ventral view. 16) Female, lateral view.

Figures 17–20. Atelodesmis spp. 17) Atelodesmis hirticornis, holotype. 18) Atelodesmis vestita, holotype. 19) Atelodesmis unicolor, holotype. 20) Atelodesmis piperita, holotype.