Priocera variegata KIRBY, 1818, 1819

Opitz, Weston, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Priocera KIRBY (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 1145-1255 : 1205

Priocera variegata KIRBY, 1818 ( Figs 80 , 99 , 174 )

Priocera variegata KIRBY, 1818: 392 .

HOLOTYPE: ♀. Type locality: Brazil ( BMNH). CORPORAAL 1950: 101. Priocera similis SCHENKLING 1898: 392 .

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d ( Fig. 99 ): In addition to the holotype, I examined 71 specimens from: Costa Rica: Provincia de Guanacaste, 3 km SE Rio Naranjo, 16-29- II-1992, F. D. Parker ; idem, 11-21-IV-1992, F. D. Parker ; Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja , 10- 27-III- 1993, 800 m, K. Taylor ; Volcá Orosi,?- II-1992, F. Araya. Bolivia: Departamento de Santa Cruz, Potrerillo del Guenda , 16-22-X- 2006, 370 m, Wappes & Morris ; 4-6 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 21-24-II-2003 ; Departamento de La Paz, Iturialde Las Huntas , Parque Nacional Madidi ; 16-X-2004, J. Wappes & R. Morris. Peru: Provincia de San Martin, Tarapote, Amazonas,?-?-1885, M. de Mathan. Brazil: Estado do Bahia, Encruzilhada,?- XI- 1972, 960 m, M. Alvarenga ; idem,?- VI-1972, M. Alvarenga ; Itapetinga ,?- XI-1969, F. M. Oliveira ; Villa Victoria ,?-?-1890, Ch. Pujol ; Estado do Espiritu Santo, Linhares ,?- IX- 1973, 980 m, M.Alvarenga ; Estado do Sâo Paulo, Marilia ,?- XI-1945, collector not noted ; Val. do Rio Pardo. ?- XII-1898, E. Gounelle ; Estado do Minas Gerais, Mar de Hespanha , 9-XII-1910, J. F. Zilkán ; Pedra Azul ,?- XI-1972, M. Alvarenga ; Estado do Pernambuco, Peri-Peri , 11-XII-1892, Gounelle ; Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara ,?- III-1964, M. Alvarenga ; Estado do Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia ,?- I-1975, 300- 500 m, F. Plaumann ; idem,?- II-1974, 300- 500 m, F. Plaumann ; idem, 5-XII-1942, F. Plaumann. Specimens are deposited in: ACMT, AMNH, CMNC, CMNH, CNCI, EMEC, FMNH, FSCA, JNRC, MNHN, OXUM, RFMC, SDEI, TAMU, USNM, WFBM, and WOPC .

D i a g n o s i s: Color: Antennae, forebody, pterothorax dark castaneous; legs mostly dark castaneous, tarsi testaceous; elytra tricolored, ground color castaneous, with two large yellow markings between which there are small, yellow, fleck marks, yellow markings on humerus and middle of elytral disc, elytral distal 1/4 testaceous; abdomen bicolored, 3 visible basal ventrites black, 3 visible apical ventrites testaceous.

R e d e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 19.0 mm; width 4.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 174 . Head: Frons broad, wider than length of antennal pedicel ( EW /FW 95/40). Thorax: Pronotum finely punctate, with 2 tumescenses and centrally located fissure ( PW /PL 220/280); elytral disc sculptured with substriate asetiferous punctures in basal 1/2, elytral apex rounded ( EL /EW 420/85); metathoracic femur gradually increasing in diameter to femoral apex. Abdomen: Aedeagus as in Fig. 80.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 11.0-22.0 mm; width 2.5-6.0 mm. The yellow variegated markings on the elytral disc vary in color intensity and size. Some specimens are black on the outer sides of the elytral disc. The 2 yellow spots near the humeral angle may not be clearly defined.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected throughout the year, at altitudes that range from 30 to 980 m.

Figures

Figs 99. Approximate distribution of species as noted.

Figs 79-80. Aedeagus. Priocera unifasciata (79), P. variegata (80). Figs 81-84. Aedeagus. Priocera ardis (81), P. bispinosa (82), P. brunnea (83), P. calvariola (84).

Figs 172-175. Habitus. Priocera unifasciata (172), P. unimacula nov.sp. (173), P. variegata (174), P. clavipes (175).