Trigonopeltastes simplex Bates, 1889

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2016, Five new species of Trigonopeltastes Burmeister and Schaum from Central America with new country records for other New World Trichiini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), ZooKeys 617, pp. 91-127 : 108-111

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Scarabaeidae

Trigonopeltastes simplex Bates, 1889

Remarks.

The male of this species has never been formally described, and so I have included the description of key characters below with sexually dimorphic characters indicated.

Description of male

(Figs 52-55). Color: elytra and legs highly variable (see Figs 52-54); dorsal surface black with elytra all black, all dark orange, or with varying degrees of dark orange basally and black apically; each elytron lacking cretaceous markings or with short, transverse, cretaceous band on basal half of elytra suture and/or short cretaceous band adjacent to lateral edge approximately halfway between base and apex. Legs dark orange, black, or a combination of these colors. Head: Surface glabrous, without cretaceous markings. Pronotum: Surface of disc dull-black with shiny micropunctures (surface shiny in females). Marginal bead obsolete laterally, without cretaceous markings inside marginal bead (marginal bead complete and with inside cretaceous markings in females). Pronotal disc with more-or-less complete inverted triangle indented into surface and without cretaceous markings (female has cretaceous markings). Elytra: See above and Figs 52-54 for color variation. Pygidium: Surface without cretaceous makings (present laterally in females), disc with distinct ridges of concentric circles and some setae laterally and apically. Venter: Visible abdominal sternites 1-5 almost covered medially with cretaceous markings (except for small, central triangles); with short, white setae scattered throughout (or long setae just concentrated on sternite 5). Legs: Protibia with 2 teeth near apex (female with third medial tooth). Parameres: Robust with lateral notches towards apex (Fig. 55).

Distribution.

This species was previously recorded from Guatemala ( Howden 1968). The specimens detailed below represent a new country record for Mexico. The Mexican specimens have some variation in the metathoracic leg characters and setal characters that bear further investigation.

"MEXICO, CHIAPAS / SUMIDERO CYN, 4000' / JUNE 14 1987 / E. GIESBERT, COLL." (1 male - CMNC).

"MEXICO. Chiapas. / Pq. Nac. Sumidero. / 1000m. 25.V.1990 / H.&A. Howden" (1 male - CMNC).