Aphelocerus bispineus, OPITZ, 2005

OPITZ, WESTON, 2005, Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Genus Aphelocerus Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (293), pp. 1-128 : 41

Aphelocerus bispineus , new species Figures 52 , 194, 195 , 255a ; map 21

HOLOTYPE: Male. Mexico: Chiapas, Bochil , 10 km S., X.1. 1989, R. L. Penrose ( CASC). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to paper point, white, hand printed; support card; locality label, white, machine printed; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with abdomen and aedeagus.)

PARATYPES: Eight specimens. Mexico: Chiapas: Sumidero Natl. Pk , 5­X­1990, P. Lago & E. Zucaro ( UMIC, 1) ; 3–5 km S La Trinitaria , 19 –20­X­1988, J. E. Wappes ( JEWC, 1) ; 3–5 km S La Triniaria , 19­X­ 1988, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; E. Giesbert ( FSCA, 2; WOPC, 2) .

DIAGNOSIS: Among the species that have a parameral accumination this species may be identified by the presence of a dense aggregate of pale setae on the lower sides of the pronotum. This characteristic also separates A. bispineus , n.sp., beetles from superficial similar Chiapan members of A. ciliaris , n.sp.

DESCRIPTION: Size: 3.5–5.0 mm; width 1.6– 2.1 mm. Integument: Black, with violaceous tinge; pronotal lower sides vested with dense aggregate of pale setae; sutural tuft very reduced; midelytron with loose aggregate of setae whose orientation is towards epipleural margin. Head: Width across eyes equal to width across pronotum (30:30); cranium finely puctate; interocular depressions and frontal umbo shallow, eyes subspherical, moderately convex; antenna as in figure 52, as long as length of pronotum. Thorax: Pronotum as long as wide (30:30), considerably narrower than width of elytron across humeri (30:40), finely punctate, subapical depression faintly indicated, side margins moderately arcuate; elytra plane, depth at humeris 15, greatest depth in posterior half 15, surface shallowly rugose. Abdomen: Pygidial posterior margin evenly arcuate; aedeagus as in figure 194; paramere with medial acumination; apical region of tegmen with paralateral bands of serrations; phallic plicae particularly broad (fig. 195).

VARIATION: The available specimens do not vary appreciably.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were collected in October.

DISTRIBUTION (map 21): Known from the Chiapan highlands of southern Mexico.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Latin prefix bi (two) and the Latin spineus (of thorns). I refer to the parameral acuminations on the tegmen.

Figures

Figs. 47–61. Habitus view and antennas. 47. Aphelocerus formicoides (habitus, lateral view). 48– 61. Antennas. 48. A. ciliaris. 49. A. inconstans. 50. A. domus. 51. A. echinatus. 52. A. bispineus. 53. A. citimus. 54. A. leucomelas. 55. A. coalitus. 56. A. inbatus. 57. A. coactus. 58. A. nitidus. 59. A. lividus. 60. A. cornuatus. 61. A. acutus.

Figs. 193–214. Tegmina and phalli. 193. Aphelocerus delicatulus, tegmen. 194–195. A. bispineus (194, tegmen; 195, phallus). 196. A. aeneus, tegmen. 197. A. acuticolis, tegmen. 198. A. sculptillus, tegmen. 199. A. sabulosus, tegmen. 200–201. A. akis (200, phallus; 201, tegmen). 202–203. A. chelonus (202, tegmen; 203, phallus). 204. A. scalenus, tegmen. 205. A. ebenus, tegmen. 206. A. hespenheidei, tegmen. 207–208. A. ciliaris (207, tegmen; 208, phallus). 209. A. turnbowi, tegmen. 210. A. improcerus. 211. A. anticus, tegmen. 212. A. inbatus, tegmen. 213. A. chondrus, tegmen. 214. A. monteverde. tegmen.

Figs. 248–255. Pronota, pygidium, sixth visible abdominal sternum, tarsal claws. 248. Aphelocerus. cohibilis, pronotum (dorsal view). 249. A. chondrus (dorsal view). 250. A. improcerus, pronotum (dorsal view). 251. A. protenus, pronotum (dorsal view). 252–253. A. vietus, male (252, pygidium; 253, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 254. A. patulus, female pygidium. 255a. A. leucomelas, tarsal claws. 255b. A. bispineus habitus. 255c. A. ciliaris habitus.