Phyllobaenus subvittatus (Gorham, 1883: 170)

Leavengood, John M. & Garner, Beulah H., 2014, Nomenclatural notes on some checkered beetle (Coleoptera: Cleridae) types of the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), Zootaxa 3760 (3), pp. 301-335 : 316-317

Phyllobaenus subvittatus (Gorham, 1883: 170)

( Fig. 19 )

Original combination. Hydnocera subvittata

Types. Gorham does not specify the number of types, but states “specimens occur both from this and all the other localities” implying at least one specimen per locality. If this assumption is correct, then at least one syntype may remain from Tamaha and San Juan, and all specimens (assuming more than one) from Volcan de Chiriqui are as yet unaccounted.

Comments. Gorham considered this “a very indefinite species, varying a good deal in size and colour, and (if I am right in uniting them as one) in the length of the elytra.” There are, in fact, two species present in the type series. Although not specified, it is assumed by the language of Gorham’s original discussion that all specimens of the “other” likely undescribed species (with short elytra) were from Bugaba and, therefore, that all (if any) missing specimens from elsewhere are of subvittatus . Of the type series four specimens (including a card-mounted pair) truly represent subvittatus ; two represent the other species with shorter elytra, and an additional pair of cardmounted specimens (one specimen representing each species on the same card!). While one “specimen” (the cardmounted pair representing both species) has a type label placed by Gorham (or a curator), it was never indicated which specimen on the card mount was the type. Pursuant to ICZN Article 72.4.7, this type designation is not valid. The present designation recognizes a specimen of the species with longer, apically truncate elytra as the lectotype of subvittatus .

Series locality. Chiacam, San Juan, and Tamahu, Guatemala; Volcan de Chiriqui and Bugaba, Panama.

Type locality. Tamahu, Vera Paz, Guatemala.

LECTOTYPE (here designated): Tamahu, Vera Paz, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 1). PARALECTOTYPES: Type [round, red-bordered label], Chiacam, Vera Paz, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 2, a card-mounted pair); San Juan, Vera Paz, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 1); Bugaba, Type, 800–1500 ft, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 1, this specimen shares a card-mount with the other species); PARALECTOTYPES represented by the other species: Bugaba, Type, 800–1500 ft, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 1, this specimen shares a card-mount with the other species); Bugaba, Panama, Champion, B. C. A. Col. III (2), Hydnocera subvittata Gorham ( BMNH; 2).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 20. Fig. 17) Phyllobaenus lateralis (Gorham), Lectotype [right] and Paralectotype [right] (left); Fig. 18) P. scapularis (Gorham), Lectotype (BMNH); Fig. 19) P. subvittatus (Gorham), two Paralectotypes (BMNH); Fig. 20) P. subulatus (Gorham); Lectotype (BMNH).