Tarandocerus testaceiceps (PIC)

Opitz, Weston, 2015, Systematics of the checkered beetle subfamily Platynopterinae SPINOLA (Coleoptera Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2), pp. 1513-1572 : 1551-1554

Tarandocerus testaceiceps (PIC) , 1936 ( Figs. 85, 139, 140, 172 , 175 )

Platynoptera testaceiceps PIC, 1936: 6 . Lectotype. Ƌ. Here designated. Brasilien ( Brazil), Nova Teutonia, Fritz Plaumann (MNHN). New Combination. CORPORAAL, 1950: 273 ( Platynoptera ). Paralectotypes: One specimen from Brazil, Bahia, Cachimbo, 1890, Ch Pujol (MNHN).

D i a g n o s i s: Absence of protibial spines in specimens of Tarandocerus testaceiceps will distinguish the members of this species from congeners.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 12.0 mm; width 4.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 172 . Color: Cranium mostly flavotestaceous, black line behind eyes; pronotum mostly flavotestaceous, with two black lines on the pronotal disc; elytra bicolored, anterior half of disc flavotestaceous, posterior half black. Head: Antennal capitulum ( Fig. 85) longer than combined length of scape, pedicel, and funicle, antennomeres 9 and 10 with collateral branch; antennal carina very prominent; EW/FW 23/28. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin not projected at middle; side margin of disc slightly rounded at middle; PW/PL 75/80; elytra conspicuously flared; disc with 4 prominent discal carinae; EL/EW 330/90. Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at distal margin; aedeagus as in Figs. 139, 140; ventral surface of tegminal lobe with prominent spine.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 10.0-16.0 mm; width 3.5-8.0 mm. The proportion of black to flavotestaceous varies on the elytral disc.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected in October and November.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 175 ): In addition to the types I examined 12 specimens. Brazil, Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia , 27°11'S 52°23'W, X-27-1944, F. Plaumann ; Bahia, Cachimbo, 1890, Ch Pujol. Paraguay, Dr. Bohls ; Caaguazu, 9-XI-1951, Forster. Specimens are deposited in AMNH, MNHN, NHMB, and WOPC .

Figures

Figs 169-172: Habitus illustrations of (169) Tarandocerus auratus, holotype; 170) T. lycoides, lectotype; (171) T. mexicanus, holotype; (172) T. testaceiceps, lectotype.

Fig. 175: Geographic distribution of species as noted.