Tarandocerus auratus OPITZ, 2015

Opitz, Weston, 2015, Systematics of the checkered beetle subfamily Platynopterinae SPINOLA (Coleoptera Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (2), pp. 1513-1572 : 1548-1549

Tarandocerus auratus OPITZ nov. sp.

( Figs 83 , 135, 136 , 169 , 174 )

Holotype: ♂. Paso del Macho, Mexico, Hoege ( MNHN) . Paratypes: Five specimens. México: Veracruz: Paso del Macho (MNHN, 2; WOPC, 1) . México (MNHN, 2).

Diagnosis: Within Tarandocerus there are two species, T. auratus and T. mexicanus , whose members have the pronotal disc densely covered with gold-colored setae. But, in T. auratus specimens the basal third of the pronotal disc is only infuscated, whereas in specimens of T. mexicanus the basal third of the elytral disc is completely black.

Description: Size: Length 19.0 mm; width 8.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 169 . Color: Cranium mostly dark brown, vertex with a slightly visible flavotestaceous streak; pronotum flavotestaceous, vested with gold-colored setae; elytra bicolored, anterior third infuscated, posterior third of disc black, with very broad middle flavotestaceous fascia. Head: Basal antennomere of antennal capitulum ( Fig. 83 ) as long as combined length of funicular antennomeres, antennomeres 9 and 10 with short collateral branch; antennal carina very prominent; EW/FW 25/33. Thorax: Pronotal anterior margin not projected at middle; side margin of disc slightly rounded at middle; PW/PL 105/115; elytra conspicuously flared; disc with 3 prominent discal carinae; EL/EW 420/130. Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at distal margin; aedeagus as in Figs. 135, 136 ; tegmen well sclerotized.

Variation: Size: Length 16.0-19.0 mm; width 6.0-8.0 mm. The black infuscation behind the humeral margin varies in expression. It is completely missing in one specimen.

Distribution ( Fig. 174 ): This species is known only from México. Specimens are deposited in MNHN and WOPC

Figures

Figs 81-86: Antennae. (81) Platynoptera ochreata, female; (82) Artoadenus similus, male; (83) Tarandocerus auratus, male; (84) T. mexicanus, male; (85) T. testaceiceps, male; (86) Pilosirus versus, female.

Figs 133-144: Aedeagi (133-140), Pronota (141-142), and Female mesodermal female reproductive organs (143-144). (133) Artoadenus similus phallus; (134) A. similus tegmen; (135) Tarandocerus auratus phallus; (136) T. auratus tegmen; (137) T. mexicanus phallus; (138) T. mexicanus tegmen; (139) T. testaceiceps phallus; (140) T. testaceiceps tegmen; (141) Pilosirus amazonicus; (142) P. versus; (143) Ambonoides retinoides female internal reproductive organs; (144) A. retinoides bursal plate.

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

Fig. 174: Geographic distribution of species as noted.