Megacyllene melanaspis ( Chevrolat, 1862 )

Botero, Juan Pablo, Santos-Silva, Antonio & Wappes, James E., 2019, New species, a new combination, and a new country record in American Clytini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Insecta Mundi 697, pp. 1-19 : 6-8

Megacyllene melanaspis ( Chevrolat, 1862)

( Fig. 22–26 )

Cyllene menalaspis Chevrolat, 1862: 378 ; Aurivillius 1912: 385 (cat.); Blackwelder 1946: 581 (checklist).

Cyllene melanaspis ; Lucas 1862: XCI; Lacordaire 1869: 62.

Clytus melanaspis ; Gemminger 1872: 2932 (cat.).

Megacyllene melanaspis ; Monné 1993: 8 (cat.); Martínez 2000: 86 (distr.); Monné et al. 2012: 10 (distr.); Monné and Chaboo 2015: 47 (distr.); Monné 2018: 131 (cat.).

Megacyllene (Megacyllene) melanaspis ; Monné and Giesbert 1994: 112 (checklist); Monné 2005: 91 (cat.); Monné and Hovore 2006: 43 (checklist).

Megacyllene menalaspis ; Martins and Galileo 2011: 72.

Chevrolat (1862) described Cyllene menalaspis in his work named “Description de Clytides de l’ancienne Colombie [Description of Clytides from ancient Colombia].” According to him (translated): “I continue this work [ Chevrolat 1860], occupying myself for the moment only those who come from the old Colombia, forming today, as we know, three distinct states: New Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador.” Cyllene menalaspis was described from New Granada, a country that has been reported to be Colombia (e.g. Monné 2018). However , at that time New Grenada encompassed part of Panama as well as Colombia (see discussion detailing this in Santos-Silva and Botero (2018: 5)) accordingly, the correct type locality for Cyllene menalaspis is New Granada.

Lacordaire (1869) listed: “ Cyll. melanaspis , elongata , crinicornis , caracasensis, Chevrol. Ann. d. l. Soc. entom. 1861, p. 378; Colombie.” He changed Cyllene menalaspis to C. melanaspis without explanation. Furthermore, C. menalaspis was not described from Colombia, C. elongata was described from Venezuela on page 379, C. crinicornis was listed on page 380 as a new record for Venezuela, and C. caracasensis was described from Venezuela on page 380. This name change was repeated by Gemminger (1872) who also listed the species as C. melanaspis without explanation. Subsequently, the species was also referred to as C. menalaspis by Aurivillius (1912) and Blackwelder (1946). In Monné (1993) and henceforth the species has been listed as C. melanaspis , except for Martins and Galileo (2011), who listed the species as C. menalaspis . We believe that Chevrolat (1862) really intended to name the species “ melanaspis ”, meaning dark shield, and C. menalaspis is simply a printer’s error. On page XCVII of the same volume of the “Annales de la Société Entomologique de France ” the name appears as “ melanaspis ”. Thus, this can be considered the first correction of the spelling of a name ( ICZN 1999: 32.5.1), and not in Lacordaire (1869). Accordingly, the author of the justified emendation is H. Lucas (1862) (see “Annales de la Société Entomologique de France ”, 1862, page XCI): “Mr. H. Lucas, assistant secretary, has, as in previous years, since 1860, to be in charge of drawing up this table as well as that of the Authors.”

Based on the material available to us, Megacyllene melanaspis and Megacyllene proxima are sympatric throughout their known distribution in Bolivia. Although, M. melanaspis is encountered more commonly in higher elevations than M. proxima while the opposite is true in mid to lower elevations. Both have been collected on blossoms of woody plants and taken beating or crawling on fresh cut wood in agricultural cuts. The two species can be readily separated by their yellow pubescent pattern of the elytra. Both species have a similar transverse basal fascia with M. melanaspis then having three paired subcircular fascia down the suture ( Fig. 22, 25 ) while M. proxima has four ( Fig. 27–28 ).

Currently, M. melanaspis ( Fig. 22–26 ) is known from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru ( Monné 2018). To this, Bolivia ( Fig. 29 ) is added as a new country record.

Material examined. Megacyllene melanaspis : PERU, Junín: Pampa Hermosa Lodge (22 km N San Ramon, 1220 m, 10°59.3′S / 75°25.5′W), 1 female, 24–27.XI.2007, D. Brzoska col. ( ACMT); Chanchamayo , 1 male, 9-12.VIII.1963, Caballero col. ( MZSP). Ucayali: Pucallpa , 1 female, VI.1974, no collector indicated ( MZSP). COLOMBIA, Cundinamarca: Viotá , 1 female, no date indicated, H. Apol. col. ( MZSP) . BOLIVIA ( Fig. 29 ) (New country record), Santa Cruz: Road to Amboró above Achira , 3 males, 2 females, 10-11.X.2006, Wappes , Nearns, and Eya col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 14–15.X.2006, Wappes , Nearns, and Eya col. ( MZSP); above Achira (Rd to Floripondio ; 1900 m; 18°09′S / 63°47′W), 1 female, 10.XII.2011, Wappes , Bonaso, and Morris col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 1 female, 19.XII.2011, Wappes , Lingafelter and Woodley col. ( ACMT); 2 males, 29.XI.2013, Konstantinov col. ( SLPC); 1 male, 2 females, 29.XI.2013, Woodley col. ( SLPC): 1 female, 19.XII.2011, Lingafelter col. ( SLPC); 2 males, 4 females, 19.XII.2011, Woodley col. ( SLPC); 4–5 km N Achira (rd to Floripondio ; 18°09′S / 63°47′W, 6350′), 1 female, 15.IX.2012, Wappes, Skelley , Bonaso, and Hamel col. ( ACMT); 1 female, 10.XII.2011, Morris and Wappes col. ( RFMC); 4–6 km N Achira (5400–5800′), 1 female, 20.XI.2003, Wappes , Morris, and Nearns col. ( ACMT); Achira (ridge rd to Amboró ; 18°07′S / 63°48′W, 2000 m), 1 female, 24–25.I.2007, Wappes and Lingafelter col. ( ACMT); Achira area (N rd to Amboró, on Achira ridge; 18°19′S / 63°48′W), 1 female, 5–6.II.2013, Wappes, Bonaso , Lingafelter and Garzon col. ( ACMT); Amboró (rd above Achira Campo, 5-5800′), 1 female, 9–11.X.2004, Morris and Wappes col. ( RFMC); 1 male, 27–28.X.2011, Skillman and Wappes Col. ( FWSC) ; Pvc . Florida, Floripondio (west), 18°08’S, 63°45’W, 1880 m, 1 male, 25.XI.2004, on/flying to fresh cut trees, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); Florida prov. (16 km NE Mairana; 6600′; 18°05′S / 63°54′W), 1 female, 11.XII.2011, Wappes , Bonaso, and L. Sekerka col. ( ACMT); above Achira Campo (road to Amboró, Vicoquin area , 18°07′S / 63°48′W), 1 female, 11.XI.2012, Bonaso and Windsor col. ( ACMT); Refugio los Volcanes , 18°06′24″S, 63°35′55″W, 1056 m, 20.XII.2016, R. Perger col. ( CBFL); 1 female, 8.XI.2017, Lingafelter col. ( SLPC).

Megacyllene proxima : BOLIVIA ( Fig. 29 ), Cochabamba, N. of Cristal Mayu, 19.X.2011, Skillman and Wappes col. ( FWSC); 2 males, Wappes and Skillman col. ( ACMT); Santa Cruz, Florida, 4 km N. Bermejo, Refugio Los Volcanes , 18°06′S, 63°36′W, 1000–1200 m, 7.XII.2013, Skillman and Wappes col. ( FWSC); 10.XII.2015, Skillman and Wappes col. ( FWSC); 12.XII.2011, Skillman and Wappes col. ( FWSC); 1 male, 18–20.IX.2012, Wappes, Skelley , Bonaso and Hamel col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 18–22.I.2006, Wappes and Lingafelter col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 2 females, 3.XI.2017, Lingafelter col. ( SLPC); 5 males, 1 female, 6–10. III.2011, Wappes and Thomas col. ( ACMT); 1 female, 1350 m, 9–12.XII.2011, Morris and Wappes col. ( RFMC); 1 male, 2 females, 1350 m, 18–24.X.2014, Morris and Wappes col. ( RFMC); 1 female, Florida Prv., Vicoquin area above Achira , chaco, 1730 m, 22–25.I.2007, Wappes , Lingafelter and Prena col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 1 female, 19.XII.2011, N. Woodley col. ( SLPC); 2 males, 2 females, 22–25.I.2007, Lingafelter , Wappes and Prena col. ( SLPC); 1 female, 19.XII.2011, Lingafelter col. ( SLPC); Pvc. Florida, Floripondio (west), 18°08′S, 63°45′W, 1880 m, 1 male, 1 female, 1.XI.2009, on/flying to flowers of Sagüintillo, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); 1 female, 1.XI.2009, flying to fresh cut trees, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); 1 male, 25.XI.2004, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); 18°08′S, 63°44′W, Floripondio (east), 1 female, on/flying to flowers of Sotillo, 16.XI.2009, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); 1 female, 27.XI2009, Clarke col. ( RCSZ); 1 female, 18°09′S, 63°47′W, 10.XII.2011, Morris and Wappes col. ( RFMC); La Hoyado (above Agua Clara ), 2 females, 19.XI.2003, Morris , Nearns and Wappes col. ( RFMC). PERU, Madre de Dios, 1 female, 10-13.XI.2007, Amazonas Lodge (N-Atalaya), 480 m, 12°52.2′S, 71°22.6′W, D. Brzoska col. ( ACMT).

Figures

Figure 29. Map of known distribution in Bolivia.Red ball, Megacyllene melanaspis; yellow ball, Megacyllene proxima.

Figures 22–28. Megacyllene melanaspis. 22–26) Male. 22) Dorsal habitus. 23) Ventral habitus. 24) Lateral habitus. 25) Head, frontal view.26) Female, dorsal habitus. 27–28) Megacyllene proxima, dorsal habitus. 27) Male. 28) Female.