Aphelocerus tigra, Opitz, Weston, 2019

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 965-966

Aphelocerus tigra OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 6 , 107, 207, 268 )

Holotype: ♀. Type locality: HONDURAS: Dept. Francisco Morazan, Parque Nacional La Tigra , 1-VI-1993, coll. M. C. Thomas ( FSCA) . Paratypes: 5 specimens. Honduras: Departamento de Francisco Morazan, Parque Nacional La Tigre , 1-VI-1999, P. W. Skillman Jr. ( FWSC, 2: WOPC, 2) ; idem, 1-VI-1993, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1) .

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Aphelocerus KIRSCH was revised in 2005 (OPITZ 2005). This work included a key to species. The available Aphelocerus tigra specimens key out to A. capillus OPITZ from which A. tigra specimens differ by showing a narrower elytral anterior white setal patch, and the elytral subapex shows more white setae.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 5.0 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 268 . Color: Black; row of white setae on basal region of elytral sutural margin, these setae not contiguous with anterior white setal patch, elytral disc with two well- developed white setal patches. Head: Interocular depression and frontal umbo shallow; antenna ( Fig. 6 ) capitate, funicular antennomeres filiform, progressively shorter and wider towards capitulum, capitulum compact; eyes finely facetted, eye narrower than frons (EW/FW 15/45). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 107 ) quadrate, very finely punctate; (PW/PL 82/82); elytral disc with well-developed anterior and posterior white setal patches, disc with striae of very small setiferous punctures (EL/EW 230/60). Abdomen: Pygidium transverse / scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 207.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimens were collected during June.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from Honduras.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, tigra, is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Figures

Figs 1-27: Antennae; (1) Aphelocerus nodus; (2) A. copanus; (3) A. magnipannus; (4) A. yoro; (5) A. sparicapillus; (6) A. tigra. (7) A. nolus; (8) A. ligulus; (9) Perilypus schusteri; (10) P. apunctus; (11) P. virgulatus; (12) P. izabal; (13) P. alpinus; (14) Cregya fuscomacula; (15) Phonius versus; (16) Pujoliclerus ariquemes; (17) Pelonium falcatum; (18) Pujoliclerus cnecostus; (19) P. trunculus. (20) P. sentus; (21) P. testudinatus; (22) P. catie; (23) P. flavidus; (24) P. convexus; (25) P. meloinus; (26) P. mexicoensis; (27) P. tuxtlas.

Figs 266-269: Habitus; (266) Aphelocerus nolus; (267) A. sparicapillus; (268) A. tigra; (269) A. yaguare.

Figs 101-117: Pronota; (101) Aphelocerus ligulus; (102) A. yoro; (103) Ridica achira; (104) R. merida; (105) Ampleris cacuminis; (106) Plocamocera catalexis; (107) Aphelocerus tigra; (108) A. sparicapillus; (109) A. nolus; (110) A. magnipannus; (111) Pyticeroides desodes; (112) Cregya petalosa; (113) C. livida; (114) C. tobagoensis; (115) C. maura; (116) Pujoliclerus flavidus; (117) Amboakis collucoatis.

Figs 207-212: Aedeagi; (207) Aphelocerus tigra; (208) A. yoro; (209) Perilypus alpinus; (210) P. apunctus; (211) P. arsus; (212) P. izabal.