Ampleris cacuminis OPITZ, 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 : 997-998

Ampleris cacuminis OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 56 , 105 , 234 , 317)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, El Refugio Los Volcanes, Elev . 3363', 18- 24/X/2014, Morris & Wappes ( FSCA). Paratype: 1 specimen. Bolivia: Departamento de Santa Cruz, El Refugio Los Volcanes, 18-24-X- 2014, 1025 m, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC).

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Ampleris OPITZ and its 7 previously described species were made available in 2016 ( OPITZ 2016). This work included a key to species. Ampleris cacuminis specimens key out to A. cava OPITZ, from which A. cacuminis specimens differ in characteristics of the male genitalia. In A. cacuminis, the phallic plates are longer and the phallic apex is more acuminate.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 4.5 mm; width 1.3 mm. Form: As in Fig. 317 . Color: Cranium bicolored, upper frons and postgena black, testaceous in remainder; antenna black; prothorax bicolored, mostly testaceous, disc with broad 2 slightly oblique black lines; pterothorax, legs, and abdomen black; elytra bicolorous, sutural margins narrowly black in basal 1/2, disc black in distal 1/3 rd. Head: Antenna ( Fig. 56 ) capitate, funicular antennomeres transverse, capitular antennomeres narrow oblong; eyes small, coarsely facetted, eye narrower than frons (EW/FW 15/22). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 105 ) quadrate, disc coarsely punctate (PW/PL 50/50); lateral tubercle well developed; elytral asetiferous punctures profusely distributed (EL/EW 210/45). Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 234.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimens were collected in October, at 1025 m.

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

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, cacuminis, is a Latin name that stems from cacumen (= extreme point); with reference to the acuminate phallic apex.

Figures

Figs 43-60: Antennae; (43) Ordinis taxis; (44) Pelonium tayrona; (45) Neorthopleura turnbowi, male; (46) N. turnbowi, female; (47) Megaphloeus imparilus; (48) Plocamocera catalexis; (48 a) Cregya entrerios; (49) Ridica merida. (50) Kataspinula puebla. (51) Cregya tobagoensis; (52) Topainca patchacutii; (53) Eurycaulis anaxeis; (54) Amboakis expandosa. (55) Ridica achira. (56) Ampleris cacuminis; (57) Sicamus suprus; (58) Sirpa latiflava; (59) Alarius careoritus; (60) Cregya petalosa.

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 231-236: Aedeagi; (231) Neorthopleura quintana; (232) N. thomasi; (233) N. turnbowi; (234) Ampleris cacuminis; (235) A. itaituba; (236) A. jatai.

Figs 314-317: Habitus; (314) Neorthopleura turnbowi; (315) Akonesis atraordinis; (316) Ampleris amazona; (317) A. caruminis.