Pyticara duponti SPINOLA , 1844

Opitz, Weston, 2015, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Enopliinae GISTEL (Coleoptera Cleridae). Part IV. The New World genus Pyticara SPINOLA, Linzer biologische Beiträge 47 (1), pp. 711-730 : 718-719

Pyticara duponti SPINOLA, 1844 ( Figs 2, 9, 17, 18 , 29 , 34 , 38 , 40 )

Pyticara duponti SPINOLA, 1844: 71 . Neotype: ♀. Here selected. Nova Teutonia, Sta. Catarina ,

BRAZ ( Brazil), 1: XII: 41, Fritz Plaumann leg. (FSCA). Corporaal 1950: 274. Ekis (now

Opitz) (1975: 63). Pyticara immarginata PIC (1950: 8) Pyticara suturalis SCHENKLING (1906: 311) Pyticara coronata GORHAM (1877: 416) . nov.syn. Pyticara flavicollis GORHAM (1877: 416). nov.syn.

The characteristics upon which these nominal species synonyms are based fall into the range of variation of P. duponti (SPINOLA) .

D i a g n o s i s: Some specimens of P. duponti have the epipleural region yellow which is also the case in the P. simoata specimen. However, the epipleural region is not as explanate in the P. duponti beetles as it is in P. simoata beetles (compare Figs 34 , 37, 38 ). Specimens of P. duponti , that have the elytral disc entirely brown, are similarly distinguishable from P. simoata specimens.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 10.5 mm; width 4.4 mm. Form: As in Fig. 34 . Color: Cranium mostly black, head venter testaceous, narrowly testaceous in vertex and behind eyes, lower frons testaceous; pronotum testaceous; mesoscutellum black; elytra bicolored, mostly black, with broadly yellow epipleural border; legs black. Head: As wide as anterior margin of pronotum; antennal funicle very compact ( Fig. 2 ); antennomere 9 much longer than funicle; antennal carina very prominent; EW/FW 35/45. Thorax: Pronotum transverse, side margin rounded ( Fig. 9 ); PW/PL 150/115; elytra explanate near epipleural margin, gradually increasing in diameter from base to elytral half; EL/EW 490//155; pronotal partial commissure ( Fig. 29 ) well developed. Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at distal margin; aedeagus as in Figs 17, 18 ; tegminal lobes strongly fimbriate.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 13.0-11.0 mm; width 4.0-4.8 mm. The expression of testaceous regions of the cranium varies as does the coloration of the pronotal disc. The latter may have two broad black lines on its disc. The mesoscutellum may be testaceous and the elytral disc entirely black.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected during August, October, November, January, and February, at altitudes ranging from 250 – 400 m. They were gathered in a Malaise trap and flight intercept trap. Wilford J. Hansen captured a specimen in Rondonia, Brazil, by placing a Malaise trap over a stack of recently felled tree trunks (for photograph of this method of collecting Cleridae see OPITZ 2004: 14, Fig. 2 ).

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 40 ): I examined 20 specimens from: Colombia, 320 m, Putumayo, PNN La Paya, Canaña Viviano Cocha, 0°7'S 74°56'W, Malaise , 15-30-X- 2001, R. Cobete. French Guiana, Roura, RN 2 PK 22, Magne des Cevaux , 4-I-2009, piége vitre d’ interception, P. H. Dalens ; Régina, Montagne de Kaw, PK 36, 10-VIII- 2005, piége malaise, J. A. Cerda. Ecuador, Napo, Yasuni Research Station, 19-30-X- 1998, W. J. Hanson, 250 m, 6°36'W 0°38'S Brazil, Vilhena , Rondonia, XI-1973, M. Alvarenga ; Rondonia, 62 km SE Ariquemes , 8-20-XI-1994, W. J. Hansen ; Rio Caraguata , Mato Grosso, XII-1953, 21°48' W 32°27'N, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann ; Amazonas, Reserva Ducke, 26 km NE Manaus, Barbosa , M. G. V, Malaise ; Santa Catarina , Nova Teutonia , II-1956, F. Plaumann ; Amazon , Ega ; Alto de Serra ; Rio Madeira , Abuna, Mann & Baker ; Sta. Tereza , 26-X-1964, C. Elias ; Linhares, ES, 9-15-I-1975, C. Elias. Specimens are deposited in EMUS, FMNH, JNRC, GMCF, WFBM, and WOPC .

N o t e s: In 1975 I examined the Spinola collection and found no trace of the holotype of this species ( EKIS 1975: 63). It has not been found in the Paris Museum. Fortunately, Spinola provided a fine illustration of the missing holotype. The description is based on a specimen that looks very similar to the aforementioned habitus illustration. However, to fix the name of this species, which is characterized by having two color morphs, I select a Neotype in conformity with Article 75 of the ICZN (1999).

Figures

Figs 1-20: Morphological organs of Pyticara species. 1-6 Antennae. (1) Pyticara batesiana; (2) P. duponti. (3) P. championi. (4) P. implana. (5) P. lineatohumeralis; (6) P. simoata. 7-12 Pronota. (7) P. batesiana. (8) P. championi. (9) P. duponti. (10) P. implana. (11) P. lineatohumeralis. (12) P. simoata. 13-20 Aedeagi. (13) P. batesiana phallus. (14) P. batesiana tegmen. (15) P. championi phallus. (16) P. championi tegmen. (17) P. duponti phallus. (18) P. duponti tegmen. (19) P. lineatohumeralis phallus. (20) P. lineatohumeralis phallus.

Figs 27-30: Morphological organs of Pyticara species. (27) Pyticara championi front leg ungues. (28) Pyticara championi, metatibial subapical secretory pit. (29) Pyticara duponti, posterior angle of prothorax. (30) Pyticara championi, elytral disc.

Fig. 32-35: Photographs of Pyticara species. (32) P. batesiana. (33) P. championi. (34) P. duponti. (35) P. implana.

Figs 36-39: Photographs of Pyticara and Chrysomelidae species. (36) P. lineatohumeralis. (37) P. simoata. (38) P. duponti. (39) Chrysomelidae: Monocesta depressa.

Fig. 40: Geographic distribution of species as noted.