Akonesis pictipennis ( Gorham, 1877 )

Opitz, Weston, 2014, Taxonomy of the New World Checkered Beetle GeneraAkonesisOpitz, New Genus, AntennosusOpitz, New Genus, CrusbatusOpitz, New Genus, andDiutiusOpitz, New Genus (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (3), pp. 411-428 : 415

Akonesis pictipennis ( Gorham, 1877) ( Figs. 31 , 59 , 64 )

Pelonium pictipenne Gorham, 1877: 423 . Lectotype. Gender not known. Here designated. Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil) (BMNH). Lesne 1917: 149 ( Galeruclerus ); Corporaal 1950: 283 ( Cregya ).

Paralectotypes. None.

Diagnosis. The black humeral margin and the black elytral discal maculae will conveniently distinguish the members of this species from its congeners ( Fig. 64 ).

Redescription. Size: Length 11.0 mm; width 4.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 64 . Integument: Cranium light brown; pronotum yellow; elytra mostly yellow, humerus, humeral margin, and basal region of epipleural margin black, with 2 preapical black maculae; femora yellow, tibiae and tarsi brown; pterothorax and abdomen brown. Head: Eyes as wide as frons (25:25); capitular antennomeres slen- der ( Fig. 50 ). Thorax: Pronotum quadrate (70:70) ( Fig. 31 ), lateral tubercle prominent; epipleural fold gradually narrowed to elytral apex, asetiferous puncures absent; 1° setae absent. Abdomen: Aedeagus not available for observation.

Variation. The two specimens examined are quite similar.

Natural History. The specimen from São Paulo was collected during March.

Distribution. In addition to the type, I examined a specimen from ( Fig. 59 ): BRAZIL: São Paulo: Cantareira, 1-III-1963. Specimens are deposited in BMNH and WOPC.

Akonesis vittatis (Spinola, 1844) ( Figs. 1–14 , 30 , 47–59 , 63 )

Pelonium vittatus Spinola, 1844b: 159 . Holotype. ♀. Brazil (MIZT). Corporaal 1950: 284 ( Cregya ); Ekis 1975: 54 ( Cregya ).

Paratypes. None.

Diagnosis. Only in the members of this species is the elytral disc adorned with reddish brown vittae ( Fig. 63 ).

Redescription. Size: Length 10.0 mm; width 3.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 63 . Integument: Cranium and pronotum yellow; elytra mostly yellow, each with 2 reddish brown vittae; femora yellow, tibiae and tarsi brown; pterothorax and abdomen

yellow. Head ( Fig. 47 ): Eyes narrower than frons (20:25); capitular antennomeres slender ( Fig. 5 ). Thorax: Pronotum quadrate (70:70), lateral tubercle prominent ( Fig. 30 ); epipleural fold gradually narrowed to elytral apex, asetiferous punctures present; 1° and 2° setae present. Abdomen: Aedeagus as in Figs. 12 and 13 .

Variation. Size: Length 10.0–12.0 mm; width 3.5–4.0 mm. In specimens from Brazil, the brown elytral vitta proximal to the elytral suture approximates the sutural margin before the sutural margin base. In Bolivian specimens, this vitta extends linearly to the elytral anterior margin. Moreover, in Bolivian specimens the two brown discal vittae conjoin posteriorly, which is not the case in Brazilian specimens.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during October, November, and December; one at a blacklight at 430 m elevation in a tropical transitional forest, another at 1,350 m elevation.

Distribution. In addition to the type, I have examined 13 specimens from ( Fig. 59 ): BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna, 25-26-X- 2000, 430 m, M.C. Thomas; idem, 14-28-X-2000, B.K. Dozier; idem 23-25-X-2000, R. Morris; idem, 10-11-XI-2003, J. Wappes & B. Dozier; idem, 22-31-X-2002, J. Wappes B. Dozier; 4km. N. Bermejo, 11-17-XII-20012, J. Wappes & Skillman; Refugio Los Volcanes, 9-12-XII- 2011, 1350 m, Morris & Wappes; Cochabamba: Germain. BRAZIL: São Paulo: Barueri, XII-1965, K. Lenko. Specimens are deposited in FSCA, JEWC, MIZT, MNKM, RFMC, and WOPC.

Notes. The species description is based on a homotype.

Figures

Figs. 30–42. Morphological structures. 30) Akonesis vittatis, pronotum; 31) Akonesis pictipennis, pronotum; 32) Diutus pallidus, pronotum; 33) Crusbatus spinosus, pronotum; 34) D. pallidus, antenna; 35) Diutus gallerucoides, antenna; 36) C. spinosus, antenna; 37) D. pallidus, tegmen; 38) D. pallidus, phallus; 39) C. spinosus, spicular fork; 40) C. spinosus, male, pygidium; 41) C. spinosus, tegmen; 42) C. spinosus, phallus.

Fig. 59. Distribution of Diutus gallerucoides, Diutus pallidus, Akonesis pictipennis, and Akonesis vittatis.

Figs. 61–64. Habitus. 61) Diutius gallerucoides; 62) Diutius pallidus; 63) Akonesis vittatis; 64) Akonesis pictipennis.

Figs. 47–52. Akonesis vittatis. 47) Head, frontal view; 48) Head, ventral view; 49) Antenna; 50) Mouthparts;

Figs. 1–15. Akonesis vittatis. 1) Head, frontal view; 2) Head, ventral view; 3) Head, dorsal view; 4) Pronotum; 5) Antenna; 6) Prothorax, ventral view; 7) Metathoracic wing; 8) Mandible; 9) Labium; 10) Maxilla; 11) Labrum; 12) Tegmen; 13) Phallus; 14) Metendosternite; 15) Spicular fork.