Chariessa vestita (Chevrolat), 1835

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, natural history, and evolution of the subfamily Peloniinae Opitz (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part VIII. Systematics of the checkered beetle genus Chariessa Perty, Insecta Mundi 2017 (574), pp. 1-42 : 27-28

Chariessa vestita (Chevrolat), 1835

Figures 16, 17 , 29 , 51 , 65 , 70 .

Brachymorphus vestitus Chevrolat, 1835: 150 . Lectotype. Gender not known. Type locality: Mexico (MNHN). Corporaal 1950: 277. Opitz, 2014: 25. Chevrolat did not specify as to the number of specimens that were involved in his description. Therefore, I invoke Recommendation 73F of the ICZN (1999) and designate a lectotype for this nominal species

Corynetes spectabilis Laporte, 1836: 50 .

Diagnosis. Specimens of this species are distinguished from congeners by the subrotund hind body and by the two patches of black setae at the middle of the blue elytral disc.

Redescription. Size: Length 13.0 mm; width 7.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 51 . Mouthparts, cranium, prosternum, pterothorax, legs, and abdomen testaceous; antenna bicolorous, capitulum black, remain- der testaceous; pronotum black, profusely vested with white setae; elytra black, with a blue luster, profusely vested with white setae, but with two large spheroid patches of black setae. Head: Funicular antennomeres progressively shorter and wider towards capitulum, capitulum longer than combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 with collateral branch ( Fig. 16, 17 ), antennomere 11 oblong, anterior margin sinuous; eyes small, frons wider than width of eye (EW/FW 20/ 43). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 29 ) slightly transverse (PW/PL 115/110), side margins evenly arcuate, disc finely punctate; elytral asetiferous punctation small, profusely distributed throughout disc (EL/EW 260/105; protibial anterior margin spinous. Abdomen: Pygidium transverse / scutiform; aedeagus ( Fig. 65 ) poorly sclerotized ventrally; phallobasic lobes slightly developed, fimbriate, phallobasic rod long and briefly bifid distally, phallobasic apodeme explanate at extremity; phallus with subapical sclerotization, phallic apex broad/triangular, phallic plates broad.

Variation. Size: Length 7.0-12.0 mm; width 4.0-7.0 mm.

Natural history. Specimens have been reared from the Texas cedar elm ( Ulmus crassifolia Nutt.(Ulmaceae) ], from the wood of the mesquite Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. (Fabaceae) , and emerged from a stalk of a grapevine [ Vitis Linnaeus (Vitaceae) ] infested with the red-headed ashborer [ Neoclytus acuminatus Fabricius (Cerambycidae) ]. They have also been collected on a species of blue wood [ Condalia Cav. (Rhamnaceae) ].

Distribution ( Fig. 70 ). I examined 155 specimens from: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Texas; Hidalgo County, Mount View Acres, Ebony Hill, Research station, 22-V-1979, Roy O. Kendall & C. A. Kendall; Bentsen, Rio Grande State Park, emerged from Prosopis wood on 21-XII-1975, R. Turnbow; Santa Ana National Refuge, 8-9-V-1978, N. M. Downie; Bentsen State Park,?-?-1977, reared from Cedar Elm, J. E. Wappes; idem, emerged from wood of cedar elm /- I-1977, J. L. Wappes; Wallacey County, N Raymondville, 26-V-1979, N. M. Downie; Live Oak County, 10 mi NE Geo. West. 4-IV-1980, N. M. Downie; San Patricio County, lake Corpus Cristi State park, 26-27-IX-1976, J. E. Wappes; 2-5 m, N Sinton, 18-23- X-1978, N. M. Downie; Nueces County, Lake Corpus Christi, 24-III-1963, D. J. & J. N. Knull; idem, 22- III-1954, D. J. & J. N. Knull; Lake Corpus Christi State Park, 8-IV-1972, on Acasia farpesiana, G. H. Nelson; Live Oak County, 17 mi SW Geo. West, 23-V-1982, on Condalia, Marlin E Rice ; Kenedy County, 7 mi S. Sarita,?- V-1994, ex Vitis infested with Neoclytus acuminatus, D. Heffern ; Bexar County, San Antonio, 14-XI-1985, D. W. Sundberg; Leon Valley, emerged from woof of Prosopis juliflora (Sv.) DC. on 14-VI-1979, G. H. Nelson; San Patricio County, Lake Corpus Christi State Park, 12-V-1977, slash pile, R. L. Penrose; Goliad County, Goliad State park, 17-18-V-1980, R. L. Penrose; Wilson County, Floresville, 8- V-1996, J. Hill; Galveston County, Texas City 7-VIII-1997, on Arizona ash, Quinton; Karnes County, Ecleto, Metz Ranch, 17-IV-1997, J. E. Wappes; Harris County, by W. Houston Airport,?- IV-1992, D. J. Heffern; Atascosa County, Junction Highway 97 & FM 1784, 3-V-1992, D. J. Heffern; Dimmit County, Chaparral V. M. A., 9-10-IV-1977, T. Friedlander; Bastop County, Bastop, 3-VI-1997, S. G. Wellso; Live Oak County, 5 miles NE G. West, 30-V-1979, J. E. Wappes; Zapata County, San Ygnacio, 18-III-1994, at light, W. F. Chamberlain; Travis County, Austin,?- VI-2014, M. Quinn; Aransas County, Fulton, 17-IV- 2006, R. L. Klopshinske; Kenedy County, 7 miles S Sarita, emerged from Vitis infested with Neoclytus acuminatus on 1-15-VII-1994, D. J. Heffern; Frio County, 13-III-1933, collector not noted; Guadalupe County, Cibolo Creek 4-IV- 1986 m D. V. Sundberg. MEXICO: Chiapas; 35 miles Sw Cintalapa 11-VII- 1971, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaffner: Michoacán; 22 mi SE Huetamo, 9-VII-1970, E. Fisher & P. Sullivan: Oaxaca; Temescal, 3-VI-1964, D. H. Janzen; idem, 2-V-1964, D. H. Janzen: Tamaulipas; Rio Corona, 18 mi N Ciudad Victoria, 3-VI-1978, Gyllaspy & Party; Nacimiento del Rio Frio, 30-III-1983, Gillespy & Lara; Ciudad Victoria, 20-VIII-1921, H. S. Dybas; Oaxaca; Temascal, 3-VI-1964, D. H. Janzen: Quintana Roo; Hwy 286, 17 km W jct.. 307, 31-V-1984, R. Turnbow; N Nuevo Villadolid, 1-7-VI-2014, J. Cope; 26 km S Tulum, 25-28-V-2003, J. Cope; 5 km S Tulum, 26-V-2000, J. Cope: Nayarit; Bucerías, 8-VI-1983, on Acasia, W. F. Barr; Durango, 103 mi W El Salto, 20-VII-1952, J. D. Lattin; Chiapas, Simojovel, 1-16-VIII-1958, J. A. Chemsak; Chiapas, Santo Domingo, 15 mi SE Simojovel, 8-15-VII-1958, J. A. Chemsak: Yucatán; 3 km NW Macario Gomez, 4-VI-1992, F. Hovore; Nayarit, Punta Mita, 11-VI-1983, beating Prosopis, W. F. Barr. GUATEMALA. EL SALVADOR: La Libertad; 10 km E La Libertad, 3- V-1971, H. F. Howden. NICARAGUA: Managua; San Ramón Tecuantepe, collection date and collector not noted; El Carmen Ocotal, 3-V-1960, Sandoval; Managua, 18-VI-1961, Livid Saenz. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas; San Luis Valley, 1-VII-1989, F. Hovore; Monteverde, 27-I-1998, F. T. Hovore; Manuel Antonio National Park, 28-VII-1990, Frank Hovore; 4 KW NW Santa Elena, 12-14-V-1999, Jim Cope: Limón (near); Valle de la Estrella, Pandora, 17-20-XII-1984, H. & A. Howden; Waldeck Farm, 7-IV-1930, F. Nevermann; Hamburg Farm, Revantazon, 9-VIII-1929, F. Nevermann: Guanacaste; 3 km N Cañas, Hacienda La Pacifica, 9-11-VIII- 1987, 90 m, H. & A. Howden; 25 km SE Cañas, 26-V- 1979, 150 m, J. M. & B. A. Campbell; La Pacifica, 31-V-1992, blacklight, F. Andrews & A. Gilbert; Finca Jenny, 80 km N Liberia, Parque Nacional,?-?-1990, Malaise trap; 25 km SE Cañas, 26-V-1979, J. M. Campbell; Santa Clara, Las Mercedes, 100 m, 12-VI-1928, F. Nevermann. VENEZUELA. Specimens are deposited in: BYUC, CASC, CMNC, FMNH, FSCA, TAMU, USNM, WFBM.

Notes. Corporaal (1950) lists Brazil as a locality for this species. This location for C. vestita is unconfirmed.

Figures

Figure 70. Geographical distribution of Chariessa species as noted.

Figures 1-18. Antennae of Chariessa spp. 1) Chariessa duponti (male). 2) C. duponti (female). 3) C. floridana (male). 4) C. floridana (female). 5) C. catalina (male). 6) C. catalina (female). 7) C. elegans (male). 8) C. elegans (female). 9) C. texana (male). 10) C. dichroa (male). 11) C. dichroa (female). 12) C. pilosa (male). 13) C. pilosa (female). 14) C. ramicornis (male). 15) C. ramicornis (female). 16) C. vestita (male). 17) C. vestita (female). 18) C. texana (female).

Figures 21-29. Pronota of Chariessa spp. 21) Chariessa catalina. 22) C. elegans. 23) C. ramicornis. 24) C. duponti. 25) C. floridana. 26) C. texana. 27) C. dichroa. 28) C. pilosa. 29) C. vestita.

Figures 49-52. Habitus of Chariessa spp. 49) Chariessa texana. 50) C. texana. 51) C. vestita. 52) C. pilosa/texana hybrid.

Figures 63-65. Male genitalia and aedeagi. 63) Chariessa ramicornis. 64) C. texana. 65) C. vestita.