Amydetes alexi Campello, Vaz, Mermudes & Silveira, 2022

Campello, Lucas, Vaz, Stephanie, Mermudes, Jose R. M., Ferreira, Andre L. D. & Silveira, Luiz F. L., 2022, Comparative morphology and key to Amydetinae genera, with description of three new firefly species (Coleoptera, Lampyridae), ZooKeys 1114, pp. 131-166 : 131

Amydetes alexi Campello, Vaz, Mermudes & Silveira, 2022 sp. nov.

Figs 13 , 14 , 15 , 16

Etymology.

The specific epithet Amydetes alexi , is a masculine noun in the genitive case. This species is named in honor of Alex Schomaker Bastos, our dearest friend and biology student at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, who was murdered on 8 January 2015.

Diagnosis.

Antennae with scape and pedicel yellowish brown (Fig. 14G ), flagellum dark brown (Fig. 14G ); pronotal disc dark brown with margins yellowish brown (Fig. 15A, B ); elytra dark brown with outer margin yellow (Fig. 13A-C ); posterolateral margin of thorax yellowish brown (including the posterior corners of metaepisternum and metaepimeron, in addition to the anterior portion of metacoxa; Fig. 13A ); legs yellowish brown darkened to dark brown toward apex (Fig. 13A ); sides of sternites II-V translucent (Fig. 13A ); sternite VIII translucent (Fig. 16E ); antennae with 33-37 antennomeres (Fig. 13G ); antennomere III 0.5 × longer than scape (Fig. 14G ); maxillary and labial apical palpomere subequal in length (Fig. 14A-E ); hypomeron as long as tall (Fig. 15C ); lantern occupying the posterior 1/2 of the sternites VI and VII, and 3/4 the width of these sternites (Fig. 13A ).

Description.

Male. Coloration. Antennae with scape and pedicel yellowish-brown (Fig. 14G ), flagellum dark brown (Fig. 14G ); pronotal disc dark brown with margins yellowish brown (Fig. 15A, B ); elytra dark brown with outer margin yellow (Fig. 13A-C ); posterolateral margin of thorax yellowish brown (Fig. 13A ); legs yellowish brown darkened to dark brown toward apex (Fig. 13A ); sides of sternites II-V translucent (Fig. 13A ); sternite VIII translucent (Fig. 16E ). Head. Antennae flabellate with 33-37 antennomeres (Fig. 14G ); antennomere III 1/2 × longer than scape, with flabellum 3 × longer than antennomere III. Fronto-clypeus as wide as 1/2 distance between antennifers process (Fig. 14C ). Maxillary and labial apical palpomere subequal in length (Fig. 14A-E ); maxillary palpomere I, II and IV 2 × longer than wide, III 2 × wider than long, I 2/3 × longer than II, II approximately 2 × longer than III, IV approximately 3 × longer than III (Fig. 14A-D ). Gular margins separated by 1/2 length of maxillary palpomere IV (Fig. 16B ). Thorax. Pronotum 1.5 × wider than head width in ventral view (Fig. 13A ), 1.5 × wider than long (Fig. 15A ). Hypomeron as long as tall (Fig. 15C ). Abdomen. Lanterns occupying the posterior 1/2 of sterna VI and VII, as wide as 2/3 the width of these sternites (Fig. 13A ). Sternite VIII with posterior margin bisinuate, central 1/3 longer than posterolateral angles (Fig. 16E ). Pygidium 1.5 × wider than long (Fig. 16F ), with posterior margin bisinuate, postero-lateral projections as long as 1/5 length of the central projection. Phallus 1.5 × longer than parameres (Fig. 16A-C ); parameres basally constricted, 2 × longer than phallobase (Fig. 16A-C ); phallobase asymmetrical (Fig. 16A, C ).

Females and immature stages. Unknown.

Biology.

Forty-five individuals were collected in hilly areas in the Pedra Branca State Park (Fig. 1 ), between 140 and 800 m a.s.l. Twelve were collected using Malaise traps: four at 250 m a.s.l. and nine at 280 m a.s.l. All individuals were collected between May and August 2017, which are relatively cooler months. Despite limited sampling, we noticed that the greatest abundance was found around 250-500 m a.s.l., with 23 individuals collected. One specimen, collected on 4 October 2017, was actively flying during daylight (~13:00), suggesting that this species is diurnal, which is congruent with the species’ morphology (i.e., smaller eyes and lanterns; Silveira and Mermudes 2014a).

Remarks.

Amydetes alexi sp. nov. differs from A. bellorum and A. marolae sp. nov. in the length of maxillary palpomere IV, which is at least 6 × longer than III in A. marolae sp. nov. and A. bellorum , but only 3 × longer than III in three species: A. itatiaia , A. apicalis , and A. alexi sp. nov. Amydetes alexi sp. nov. differs from A. itatiaia in the length of flabellum of antennomere III (3 × longer than pedicel in A. alexi sp. nov., but equal in A. itatiaia ). The new species shares the following traits with A. apicalis : pronotum with posterolateral angles pointed but weakly developed; flabellum of antennomere III 3 × longer than pedicel; and phallobase asymmetrical. Nevertheless, A. alexi sp. nov. differs from A. apicalis in having antennae with 33-37 antennomeres (37-44 in A. apicalis ) and lantern of sternite VI up to 1/2 sternite length (3/5 in A. apicalis ). The distribution of A. alexi sp. nov. is apparently restricted to Pedra Branca massif, as it has not been found nearby by our team (e.g., Silveira et al. 2020).

Type material.

Holotype: Brazil • Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro: Taquara, Núcleo Pau da Fome, Rio da Fazenda; 285 m a.s.l.; ♂; 6 Aug.-3 Sep. 2017; A. Diniz leg. (DZRJ).

Paratypes: Brazil • Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro: Taquara, Núcleo Pau da Fome, Trilha para o açude; 1 ♂; 7-10 May. 2017; L. Silveira, A. Diniz leg. (MNRJ) • same data as for preceding, Afluente do Rio Grande, perto da Cachoeira Sete Quedas; 255 m a.s.l.; 4 ♂, 22-19 Jun. 2017; A. Diniz leg. (MNRJ) • same data as for preceding; 3 ♂; 19 Jun.-19 Jul. 2017; A. Diniz leg. (DZRJ) • same data as for preceding, Próximo às ruínas; 5 ♂; 23 Jun.-4 Aug. 2017, A. Diniz leg. (MNRJ) • same data as for preceding, Travessia para o Rio da Prata; 800 m a.s.l.; 3 ♂; 20 Jul. 2017; A. Diniz leg. (MNRJ) • same data as for preceding; 450 m a.s.l.; 8 ♂ 8 Aug.-4 Sep. 2017; L. Silveira, A. Diniz leg. (DZRJ) • same data as for preceding; 300-400 m a.s.l.; 4 ♂; 4 Sep. 2017, L. Silveira leg. (DZRJ) • 22°55'59,7"S, 43°26'29,0"W; 140 m a.s.l., 12 ♂; J. Nessimian, L. Dumas, T. Almeida, B. Genário, L. Diniz leg. (DZRJ) • same data as for holotype; 4 ♂ (MNRJ).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of new species of Amydetinae in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the southeastern Atlantic Forest.

Figure 13. Amydetes alexi sp. nov., male habitus A ventral B lateral C dorsal. Scale bar: 2 mm (A-C).

Figure 14. Amydetes alexi sp. nov., head A dorsal B ventral C frontal D lateral E posterior F occipital; antennae G dorsal. Scale bars: 1 mm (A-F); 2 mm (G).

Figure 15. Amydetes alexi sp. nov., pronotum A dorsal B ventral C lateral D posterior. Scale bar: 1 mm (A-D).

Figure 16. Amydetes alexi sp. nov., aedeagus A dorsal B lateral C ventral; sternum IX D ventral. sternite VIII E ventral; pygidium F dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-F).