Odontocheila fraternum, Moravec & Duran, 2013

Moravec, Jiří & Duran, Daniel P., 2013, Taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision within the Neotropical genera of the subtribe Odontochilina. 6. Odontocheila fraternum sp. nov., a new species sister to O. gilli (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 53 (2), pp. 585-599 : 594-597

Odontocheila fraternum sp. nov.

( Figs 3–6 , 22–49 )

Type locality. Panama, Darien province, Darien National Park, Pirre Camp, 1330 m.a.s.l., 0.7°45.8′N, 77°43.3′W.

Type material. HOLOTYPE:J, “ PANAMA DARIEN /PN Darien – Cana Cerro / Pirre Camp 1330m / 0.7°45.8′N, 77°43.3′W / D. Brzoska 19-VI-2004 ” [printed] ( USNM) . ALLOTYPE: ♀, with same label data as holotype except for “ 550m ” and “ 18-VI-2004 ” ( DBCN, later in NHMK) . PARATYPES: 4 JJ, with same label data as holotype (3 JJ in DBCN, 1 J in CCJM) ; 5 JJ 2 ♀♀, with same label data as allotype (2 JJ 1 ♀ in DBCN, 1 J in NMPC; 1 J in MNHN, 1 J 1 ♀ in CCJM) ; 8 JJ, PANAMA, DARIEN Prov., / Estancion Cana , 500m. a.s.l. / 72°41′W ; 07°44′N ; / 15-22.VI.2004 / leg. D.Windsor & D.Duran ” [printed] (5 JJ in DPDC, 1 J in NMPC, 2 JJ in CCJM) ; 2 JJ 5 ♀♀, “ PANAMA: PANAMA / PN. Altos de Campana / D. Brzoska 18-V-1995 ” [printed] (1 J 3 ♀♀ in DBCN, 1 ♀ in DPDC, 1 J 1 ♀ in CCJM) ; 1 J 1 ♀, “ PANAMA: PANAMA / 850m, PN. Altos Campana / 08°41.1′N; 79°55.6′W / D. Brzoska 14-VI- 2004 ” [printed] ( DBCN) ; 1 J, “ PANAMA: PANAMA / Res. Forest Cerro Jeffe / D. Brzoska 28-V-1995 ” [printed] // “ Odontocheila gilli / det. D.Brzoska 2001” [handwritten] ( DBCN) ; 5JJ 1♀, “ PANAMA:Panama /Altos de Campana / 17.V.2003 / leg. Daniel Duran ” [printed] (3 JJ in DPDC, 2 JJ 1 ♀ in CCJM). 1 J, “ PANAMA / Cerro Campana / 18 May 1958 / W.J. Hanson ” [printed] // “ PANAMA STATE / Capiri District ” [printed] // “n.sp. esp. see different labrum” [handwritten] ( RLHC). All type specimens labelled:“ HOLOTYPE (ALLOTYPE or PARATYPE respectively) / Odontocheila / fraternum sp. nov. / det. Moravec & Duran 2013 ” [red, printed] .

Description. Body ( Figs 3–6 ) small to medium sized, males from both localities 8.40–9.50 (holotype 8.90) mm long, 2.50–2.90 (holotype 2.50) mm wide; females from type locality 9.10–9.50 (allotype 9.10) mm long, 2.60–2.80 (allotype 2.70) mm wide; females from Altos de Campana generally larger, 9.10–10.1 mm long, 2.90–3.10 mm wide. Body coloration in holotype and most adults from type locality dark copper with more or less intense metallic green-blue lateral areas on pronotum and elytra, which are much brighter green-blue in adults (more distinctly so in females) from Altos de Campana.

Head ( Fig. 26 ) notably large with pronounced eyes, as wide as the body, 2.50–3.10 mm wide, all head portions glabrous.

Frons rather steeply sloped towards clypeus, with convex median area, clearly delimited from clypeus and separated from vertex by blunt transverse edge, frons surface black-copper, lateral areas almost smooth or only indistinctly finely longitudinally wrinkled, median area ornamented by short, irregularly vermicular and arcuate-arranged wavy rugae; supraantennal plates smooth or wrinkled, dark copper or dark metallic green-blue.

Vertex with usual juxtaorbital sensory seta (on each side), almost flat, black-copper, sometimes with brighter cupreous lustre and with more or less noticeable greenish-blue sublateral areas; anteromedian area with irregularly transversely wavy and arcuate-rugulose ornament (passing from frons), large juxtaorbital areas distinctly longitudinally parallel-striate, striae on sublateral areas more irregular and wavy, but becoming much finer posteriad when passing onto temples; occipital area very finely irregularly vermicular-rugulose.

Clypeus dark copper or brighter cupreous with green or bluish lateral areas irregularly wrinkled.

Genae in holotype and adults from type locality black with strong iridescent green-blue and bronze lustre, in other adults primarily metallic green or blue, almost smooth with barely recognizable, shallow, parallel striae.

Labrum 4-setose, male labrum ( Figs 22–25 ) of almost identical shape as in O. gilli , but paler, length 0.70–0.80 mm, width 1.10–1.15 mm, ochre-testaceous, with indistinctly brownishtestaceous darkened basal area; female labrum ( Figs 27–29 ) much longer, length 1.10–1.20 mm, width 1.20–1.25 mm, shaped as in O. gilli but much paler, testaceous, only basomedian area brown to black-brown darkened.

Mandibles ( Fig. 26 ) shaped as in O. gilli , ochre-testaceous to mahogany-testaceous in male, usually darker in female, brownish-testaceous, subsymmetrical, each mandible with four teeth (and basal molar), their mutual size as in O. gilli .

Palpi ( Fig. 26 ). Both maxillary and labial palpi with normal (elongate) shape of terminal palpomeres, in both sexes yellow-ochre with gradually pale tawny darkened terminal palpomeres (only slightly darker in female); penultimate (longest) palpomere of labial palpi rather narrow and elongate with only slightly and gradually dilated lateral margins towards apex (width 0.14–0.17 mm).

Antennae rather long, in male exceeding two thirds of elytral length, in female shorter, slightly exceeding elytral half; scape with only subapical seta, in male ochre-testaceous, in female mostly darker, testaceous to brownish-testaceous with feeble mahogany lustre; pedicel dark brown with mahogany lustre and paler apical area; antennomeres 2–4 in male brownish-testaceous with mahogany lustre and usually notably pale-tawny subapical areas, in female concolorous, but generally darker; antennomeres 5–11 dark brownish, gradually smoky-black darkened, with normal micropubescence; all antennomeres with indistinct short apical setae.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Figs 30–34 ) similar to that of O. gilli , but much darker and always at least slightly longer than wide, length 1.60–1.90 mm, width 1.40–1.80 mm, and the transverse rugae on disc are generally denser, covering wider area and becoming shallower only in juxtanotopleural areas; coloration in the holotype and most adults from the type locality dark metallic-copper with only indistinct green-blue sublateral areas, rarely bright reddish-cupreous in middle; all thoracic sterna glabrous; prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum smooth, metallic black with strong green, blue or violaceous lustre; proepisterna smooth, metallicblack with cupreous lustre; mesepisterna and metepisterna metallic black with cupreous or greenish lustre, metepisterna indistinctly coriaceous-wrinkled; female mesepisternal coupling sulci unrecognizable, in form of longitudinal sulcus only somewhat deeper than in male.

Elytra ( Figs 39–46 ) elongate, length 5.20–6.10 mm, with rounded to subquadrate humeri, lateral margins almost parallel, anteapical angles arcuate, then obliquely running towards apices which are in male variably rounded or subacute, in female almost rounded; sutural spine short but distinct; microserrulation indistinct or very irregular; elytral dorsal surface uneven due to several impressions: humeral impressions rather deep, discal impression distinct, clearly delimiting rather distinct basodiscal convexity and usually prolonged posteriad, apical impression distinct, and additional, elongate sublateral impressions present; elytral surface coarsely punctate to cristulate-punctate on whole elytral length, punctures larger within humeral impressions and on basodiscal convexity, commonly anastomosing on prevailing elytral area with intervals forming irregular transverse crests mostly on sublateral and discal area including apices; appearance of the sculpture depends on angle of illumination, the coarse cristulate sculpture on apical area is much more obvious in back illumination ( Figs 43–44 ); elytral surface glabrous except for usual, a few hairlike sensory setae indistinctly scattered mostly on basal area, and a few others adjacent to epipleura; elytral coloration in holotype and adults from type locality dark copper with only indistinctly green-blue sublateral areas and violaceous juxtaepipleural areas, rarely with bright reddish-cupreous elytral disc and more expanded green to green-blue sublateral areas, very distinctly so in females from Altos de Campana; white elytral maculation in male consisting of three maculae: humeral macula (in female reduced and barely visible from above), sublateral-median macula, and anteapical-apical lunule which in female appears as only anteapical macula (its thin lunule-like prolongation along the apical margin is in female barely noticeable).

Abdomen. Ventrites metallic-black with greenish, blue and violaceous lustre, in male with indistinctly testaceous last ventrite (rarely three last ventrites) and apical pleurite, in female metallic black; surface of ventrites glabrous (except for usual, sparse and easily abraded hairlike sensory setae at their posterior margins).

Legs. Coxae in both sexes with pro- and mesocoxae yellow to testaceous, with only a few setae, metacoxae black with metallic-blue lustre and testaceous apices with only one central seta (lateral setae entirely absent); trochanters yellow-testaceous in both sexes, glabrous (except for usual easily abraded apical seta); femora yellow to testaceous, dorsally with feeble mahogany lustre, in female only slightly darker, mahogany-testaceous; femoral surface with only very sparse, short and indistinct, white to brownish semierect setae; tibiae concolorous with femora and with similar sparse setae except for dense pad of greyish setae on basal third to half of pro- and mesotibiae; metatibiae with only sparse, semierect, short and stiffer setae; tarsi brownish-testaceous and usually black-darkened, first three tarsomeres in male generally almost black with moderate dilatation and usual dense pad of short greyish-white setae.

Aedeagus ( Figs 35–38 , 47–49 ) shaped as in O. gilli , 3.00– 3.10 mm long, 0.70–0.75 mm wide, apical portion with almost straight ventral margin, gradually attenuated towards conspicuously shaped apex which is rounded, dorsally obliquely sloped and sharpened due to deep dorsal excision forming small, crochet hook-like shape. Internal sac ( Figs 47–49 ) containing sclerites characteristic of the genus, including the voluminous reniform ventral piece, and long, convoluted flagellum usually protruding from the dorsoapical orifice.

Variability. As stressed in the description and as obvious from the illustrations, the holotype and adults from the type locality are generally much darker coppery coloured, usually with only indistinctly green-blue sublateral areas, while the adults from Altos de Campana (particularly females which are usually notably larger) generally differ in having more conspicuous contrast between the reddish-cupreous elytral disc and iridescent green-blue lateral and apical areas, but two adults from Darien are even more brightly coloured than some males from Altos de Campana ; the elongate sublateral elytral impressions are usually deeper in the holotype and adults from the type locality; elytral apices in males (independent of the locality) are rather variably rounded, or subacute; there exists only slight variability in the shape of the labrum, independent of the locality.

Differential diagnosis. Odontocheila fraternum sp. nov. possesses almost identical shape of its aedeagus and labrum as in O. gilli , and adults (particularly females) from Altos de Campana may resemble it also due to rather similar (although darker) body coloration. Nevertheless, the new species immediately differs not only in the darker body coloration (much more distinctly in the holotype and adults from the type locality), but particularly in its elytral surface with much coarser punctate to cristulate-punctate sculpture covering whole elytral length, and possessing additional, longitudinal sublateral impressions (particularly deeper and therefore more conspicuous in adults from the type locality) forming uneven elytral surfaces. Moreover, the elytra of the new species possess humeral macula, the pronotum is slightly narrower, the labrum in both sexes paler, in female with only black-brown basal area, and both maxillary and labial palpi including penultimate (longest) palpomeres of labial palpi in female are much paler (lacking blackish areas present in female of O. gilli ); the tarsi are much darker, but all other leg segments are generally paler than those in O. gilli .

Due to the coarse punctate-cristulate elytral sculpture the new species may resemble O. quadrina Chevrolat, 1835 , a taxon described from Mexico, the type of which is not preserved, and which is considered by some authors (recently by ERWIN & PEARSON 2008) as a synonym of O. mexicana Laporte de Castelnau, 1834 . However, this taxon immediately differs from O. fraternum sp. nov. in having smooth, shiny pronotum, even elytral surface, and very different shape of its labrum and aedeagus.

Etymology. Dedicated to the second author’s two brothers, Andrew and Michael Duran. The three Duran brothers collected tiger beetles together on several occasions, including a trip to Altos de Campana. Most importantly they have helped the second author with their lifelong friendship.

Distribution and habitat. Known from three disjunct localities in Panama. The type locality is located in the southeastern Darien province, adjacent to the Colombian border, whereas the only other known populations occur at Altos de Campana and Cerro Jeffe in the province Panamá.Adults occur along light coloured heavy clay trails and openings through rainforests, above 500 m. When disturbed they are quick to alight on adjacent vegetation.

Figures

Figs 1–6. Habitus of two species of Odontocheila Laporte de Castelnau, 1834. 1–2 – O. gilli Johnson, 2000:1 – male, 8 mm, Chepo-Carti Road, HT (CMNC); 2 – male, 8.1 mm, Nusagandi (DBCN).3–6 – O. fraternum sp. nov.: 3 – male, 8.9 mm, Darien, HT (USNM); 4 – male, 8.6 mm, Altos de Campana, PT (CCJM); 5 – female, 9.1 mm, Darien, AT (DBCN); 6 – female, 10 mm, Altos de Campana (CCJM).

Figs 22–38. Odontocheila fraternum sp. nov. 22–25 – male labrum: 22 – Darien, HT (USNM); 23–25 – Altos de Campana, PT (23 – DPDC; 24–25 – CCJM). 26 – head, HT. 27–29 – female labrum: 27 – Darien, AT (DBCN); 28 – Darien, PT (CCJM); 29 – Altos de Campana, PT (DBCN). 30–33 – male pronotum: 30 – HT; 31 – Darien, PT (DBCN); 32–33 – Altos de Campana, PT (32 – DBCN; 33 – CCJM). 34 – female pronotum, AT. 35–38 – aedeagus (apex): 35 – HT; 36 – Darien, PT (CCJM); 37–38 – Altos de Campana, PT (CCJM). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 39–49. Odontocheila fraternum sp. nov. 39–42 – male elytron: 39 – HT; 40–41 – Darien, PT (DBCN); 42 – Altos de Campana, PT (DBCN). 43–44 – elytral apex, back illumination: 43 – HT; 44 – Altos de Campana, PT (DBCN). 45–46 – female elytron: 45 – Darien, AT; 46 – Altos de Campana, PT (CCJM). 47–49 – cleared aedeagus showing internal sac: 47 – Altos de Campana, PT (CCJM); 48 – Darien, PT (CCJM); 49 – Altos de Campana, PT (DPDC). Scale bars = 1 mm.