Pujoliclerus prolatus Opitz, 2014

Opitz, Weston, 2014, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Checkered Beetle GenusPujoliclerusPic (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Peloniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (4), pp. 727-756 : 727-756

Pujoliclerus prolatus Opitz , new species ( Figs. 120 , 124 )

Holotype. ♀. BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, Rd. to Amboro above Achira , 27-28-Oct. 2011, Wappes & Skillman. Second label: Rd to Floripondo, 18°9′S 63°47′W, 1,900 meters ( MNKM).

Paratypes. Three specimens. Two specimens from same locality as holotype ( JEWC). BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 4.5 km N Achira, Road to Floripondo , 15-IX-2012, 1936 m, Wappes, Skelley, Bonaso, Hamel ( WOPC, 1) .

Diagnosis. Specimens of this species have the pronotum and elytral disc mostly or totally black. These characteristics will distinguish the members of this species from others in the maracayensis species-group.

Description. Size: Length 5.5 mm; width 1.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 120 . Integument: Cranium mostly light brown, vertex and upper epicranium black; antenna black; pronotum mostly black, 2 light brown maculae near anterior margin; elytra black; femora mostly yellow, extremities of femora and tibiae black; pterothorax and abdomen black. Head: Eyes not as wide as frons (10:13); funicular antennomeres moderately expanded, 7 th antennomere not particularly long. Thorax: Pronotum subquadrate (34:35), lateral tubercle very prominent; epipleural fold gradually narrowed to elytral apex, asetiferous punctures prominent to elytral apex. Abdomen: Tegminal lobes and phallic apex well-developed.

Variation. The specimens before me are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. All specimens were collected in October, two at 1,900 m and one at 1,936 m.

Distribution. Known only from Bolivia ( Fig. 124 ).

Etymology. T h e t r i v i a l n a m e p ro l a t u s (= extended) is a Latin adjective that refers to the comparatively slender body form of this beetle.

Figures

Figs. 116–120. Pujoliclerus species, habitus. 116) P. opsus; 117) P. pallidus; 118) P. ostrinus; 119) P. corumba;

Fig. 124. Geographic distribution of seven Pujoliclerus species.