Pujoliclerus aspigalbus 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 aspigalbus Opitz , new species ( Figs. 42 , 72 , 88 , 114 , 126)

Holotype. ♂. BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 17°29′ S 63°33′ W, 405 m, 5-15-X-2001, tropical transition forest, M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier ( MNKM).

Paratypes. Seven specimens. Three with same label information as the holotype ( MNKM, 1; WOPC, 2); Potrerillos del Guenda , 40 km NW Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 17°40′ S 0°27′ W, 5-20-XI-2004, blacklight, B.K. Dozier ( FSCA, 2); idem, 30-IX-3-X- 2007, 370 m, Wappes & Morris ( JEWC, 1); 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna , 15-22-XI-2001, blacklight trap in tropical transition forest, B.K. Dozier ( MNKM, 1) .

Diagnosis. The yellow mesoscutellum will distinguish the members of this species from other members of the flora species-group.

Description. Size: Length 4.8 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 114 . Integument: Head, thorax, and mesoscutellum yellow; antenna brown; elytra black; legs mostly brown, femoral base yellow; pterothorax, and abdomen black. Head: Eyes narrower than vertex (12:15); funicular antennomeres slightly expanded, 6 th antennomere not acuminate ( Fig. 42 ). Thorax: Pronotum transverse (35:30), lateral tubercle moderately prominent ( Fig. 72 );

96) P. calceatus ; 97) P. flavolimbatus .

asetiferous punctures end at about distal elytral 4/5, epipleural fold gradually diminishing to elytral apex. Abdomen: Tegminal lobes and phallic apex as in Fig. 88 .

Variation. The available specimens are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. Specimens were collected during November, with a blacklight trap in a tropical transitional forest.

Distribution. Known only from Bolivia ( Fig. 126).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a compound name derived from the Greek aspis (= shield) and

102) P. gilvus ; 103) P. hermani .

the Latin galbus (= yellow). It refers to the yellow mesoscutellum present in these beetles.

Figures

Figs. 39–47. Pujoliclerus species, antennae. 39) P. macilentus; 40) P. megalus; 41) P. argus; 42) P. aspigalbus;

Figs. 62–75. Pujoliclerus species, pronota. 62) P. oxinus; 63) P. alajuela; 64) P. megacavus; 65) P. alboordinus; 66) P. pallidus; 67) P. apolegmus; 68) P. catarina; 69) P. macilentus; 70) P. megalus; 71) P. argus; 72) P. aspigalbus; 73) P. flora; 74) P. posticalis; 75) P. ostrinus.

Figs. 76–91. Pujoliclerus species, aedeagi. 76) P. helvinus; 77) P. bilineatus; 78) P. calceatus; 79) P. corumba; 80) P. flavolimbatus; 81) P. ovatus (tegmen only); 82) P. wappesi; 83) P. gilvus; 84) P. hermani; 85) P. casselorum; 86) P. catarina (phallus only); 87) P. argus; 88) P. aspigalbus; 89) P. flora; 90) P. posticalis; 91) P. pallidus.

Figs. 110–115. Pujoliclerus species, habitus. 110) P. catarina; 111) P. macilentus; 112) P. megalus; 113) P. argus;