Aphelocerus ciliaris, OPITZ, 2005

OPITZ, WESTON, 2005, Classification, Natural History, And Evolution Of The Genus Aphelocerus Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (293), pp. 1-128 : 35-37

CILIARIS GROUP Aphelocerus ciliaris , new species

Figures 25 , 48 , 91–94 , 154 , 207, 208 , 255b , 260 ; map 1

HOLOTYPE: Male. Mexico, Nayarit, Pinchon, 7–5–56, R. & K. Dreisbach ( MSUC). (Specimen point mounted, sex label affixed to point, white, machine printed; paper point with antenna; support card; locality label, white machine printed; holotype label, red, machine and hand printed; plastic vial with adeagus.)

PARATYPES: One hundred eight specimens from the same locality as the holotype ( MSUC, 1; WOPC, 2). Mexico: Nayarit: Tepic , 7­V­1956, R. & K. Driesbach ( MSUC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; 24­VI­1940, L. W. Saylor ( USNM, 1): Sinaloa: 52 km E Villa Union , 9­VIII­1964, H. F. Howden ( CMNC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; Concordia , 23­IV­1964, Howden & Martin ( CMNC, 1) ; 35 km E Concordia, Hwy. 40, 4­VII­1987, C. L. Bellamy ( WOPC, 1): Colima: ( MNHN, 1): Jalisco: Hwy . 80, 3.7 km NE of Barra de Navidad, 152 m, 11­VIII­1982, C.W. O’Brien, L. O’Brien, & G. J. Wibmer ( JNRC, 3) ; Rio Purification at Hwy. 200, 7­VII­1987, C. L. Bellamy ( WFBC, 1) ; Chamela , 27­VI­1987, F. A. Noguera ( WOPC, 1) ; Est. Biol. 7­VII­ 1987, at light, J. Chemsak, E. G. & J. M. Linsley ( EMEC, 3) ; Estacion de Biologia Chamela , 3­VII­1986, ‘‘ Atraido a la luz’’, Felipe A. Noguera M. ( WOPC, 1) ; vic. UNAM, 9 –19­VII­1993, J. E. Wappes ( JEWC, 7; WOPC, 3; USNM, 1) ; 6 km N El Tuito , 15–16­VII­1993, J. E. Wappes ( JEWC, 1; WFBM, 1) ; Hwy . 200, 10 km S El Tuito, 396 m, 8­VII­1991, beating Acacia , oak forest, J. Rifkind & P. Gum ( WOPC, 1) ; Hwy. 200 at El Tuito , 650 m, 8­VII­1993, beating ( WOPC, 1) ; 2 km W Hwy. 200, on rd. to Motel El Tucan, Jct 7 km S Emiliano Zapata , 243 m, beating, 7­VII­1991, tropical deciduous forest, J. Rifkind, P. Gum ( JNRC, 3; WOPC, 1) ; Estacion de Biologia Chamela , UNAM, 9–14­VII­1993, Morris, Huether, Wappes, blacklight ( RFMC, 4) ; Est. Biol. Chamela , 2­VII­1994, R. L. Wescott ( WFBC, 3; WOPC, 2) ; 4­VII­1995, coll. w/ tropics net, R. L. Wescott ( WFBC, 2) ; 5­VII­1994, R. L. Wescott ( WFBC, 2; WOPC, 2) ; 30­VII­ 1994, R. L. Wescott ( WFBC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; 30­VI­1994, tropics net, R. L. Wescott ( WFBC, 1) ; ‘‘ Eje Central’ ’, 2­VII­1995, R. L. Wescott ( SEMC, 1; WFBC, 4; WOPC, 1) ; 15­23­VII­1987, F. T. Hovore ( WOPC, 1): Estacion de la Biologica UNAM, bl 1 mv, 17­VII­1987, R. Turnbow, ( RHTC, 7; WFBM, 1; WOPC, 2) ; Chamela, vic. Estacion UNAM, 9–19­VII­1993, J. Huether ( JPHC, 4): Nayarit: Hwy . 200, 20 km E Las Piedras, 730 m, 7­VI­1991, W. B. Warner ( JNRC, 4; WOPC, 1) ; 3 km SW Confradia de Suchitan, 1219 m, 21­VII­1995, J. Rifkind & A. Reifscheneider ( WOPC, 1): Colima: San Antonio, N of Comala, 1128 m, 21­VII­ 1995, J. Rifkind & A. Reifschneider ( JNRC, 3; WOPC, 2) ; San Antonio, 1128–1158 m, 21­VII­1995, J. Rifkind ( JNRC, 3): Oaxaca: 7 km NE San Pedro Mixtepec, 16­VI­1985, Jones, Schaffner ( TAMU, 1): Guerrero: Hwy . 134, 36 km NE Jct. 200, 19­VII­1985, J. E. Wappes ( WOPC, 1) ; 51 km NW Ixtapa, 18­VII­1985, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1): Chiapas: El Sumidero, Mirador, La Coyota , 24­ VI­1990, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; 9–12, 24­VI­1990, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1) ; Parque Nacional, Canon del Sumidero, Mirador , 1100 m, 21­VI­1991, Trop. Decid. Forest, J. & E. Beierl ( JNRC, 1) ; Parque Nacional, ‘‘ El Sumidero’ ’, 23­VI­1990 ( JPHC, 1; WOPC, 1) ; Parque Nacional, El Sumidero , 27­VI­1990, M. C. Thomas ( FSCA, 1) ; 2 km S Chicoasen , 18­VI­1989, S. Testa & E. Zuc­

caro ( UMIC, 1); Parque Nacional Sumidero, 14­VI­1990, 1000 m, H. & A. Howden ( CMNC, 5) .

DIAGNOSIS: The dense vestiture of short white setae on the dorsum gives these beetles a silky appearance, especially on the elytral disc where the setae are directed posteriorly on the elytral posterior half and anteriorly and posteriorly on the elytral anterior half. The elytral surface is shallowly rugose. At midelytron, there is a narrow admixture of reclinate, proclinate, and laterally projecting setae that anteriorly interphase with mostly proclinate setae. Immediately behind the midelytron the predominance of white reclinate setae is interupted by a centrally located diffuse patch of black setae (fig. 25). A middiscal elytral aggregate of white setae is not present. Specimens of the other species in this species group, A. citimus , n.sp., have only a few pale setae on the anterior half of the elytral disc.

DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.8–5.5 mm, width 1.8–2.1 mm. Integument: Piceous, with or without cyanescent hue. Vestiture: Clypeus, frons, and epicranium vested with long subrecumbent white setae; setae proclinate on clypeus and lower sides of frons, directed laterally on interocular depression, and mesally on upper frons, frontal umbo, and epicranium; pronotum densely vested with long subrecumbent proclinate white setae intermixed with longer, more erect, black setae, setae on pronotal side margin conspicuously longer than discal setae; mesoscutellum matted with white setae; elytra vested with short white setae that are proclinate at elytral anterior half, setae oriented laterally at elytral middle and posteriorly in elytral posterior half; elytral sutural margin densely setose, but not producing a setal tuft; metepisternal tuft moderately prominent; antenna, pterothorax, legs, and abdomen densely setose. Head: Width across eyes slightly narrower than width across pronotum (28:29), coarsely punctated; interocular depressions and frontal umbo broad and shallow; eyes subspherical, moderately convex; antennae short, much shorter than length of pronotum, as in figure 48. Thorax: Pronotum feebly transverse (29:28), narrower than width of elytra across humeri (29:36), profusely finely punctated, side margins moderately arcuate, feebly incised by anterior transverse depression; elytra feebly convex in posterior half, depth at humerus 15, greatest depth in posterior half 20; surface arenose to feebly scabrous. Abdomen: Male pygidium (fig. 91) quadrate, sixth visible sternum (fig. 92) transverse and incised at distal margin; female pygidium (fig. 93) quadrate, sixth visible sternum (fig. 94) not incised at distal margin. Male genitalia: As in figures 154, 207, and 208 aedeagus short, broad, moderately sclerotized; parameres well developed, subcuminate, outer margin of parameres notched at base; dorsal surface broader than ventral surface; ventral sinus twice length of dorsal sinus, phallic plicae well developed. Female genitalia: Dorsal lamina trilobed, ventral lamina unilobed.

VARIATIONS: The legs and elytral colora­ tion vary from brunneus to cyanscent and in specimens from the southern portions of the distribution the apical region of the elytra is vested with more dark setae than light setae.

NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens have been collected from April through August. One specimen from Chamela is associated with Lysiloma divaricata . Two specimens were collected by beating deciduous trees at 243 m. Two other specimens were taken at 579 m and four at 1228 m. Several beetles were collected at light. Rifkind and Gum captured one specimen by beating Acacia at 396 m.

DISTRIBUTION (map 1): This species ranges from the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental to western forests of the Transvolcanic Sierra to the more southern Chiapan highlands of the Sierra Madre of Mexico.

ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name ciliaris is derived from the Latin noun cilium (eyelid) and the suffix ­ is (having the nature of). I refer to the abundance of fine setae on the dorsum of the elytra.

Figures

Figs. 25–28. Habitus views. 25. Aphelocerus ciliaris, dorsal. 26. A. inconstans, dorsal. 27. A. coalitus, dorsal. 28. A. inconstans.

Figs. 47–61. Habitus view and antennas. 47. Aphelocerus formicoides (habitus, lateral view). 48– 61. Antennas. 48. A. ciliaris. 49. A. inconstans. 50. A. domus. 51. A. echinatus. 52. A. bispineus. 53. A. citimus. 54. A. leucomelas. 55. A. coalitus. 56. A. inbatus. 57. A. coactus. 58. A. nitidus. 59. A. lividus. 60. A. cornuatus. 61. A. acutus.

Figs. 85–120. Antennae, pygidia, and sixth visible abdominal sterna. 85–90. Antennae. 85. Aphelocerus affaniatis. 86. A. dispilis. 87. A. formicoides. 88. A. cheliferous. 89. A. panus. 90. A. calvus. 91– 120. Pygidium and/or sixth visible abdominal sternum. 91–94. A. ciliaris. 91–92. male (91, pygidium; 92, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 93–94. female (93, pygidium; 94, sixth visible dominal sternum). 95. A. coactus, female pygdium. 96. A. domus, female pygidium. 97–100. A. coalitus, male (97, pygidium; 98, sixth visible abdominal sternum), 99–100. Female (99, pygidium; 100, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 101. A. leucomelas, male pygidium. 102–104. A. coactus. 102–103. male (102, pygidium; 103, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 104, female, pygidium. 105–106. A. acutus, pygidea (105, male; 106, female). 107–109. A. lividus. 107, male (pygidium). 108–109, female (108, pygidium; 109, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 110–113. A. sagittarius. 110–111, male (110, pygidium; 111, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 113, female, pygidium. 114–115. A. humerus, female (114, pygidium; 115, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 116–117. A. naevius, female (116, pygidium; 117, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 118–119. A. triangulus, female (118, pygidium; 119, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 120. A. arenatus, male, pygidium.

Figs. 154–157. Aedeagi. 154. Aphelocerus ciliaris. 155. A. coalitus 156. A. coactus. 157. A. nitidus.

Figs. 193–214. Tegmina and phalli. 193. Aphelocerus delicatulus, tegmen. 194–195. A. bispineus (194, tegmen; 195, phallus). 196. A. aeneus, tegmen. 197. A. acuticolis, tegmen. 198. A. sculptillus, tegmen. 199. A. sabulosus, tegmen. 200–201. A. akis (200, phallus; 201, tegmen). 202–203. A. chelonus (202, tegmen; 203, phallus). 204. A. scalenus, tegmen. 205. A. ebenus, tegmen. 206. A. hespenheidei, tegmen. 207–208. A. ciliaris (207, tegmen; 208, phallus). 209. A. turnbowi, tegmen. 210. A. improcerus. 211. A. anticus, tegmen. 212. A. inbatus, tegmen. 213. A. chondrus, tegmen. 214. A. monteverde. tegmen.

Figs. 248–255. Pronota, pygidium, sixth visible abdominal sternum, tarsal claws. 248. Aphelocerus. cohibilis, pronotum (dorsal view). 249. A. chondrus (dorsal view). 250. A. improcerus, pronotum (dorsal view). 251. A. protenus, pronotum (dorsal view). 252–253. A. vietus, male (252, pygidium; 253, sixth visible abdominal sternum). 254. A. patulus, female pygidium. 255a. A. leucomelas, tarsal claws. 255b. A. bispineus habitus. 255c. A. ciliaris habitus.

Fig. 257–260. Elytral vestiture. 257. Aphelocerus leucomelas. 258. A. chiriqui. 259. A. leucomelas. 260. A. ciliaris.