Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin, 2014

Erwin, Terry L. & Zamorano, Laura S., 2014, A synopsis of the tribe Lachnophorini, with a new genus of Neotropical distribution and a revision of the Neotropical genus Asklepia Liebke, 1938 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 430, pp. 1-108 : 51-52

Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin sp. n. Short pattern-wing beetle Fig. 41 , 66 , 78

Holotype.

Perú, Loreto, circa Explornapo Camp, Río Napo, Cocha Shimagai, 3.3563°S, 73.0467°W, 88m, 13 June 1992 (T.L. Erwin, E. Pfuno S., F. Pfuno S.)(NMNH: ADP08121, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, bracheia, is derived from the Greek βραχεια (small) and used as an adjective in reference to the small size of the elytra of these beetles.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Short pattern-wing beetles.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and small-sized for the genus (SBL = 1.952-2.345 mm). Adults with head aurantiacus, prothorax and elytral maculae fulvous or aurantiacus in some individuals; elytron fuscous with basal proximal quadrant, medial lateral quadrant and apical proximal quadrant fulvous, lateral margin in all the quadrants fulvous; metasternum, abdominal sterna III-VI, and epipleuron fulvous, abdominal sternum VII fuscous; legs fulvous; antennal scape, pedicel and apical half of antennomere 3 testaceous, antennomeres 4-7 and basal half of 3 deeply infuscated, apical half of 7 and 8-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum markedly convex with lateral margin effaced except just anterior to hind angle and there a simple bead; hind angle not very prominent. Elytral interneurs evident as short discontinuous rows of widely spaced punctures, rows effaced at medial quadrants of elytron, punctures fuscous; elytron substantially transparent.

Description.

( Figs 41 , 66 ). Habitus: ( Fig. 41 ). Size: [See also Table 13 ] Medium-size for the genus; ABL = 2.343-2.537 mm, SBL = 1.952-2.344 mm, TW (total width) 1.074-1.274 mm, LP = 0.457-0.558 mm, WP = 0.557-0.701 mm, LE = 1.275-1.424 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 41 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 41 ) slightly broad, about as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP, mean both sexes: 1.042), longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.590), wider than long (WP/LP: mean both sexes: 1.205); markedly cordiform, lateral margin effaced with seta at anterior third on slightly raised area; base markedly constricted; anterior angles feebly produced, hind angle slightly produced and setose; median line feebly defined, basal and apical transverse impressions evident as infuscated dots in the surface, surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra moderately convex; at apical third twice as wide as head across eyes (WH/TW, mean both sexes: 0.529) and pronotum (WP/TW, mean both sexes: 0.507), longer than wide. Elytral interneurs evident as discontinuous rows of widely spaced punctures, rows effaced at lateral area of medial third and apical third, punctures present fuscous; elytron substantially transparent. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Abdominal sterna. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male genitalia ( Fig. 66 , see Fig. 61 for attribute labels). Median lobe with phallobase long about a third the length of shaft, basal opening large, oriented parallel to shaft at apical third. Shaft narrow, slightly curved ventrally, dorsally sclerotized except for short ostium; in ventral aspect tapered toward rather moderately narrow rounded apex, in lateral aspect, a rounded apex. Parameres: left very large and broad, right small and triangular; apex of left paramere lobate much longer than right paramere about half the length of shaft (measured in left lateral aspect). Endophallus with 2 preapical spines. Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 78 ). This species has been found at locations on the black-water systems of the upper Amazon River drainage system. But that does not at all indicate its real distribution: as has been pointed out above, very small beetles are inadequately sampled, especially in the Neotropics.

Way of life.

See Erwin (1991) for a general description. Adults of this species are active in the rainy season at the edges of streams and lakes in wet leaf litter and in muddy swales left by inundation of high river levels.

Other specimens examined.

Perú, Loreto, 1 km SW Boca del Río Samiria, Vigilante post No. 1, 4.5005°S, 74.0659°W, 99m, 14 & 15 August 1991 (T.L. Erwin, G.E. Ball, D. Shpeley)(NMNH: ADP133028, female paratype, ADP133169, male paratype), 5 May 1990 (T.L. Erwin, G.E. Ball, D. Shpeley)(NMNH: ADP086696, female paratype, ADP086682, ADP086742, ADP067305, ADP067304, male paratypes); circa Explornapo Camp, Río Napo, Cocha Shimagai, 3.3563°S, 73.0467°W, 88m, 13 June 1992 (T.L. Erwin, E. Pfuno S., F. Pfuno S.)(NMNH: ADP008125, female paratype, ADP008072, ADP008120, male paratypes).

Figures

Figure 78. Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia species of the pulchripennis group.

Figure 41 - 44. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 41 Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 008121, Cocha Shimagai, Peru 42 Asklepia cuiabaensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 130044, Cuiaba, Brazil 43 Asklepia ecuadoriana Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132485, Limoncocha, Ecuador 44 Asklepia kathleenae Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132460, Belem, Brazil. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 63 - 68. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 63 Asklepia matomena Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132527, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 64 Asklepia adisi Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. Adis 001335, Ilha de Marchantaria, Lago Camaleao, Brazil 65 Asklepia biolat Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132480, Pakitza, Peru 66 Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 067304, Boca del Rio Samiria Peru 67 Asklepia ecuadoriana Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132468, Limoncocha, Ecuador. Endophallus not everted 68 Asklepia ecuadoriana Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132468, Limoncocha, Ecuador. Endophallus everted. Scale line = 0.25 mm.

Figure 57 - 62. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 57 Asklepia geminata (Bates, 1871) ADP 109186, Rio Samiria, Boca Cano Ingles Camp, Peru 58 Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109196, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 59 Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132585, Rio Demiti, Brazil 60 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 052565, Rio Sucusari, Peru 61 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia. Legend: a apical area; bl basal lobe; bo basal orifice; lp left paramere; ml median lobe; om ostial membrane; oo ostial opening; rp right paramere; sh shaft; pb phallobase; ps phallobase shaft; ms medial spine; ds distal spine 62 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109208, Rio Demiti, Brazil. Scale line = 0.25 mm.