Quadrophenia mooni Rifkind, 2017

Rifkind, Jacques, 2017, New genera and species of mimetic Cleridae from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera: Cleroidea), Insecta Mundi 2017 (591), pp. 1-18 : 6-7

Quadrophenia mooni Rifkind , new species

( Fig. 8 , 18)

Type material. Holotype, female. Costa Rica, Puntarenas Prov., Monteverde , cloud forest, IV-16-19- 2000, J. & A. Rifkind, P. Gum, colls . Holotype deposited in CSCA . Paratypes: COSTA RICA: 1 ( JNRC), Estac. Cacao, 1000–1400 m, SW side Volcan Cacao , Guanac. Pr., Mar 1988, GNP Biod., 323300. 375700, INBIO CR1000 , 028563 ; 1 ( JNRC), same data as previous, except INBIO CR1000 , 028339 ; 1 ( MUCR), same data as previous, except INBIO CR1000 , 028586 ; 1 ( CSCA), same data as previous, except INBIO CR1000 , 028372 ; 1 ( WOPC), Est. Cacao, 1000–1400 m, Lado Suroeste del Volcan Cacao , Prov. Guan., tp Malaise, Mar a Ago, 1990, L–N–323300, 375700, INBIO CR1000 , 232988 ; 1 ( EMEC), Monteverde , Puntarenas Prov., 1300 m, V-17 to V-20-[19]85, J. A. Chemsak, collector .

Diagnosis. Quadrophenia mooni can be distinguished from congeners based on a unique combination of dorsal color and pattern. From Q. townshendi it can in most cases be separated by its flavotestaceous pronotal and elytral ground color. From specimens of the uncommon testaceous morph of Q. townshendi (and from Q. entwistlei , described below) it can be distinguished by its uniformly testaceous antennae and legs.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 9.0 mm. Form: subflattened dorsally, expanded posteriorly. Color: flavotestaceous (pronotum slightly orange-testaceous at middle); mesepisternum, mesosternum later- ally, and metasternum, piceous; head, mandibles, a curvate V-shaped spot at pronotal anterior margin, and scutellum, black; elytra with four large black maculae arranged as in Fig. 8 ; maculae not attaining epipleura laterally. Antennae: terminal antennomere with internal and external / distal emarginations exaggerated, apex prolonged, subacuminate ( Fig. 18). Pronotum: sparsely, coarsely but shallowly punctate posteriorly on either side of midline. Elytra: longer than broad (ratio of length to maximum width 9:7); expanded posteriorly; widest at posterior 1/3; surface shining, shallowly roughened, punctures shallow, mostly indistinct, somewhat larger and more densely arranged at sides; minute asetiferous punctations also present; vestiture composed of erect and suberect, rather robust black setae. Abdomen: ventrite 5 broad, hind angles gently rounded, posterior margin broadly, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 arcuately rounded posteriorly, very slightly, shallowly inflected at middle of hind margin; tergite 6 semicircularly rounded posteriorly, surpassing hind margin of ventrite 6.

Variation. Length of specimens ranges from 8.0–9.75 mm. The extent and placement of the dorsal black maculae is somewhat variable; the pronotum of some specimens is narrowly darkened posteriorly, and one Costa Rican specimen has the epipleural margin darkened along its length, and the elytral humeral and postmedian maculae connected by a narrow dark streak on either side of the sutural bead. The male pygidium has ventrite 6 with the hind margin rather shallowly, arcuately emarginate at middle.

Distribution. This species is known from the Cordillera de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilarán in Costa Rica. It has been collected in cloud forest in Monteverde by beating, and in Malaise traps set between 1000 m and 1400 m elevation on Volcán Cacao.

Etymology. The new species is named for the late Keith Moon, drummer for The Who.

Remarks. Quadrophenia mooni is a strikingly similar mimic of several sympatric species of leaf beetle belonging to the genus Diabrotica Chevrolat ( Chrysomelidae : Galerucinae) (e.g. D. caveyi Derunkov, Prado, Tishechkin, Konstantinov (Fig. 22)).

Figures

Figures 8–11. Quadrophenia n.spp. 8) Quadrophenia mooni new species, habitus; 9) Quadrophenia entwistlei new species, habitus; 10) Quadrophenia entwistlei, lateral view; 11) Quadrophenia daltreyi new species, habitus.