Quadrophenia sumidero 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 : 8-9

Quadrophenia sumidero Rifkind , new species

( Fig. 12, 13 , 21)

Type material. Holotype, male. Mexico, Chiapas, Sumidero Cyn., 4000′, June 15, 1987, E. Giesbert, coll. Holotype deposited in CSCA .

Diagnosis. This is the only member of its genus with the elytra marked by boldly contrasting black and cream-colored bands.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 8.80 mm. Form: subflattened dorsally, slightly expanded posteriorly. Color: piceous; antennomeres 1–3 (in part), labrum, and mouthparts (except mandibles), testaceous; elytra with a broad, irregularly bordered cream-colored fascia at middle, fascia narrowed laterally, then extending in a line anteriorly along epipleural margin to approximately anterior 1/5 ( Fig. 12–13 ); elytral posterior 1/4 also cream-colored. Antennae: terminal antennomere with internal and external / distal emarginations exaggerated; proximal angle of external emarginate plane produced as a short spine, apex subacuminate ( Fig. 21). Pronotum: sides rather convex. Elytra: ratio of length to maximum width 17:10, broadest at posterior 4/11; apices subsinuate; surface coarsely, densely, moderately deeply punctate; asetiferous punctures uniformly dispersed; vestiture sparse, inconspicuous, composed of erect and suberect infuscate setae of various lengths. Abdomen: ventrite 5 with hind angles rounded, posterior margin very feebly, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 with hind angles broadly rounded, posterior margin with a shallow U-shaped inflection at middle; tergite 6 with hind margin rounded.

Variation. Only the type specimen is known.

Distribution. Quadrophenia sumidero is known only from Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, Mexico. The habitat at the type locality is primarily tropical deciduous forest.

Etymology. The specific epithet references the type locality. It is treated as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Based on its bold markings, Quadrophenia sumidero is presumably a mimic, but I am unable as yet to posit a similar, aposematically patterned sympatric model. Another specimen of Quadrophenia from the type locality of Q. sumidero is noted here, but not included in the type series because it shows salient differences in habitus that I cannot with confidence attribute to infraspecific variation. This specimen, a male, measures 8.50 mm in length. It differs from the holotype of Q. sumidero by having the elytra significantly more dorsoventrally flattened, duller, and more coarsely punctate, and by its coloration: the prosternum, the anterior transverse impression dorsolaterally, and the pronotal collar dorsolaterally are cream-colored; the posterior elytral cream-colored band is reduced to a thin line along the apices.

Figures

Figures 12–13. Quadrophenia sumidero new species. 12) habitus; 13) lateral view.