Asklepia Liebke, 1938

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 : 23-25

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.430.8094
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:86F76056-3B8B-49FB-9C86-FAD0DB0CBE8C
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1398E2CD-DD14-4559-1630-ADBBAB72A5BE
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Asklepia Liebke, 1938
status

Treatment

Asklepia Liebke, 1938 Neat pattern-wing beetles

Asklepia Liebke, 1938:113

Type species.

Asklepia strandi Liebke, 1938:113.

Derivation of genus name.

Asklepius, a Greek God of healing. Why Liebke used this name is unknown. See: http://www.mythologydictionary.com/asclepius-mythology.html

Proposed english vernacular name.

Neat pattern-wing beetles.

Diagnosis ( Figs 29 View Figures 29–32 - 55 View Figure 53–55 , 57 View Figure 57–62 - 75 View Figure 75 ). Size range - ABL = 1.95 mm to 3.74 mm; with the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938). Adults with head and pronotum smooth and shiny; elytron quadrangular, apically truncated, margin slightly oblique, pattern coloration with pale maculae (slightly flavotestaceous in some individuals); labial palpomeres pubescent, ultimate article globose basally and subulate apically; legs testaceous; basal antennomeres fulvous, medial antennomeres infuscated, apical antennomeres white (the number of basal, medial, and apical antennomeres is described for each species below). Abdominal sterna sparsely pubescent.

Species are arrayed across three species groups based mainly on the armature of the male aedeagal endophallus: geminata species group (endophallus without spines, Fig. 57 View Figure 57–62 ), hilaris species group (endophallus with multiple spines, Figs 58 View Figure 57–62 - 63 View Figure 63–68 ), and pulchripennis group (endophallus with two spines, Figs 64 View Figure 63–68 - 74 View Figure 69–74 ). In addition, the species of the geminata species group have elytral striae and moderately convex intervals; the hilaris group members have explanate lateral margins on the pronotum while those of the pulchripennis groups are feebly beaded only in the anterior half.

Dispersal potential.

The wings are fully developed in most individuals we have studied, thus it is likely that these beetles are moderate to strong flyers; however, in at least two species there are also brachypterous adults. This is unusual in lowland Amazonian species; for example, see Adis et al. (1997 [1998]) on a species of an odacanthine near Manaus, Brazil.

Geographic

distribution.

( Figs 76 View Figure 76–77 - 78 View Figure 78 ). As currently known, the range of this genus extends in cis-Andean South America from southeastern Colombia south to Bolivia and east to Guyana and Belém, Brazil, and from there south to Entre Ríos Province, Argentina.

Way of life.

These species live close to water in wet leaf litter and on aquatic vegetation (macrophytes) of backwashes along rivers, streams, and lakeshores of both Varzea and Igapó forests and among dead leaf accumulations on rocky or sandy stream banks. Immature stages are unknown; however, given the wide variation in adult size within a species as noted in the introduction, it is possible that larvae are ectoparasitoids (cf. Erwin 1967, 1979; Frank et al. 2009).

Notes.

Not much has been previously published on this genus. We now know there are many undescribed species across the Amazon Basin and on the Guiana Shield and the southern part of the Brazilian Shield; hence it is not monobasic as reported by Reichardt (1974). Bates (1871) actually described four species (assigned herein to Asklepia ) placing them in the genus Eucaerus LeConte, none of which were recognized previously as an Asklepia species (cf. Liebke 1938; Reichardt 1974). Since the genus was in need of taxonomic revision, we have provided it here. Many areas of South America have not been sampled for very small water-side beetles; thus, it is likely many more species of this genus will be discovered in the future. As pointed out recently ( Erwin et al. 2010), many very tiny-sized carabid clades have gone mostly unnoticed. In the 1930's, the discovery of Gehringia olympica Darlington served to adjust the search image of carabidologists toward a fractal universe smaller than previously used; however, such search image needs to be focused more in the rainforests of the world.

Included species.

The species list below, as well as arrangement of descriptions that follows, is ordered alphabetically.

geminata species group taxa

Asklepia geminata (Bates), 1871:78, new combination, Brazil, Perú

hilaris species group taxa

Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia duofos Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Perú

Asklepia hilaris (Bates), 1871:79, comb. n., Brazil

Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Colombia

Asklepia lebioides (Bates), 1871:79, comb. n., Brazil

Asklepia matomena Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Brazil

pulchripennis species group taxa

Asklepia adisi Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Brazil, Perú

Asklepia asuncionensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Paraguay

Asklepia biolat Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Perú

Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Perú

Asklepia cuiabaensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia ecuadoriana Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Ecuador

Asklepia kathleenae Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia macrops Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Argentina

Asklepia marchantaria Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia marituba Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Brazil

Asklepia pakitza Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Perú

Asklepia paraguayensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Paraguay

Asklepia pulchripennis (Bates), 1871:79, comb. n., Brazil

Asklepia samiriaensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Perú

Asklepia stalametlitos Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Bolivia

Asklepia strandi Liebke, 1938:113 Guyana

Asklepia surinamensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n., Surinam

Asklepia vigilante Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n., Perú

Key to the species of Asklepia Liebke, 1938

Note. Because of the variability within species and the marked similarity across some species, only features of the male genitalia provide reliable means for identification of some species. Unfortunately, we did not have at our disposal males of all the species to image.

1	Elytron markedly striate, intervals moderately convex (geminata species group) (Habitus, Fig. 29 View Figures 29–32 )	Asklepia geminata (Bates)
1'	Elytron devoid of striae, intervals and interneurs effaced from surface (although inconsistently spaced serial rows of interneur micropunctures can be seen through the transparent cuticle in some species and on the surface of others)	2
2(1')	Pronotum with lateral margin narrowly explanate (hilaris species group)	3
2'	Pronotum with lateral margin effaced posterior to medial lateral seta except just slightly anterior to hind angle - there shortly beaded; some species slightly beaded from anterior angle to medial lateral seta but not explanate (pulchripennis species group)	9
3(2)	Antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-7 deeply infuscated, antennomeres 8-11 white	4
3'	Antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-6 deeply infuscated, antennomere 7 bicolored (Habitus, Fig. 32 View Figures 29–32 )	Asklepia duofos sp. n.
4(3)	Pronotum completely infuscated or piceous (rarely median anterior margin slightly paler)	5
4'	Pronotum infuscated or piceous only laterally, disc concolorous with pale elytral maculae (Habitus, Fig. 33 View Figure 33–36 )	Asklepia grammechrysea sp. n.
5(4)	Dorsal surface largely dark, elytral maculae if present very small	6
5'	Dorsal surface with dark fore body and large elytral maculae	7
6(5)	Pronotum markedly constricted in basal third, markedly cordate. Mostly size larger (ABL = 3.2-3.83 mm; SBL = 2.18-3.20 mm; TW = 1.10-1.82 mm) (Habitus, Fig. 30 View Figures 29–32 )	Asklepia campbellorum sp. n.
6'	Pronotum much less constricted in basal third, tapered to base. Mostly size smaller (ABL = 2.47-2.96 mm; SBL = 2.2-2.5 mm; TW = 1.15-1.45 mm) (Habitus, Fig. 37 View Figure 37–40 )	Asklepia matomena sp. n.
7(5')	Pronotum longer and narrow (W/L ratio = 1.331-1.550)	8
7'	Pronotum short and wide (W/L ratio = 1.686-1.960), proportionally large, as wide as head across eyes (Habitus, Fig. 36 View Figure 33–36 )	Asklepia lebioides (Bates)
7 ’’	Pronotum short and wide (W/L ratio = 1.686-1.960), proportionally small, not as wide as head across eyes (Habitus, Fig. 34 View Figure 33–36 )	Asklepia hilaris (Bates)
8(7)	Elytron with anterior macula very extensive; interneurs well impressed and striatopunctate (Habitus, Fig. 35 View Figure 33–36 )	Asklepia laetitia sp. n.
8 '	Elytron with anterior macula small, divided in some individuals into two spots; interneurs of a very fine series of minute punctulae (Habitus, Fig. 31 View Figures 29–32 )	Asklepia demiti sp. n.
9(2')	Elytron with pale lateral margin restricted to apical half, mostly an extension inclusive of median macula in sector C	10
9'	Elytron with pale lateral margin extended nearly to humerus (Habitus, Fig. 53 View Figure 53–55 )	Asklepia strandi Liebke
10(9)	Antenna mostly pale, only antennomeres 4, 5, and 6 darkly infuscated	11
10'	Antenna mostly infuscated, only antennomeres 1, 2, and 8-11 completely pale	12
11(10)	Head infuscated	13
11'	Head pale, flavous	14
12(10')	Antennomere 7 bicolored, base infuscated, apex white	15
12'	Antennomere 7 entirely white	21
13(11)	Pronotum wider than long (W/L ratio = 1.340-1.385 (Habitus, Fig. 54 View Figure 53–55 ))	Asklepia surinamensis sp. n.
13'	Pronotum nearly as wide as long (W/L ratio = 1.154 - 1.314) (Habitus, Fig. 38 View Figure 37–40 )	Asklepia adisi sp. n.
14(11')	Mostly size larger (ABL = 3.25 mm; SBL = 3.054 mm; MW = 1.648 mm). Eyes very large, anterior/posterior diameter markedly greater than length of antennomere 3. Elytra across humeri narrower than across apical third. Antennomere 3 testaceous (Habitus, Fig. 45 View Figure 45–48 )	Asklepia macrops sp. n.
14'	Mostly size smaller (ABL = 2.72 mm; SBL = 2.477 mm; MW = 1.27 mm). Eyes normal for genus, anterior/posterior diameter about equal in length to that of antennomere 3. Elytra across humeri about equal to that at apical third. Antennomere 3 slightly infuscated (Habitus, Fig. 39 View Figure 37–40 )	Asklepia asuncionensis sp. n.
15(12)	Elytra markedly shiny, microsculpture effaced	16
15'	Elytra matte, microsculpture well developed, of isodiametric sculpticells (Habitus, Fig. 51 View Figure 49–52 )	Asklepia samiriaensis sp. n.
16(15)	Head and pronotum markedly contrasting, head much darker in color than pronotum	17
16'	Head and pronotum concolorous	18
17(16)	Head and pronotum flavous. Pronotum much wider than long (W/L ratio = 1.726) (Habitus, Fig. 42 View Figure 41–44 )	Asklepia cuiabaensis sp. n.
17'	Head and pronotum aurantiacus. Pronotum slightly wider than long (W/L ratio = 1.308-1.370) (Habitus, Fig. 48 View Figure 45–48 )	Asklepia pakitza sp. n.
18(16')	Head and pronotum pale, flavous, or aurantiacus	19
18'	Head and pronotum infuscated (Habitus, Fig. 43 View Figure 41–44 )	Asklepia ecuadoriana sp. n.
19(18)	Pronotum with beaded lateral margin. Elytron with large macula of sectors A, B, and C markedly U-shaped (e.g., Fig. 55 View Figure 53–55 )	20
19'	Pronotum without beaded lateral margin. Elytron with large macula of sectors A, B, and C shallowly U-shaped in sector A (Habitus, Fig. 14 View Figure 11–14 )	Asklepia biolat sp. n.
20 (19)	Macula of sectors E and F extended to lateral margin (Habitus, Fig. 55 View Figure 53–55 )	Asklepia vigilante sp. n.
20'	Macula of sectors E and F not extended to lateral margin (Habitus, Fig. 52 View Figure 49–52 )	Asklepia stalametlitos sp. n.
21(12')	Head infuscated, pronotum pale	22
21'	Head and pronotum both pale, flavous or aurantiacus	23
22(21)	Size larger (ABL = 2.81 mm; SBL = 2.478 - 2.769 mm; TW = 1.264-1.506 mm). Elytra across humeri square, lateral margins parallel; all available specimens alate (Habitus, Fig. 49 View Figure 49–52 )	Asklepia paraguayensis sp. n.
22'	Size smaller (ABL = 2.26 mm; SBL = 2.167 mm; TW = 1.241 mm). Elytra across humeri narrow, lateral margins rounded, sloped to humerus; both available specimens brachypterous (Habitus, Fig. 44 View Figure 41–44 )	Asklepia kathleenae sp. n.
23(21')	Elytra markedly short and convex (LE/LP ratio = 2.72-2.79)	24
23'	Elytra of normal length for genus (LE/LP ratio = 2.84-2.96)	25
24(23)	Pronotum narrow, its width less than width across eyes (Habitus, Fig. 41 View Figure 41–44 )	Asklepia bracheia sp. n.
24'	Pronotum broad, its width equal to width across eyes (Habitus, Fig. 47 View Figure 45–48 )	Asklepia marituba sp. n.
25(23')	Pronotum globose, markedly convex and broad; frons markedly convex. Elytron with apex broadly infuscated (Habitus, Fig. 46 View Figure 45–48 )	Asklepia marchantaria sp. n.
25'	Pronotum moderately convex, narrow; frons barely convex. Elytron with apex completely pale (Habitus, Fig. 50 View Figure 49–52 )	Asklepia pulchripennis (Bates)