Actenodes caray Zayas, 1988

Barman, E. H., Michat, M. C., Alarie, Y. & Wolfe, G. W., 2007, Figs. 16 – 17. 16 in A Description of the First Instar of Hoperius planatus Fall, 1927 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Colymbetinae: Colymbetini), with Phylogenetic Implications, The Coleopterists Bulletin 24 (3), pp. 334-338 : 335

Actenodes caray Zayas

( Fig. 3)

Actenodes caray Zayas 1988: 41 .

Type locality: CUBA: Oriente Province , Ciudad Mar. Zayas (1988: 41) cited a single specimen. The holotype appears to be a female .

Actenodes caray is a valid species similar to two other Caribbean species that have roundish metallic spots near the middle of the smooth, non-costate elytron. Actenodes auronotata (Laporte & Gory) , known from the southeastern U.S. (Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina), the Bahamas, Cuba, and doubtfully Haiti, and A. bellula (Mannerheim) , widespread on Hispaniola, both have two nearly adjacent spots just anterior to the middle of the elytron, and one just posterior to the middle. In A. caray there is one spot in the anterior position and one in the posterior, and they are closer together than the anterior and posterior spots in A. auronotata and A. bellula . Also, A. auronotata and A. bellula lack the posterolateral green band found on the elytron of A. caray . A third similar taxon, A. auronotatus var. jamaicensis Fisher , from Jamaica, has much larger green spots and narrow green coloration posteriorly along the lateral margin and suture of the elytron. It should probably be considered a valid taxon at the species level but is still known from only a few specimens.