Chariessa texana Wolcott, 1908

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, natural history, and evolution of the subfamily Peloniinae Opitz (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part VIII. Systematics of the checkered beetle genus Chariessa Perty, Insecta Mundi 2017 (574), pp. 1-42 : 25-27

Chariessa texana Wolcott

Figures 9, 18 , 26 , 33 , 49, 50 , 64 , 67 .

Chariessa texana, Wolcott, 1908: 72 . Holotype. Gender. Type locality: United States of America, Texas, Nolan County, Sweetwater (FMNH). Paratypes: Two, one of which has been located. United States of America, Texas, Nolan County, Sweetwater (FMNH)

Diagnosis. Specimens of this species are distinguished from those of the superficially similar Chariessa pilosa by the coloration of the pronotum, which is mostly red in C. texana and broadly red at the pronotal sides in C. pilosa specimens, Also, in C. texana specimens the pronotal arch shows two dark punctiform marks, which may coalesce and expand posteriorly. In C. pilosa specimens the pronotum always shows two black lines between which there is a narrow reddish line.

Redescription. Size: Length 12.0 mm; width 4.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 49 . Mouthparts, cranium, antennae, pterothorax, legs, and abdomen dark brown; pronotum sanguineous, disc with two black circular spots centrally located at the anterior margin; elytra black. Head: Funicular antennomeres progressively shorter and wider towards capitulum, capitulum longer than combined length of funicular antennomeres, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 with collateral branch ( Fig. 9, 18 ), antennomere 11 oblong, anterior margin sinuous; eyes small, frons wider than width of eye (EW/FW 15/35). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 26 ) quadrate (PW/PL 90/90), side margins with small tubercle, disc finely punctate; elytral asetiferous punctation small, profusely distributed throughout disc (EL/EW 260/60); protibial anterior margin spinous. Abdomen: Pygidium oblong / scutiform, deeply incised apically; 5 th visible sternite emarginated; aedeagus ( Fig. 64 ) poorly sclerotized ventrally; phallobasic lobes slightly developed, fimbriate, phallobasic rod long and narrow, phallobasic apodeme explanate at extremity; phallus with subapical sclerotization, phallic apex triangular/subacuminate.

Variation. Size: Length 6.0-17.0 mm; width 2.0-6.0 mm. There is polymorphism in the coloration of the elytra. I some specimens the epipleural and sutural margins are flavotestaceous. Further, the two spots on the pronotal arch may coalesce and expand posteriorly into a broad black streak.

Natural history. Specimens have emerged from a dead trunk of sugarberry [ Celtis laevigata Willdenow (Cannabaceae) ], from wood of the Oklahoma redbud [ Cercis reniformi Engls. (Fabaceae) ] infested with Crysobothris analis LeConte (Buprestidae) , and from wood of the Texas cedar elm [ Ulmus crassifolia Nutt. (Ulmaceae) ]. These beetles were also captured on the persimmon Diospyros texana Scheele (Ebenaceae) and on a willow species of Salix Linnaeus (Salicaceae) . They are attracted to light.

Distribution ( Fig. 67 ). I examined 101 specimens from: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Oklahoma; Beaver County, near Wichita Road 26 m 30-IV-1968, J. C. Barlow: Texas; Uvalde County, Garner State Park, 22-24-VI-1961, R. L. Westcott; Kimble County, TTU Center Junction, 12-VI-1990, black light, J. A. Back; Harris County, 3 mi SW Westfield, 27-28-VI-1961, R. L. Westcott; Real County, 3 mi E Camp Wood, emerged from wood of Cercis reniformis infested with Crysob analis on 13-VII-1972, G. H. Nelson; idem, emerged from redbud infested with Chrysob analis and Elaphidion on 14-I-1972, G. H. Nelson; idem, emerged from redbud infested with Chrysob analis and Elaphidion on 22-I-1972, G. H. Nelson; Real County, 6 mi SE Leakey, 1-VII-1971, at light, G. H. Nelson; Williamson County, 30-V-1941, E. K. Waering; Williamson County, Florence, 30-V-1941, E. K. Wearing; Eastland County, 19-VI-1924, Grace O. Wiley; Gillespie County, 20-VI-?, D. J. & J. N. Knull; Jeff Davis County, Davis Mountains, 6-VII-?, J. N. Knull; Val Verde County, Pecos River, Hwy 90, 20-VI-1963, on leguminous shrub, G, H. Nelson & Family; Val Verde County, 13 mi W Comstock, 22-VI-1965, on Diospyros texana, G. H. Nelson ; Jeff Davis County, Davis Mountains State Park, 18-20-VI-1979, F. Hovore; Val Verde County, 9 mi W Del Rio, 22-VI- 1965, on Diospyros texana, G. H. Nelson ; Val Verde County, 17-V-1982, E. G. Linsley; Val Verde County, 14-VI-1949, D. J. & J. N. Knull; Brown County, Brownwood, 21-26-VIII-?, J. N. Knull; Culberson County, Upper Dog Canyon, Guadalupe National Park, 19-VII-1975, J. V. Moody; Comal County, 19-V-1948, D. J. & J. N. Knull; Caldwell County, Luling, 30-VI-1972. J. Wappes; Uvalde County, 23-V-1948, D. J. & J. N. Knull; Bexar County, Jct Loop 1604 & Potranco Rd., emerged from trunk of dead Celtis laevigata on 4- IV-1999, T. C. MacRae & D. W. Sundberg; Babcock Rd. & Scenic Loop, near San Antonio, 11-VII-1986, on dead trunk of Celtis laevigata Sarg, G. H. Nelson ; Leon Springs, 19-VI-1999, G. H. Nelson; East Southside Park, emerged from Ulmus crassifolia on?- V-1989, D. J. Heffern; San Antonio, 4-VI-1975, uv light, M. Druckenbrod; Burnet County, 28-V-1964, K. Stephan; Potter County, Lake Meredith, McBride Canyon, 1-VI-1971, C. W. O’Brien; Taylor County, Abilene State Park, 17-VII-1982, Cicero; Kerr County, Kerrville, 22-IV-1959, Becker & Howden; Lake Corpus Christi State Park, 21-VI-1971, on Salix, G. H. Nelson ; idem, 20-VI-1971, on Salix, G. H. Nelson ; Stephens County, Clear Fork, Brazos River, Highway 183, 16- 31-IV-1996, D. J. Haffern; Atascosa County, 8 miles NW Poteet, 11-17-VI-1999, J. E. Wappes; Comal County, Rittiman Ranch near Spring, Branch Oak, 3-5- IV-2003; Parker County, Weatherford, 6-XI-?, collector not noted; San Patricio County, Welder Wildlife Refuge, 17 km NE Sinton, 17-25-V- 1985, H. & A. Howden, C. Scholtz. Specimens are deposited in BYUC, CMNC, CMNH, CSUC, FMNH, FSCA, MCZC, TAMU, USNM, WFBM, and WOPC.

Notes. I examined 1558 specimens of Chariessa pilosa and 101 specimens of C. texana . The male genitalia of these two species are identical, but their pronotal coloration easily separated them, as does, to some extent, their geographic distribution. Chariessa pilosa extends from Texas to southern Canada, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains, whereas C. texana is known only from Texas and Oklahoma. Thirteen specimens from Texas present an intermediate condition of the pronotal color; the black punctiform spots on the pronotal arch extend posteriorly to reach the pronotal collar, and there is a faint red line in the middle of the dark discal line. I interpret these specimens as hybrids ( Fig. 52 ) from a cross between C. pilosa and C. texana . They have been labeled: Hybrid, Chariessa pilosa / Chariessa texana .

Figures

Figure 67. Geographical distribution of Chariessa species as noted.

Figures 1-18. Antennae of Chariessa spp. 1) Chariessa duponti (male). 2) C. duponti (female). 3) C. floridana (male). 4) C. floridana (female). 5) C. catalina (male). 6) C. catalina (female). 7) C. elegans (male). 8) C. elegans (female). 9) C. texana (male). 10) C. dichroa (male). 11) C. dichroa (female). 12) C. pilosa (male). 13) C. pilosa (female). 14) C. ramicornis (male). 15) C. ramicornis (female). 16) C. vestita (male). 17) C. vestita (female). 18) C. texana (female).

Figures 21-29. Pronota of Chariessa spp. 21) Chariessa catalina. 22) C. elegans. 23) C. ramicornis. 24) C. duponti. 25) C. floridana. 26) C. texana. 27) C. dichroa. 28) C. pilosa. 29) C. vestita.

Figures 30-35. Pronota and elytra. 30-31. Pronota. 30) Chariessa floridana. 31) C. pilosa. 32-35. Elytra. 32) C. ramicornis. 33) C. texana. 34) C. pilosa. 35) Pelonium lampyroides.

Figures 49-52. Habitus of Chariessa spp. 49) Chariessa texana. 50) C. texana. 51) C. vestita. 52) C. pilosa/texana hybrid.

Figures 63-65. Male genitalia and aedeagi. 63) Chariessa ramicornis. 64) C. texana. 65) C. vestita.