Asklepia cuiabaensis Erwin & Zamorano, 2014

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 : 52-54

Asklepia cuiabaensis Erwin & Zamorano sp. n. Cuiaba pattern-wing beetle Figs 42 , 78

Holotype.

Brazil, Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, 15.6416°S, 56.0732°W, 149m, August (unknown)(CMNH: ADP130044, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, cuiabaensis, is a singular Latinized feminine noun in apposition, based on the name of the place near where these beetles are found.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Cuiabá pattern-wing beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and small-sized for the genus (SBL = 2.191 mm). Adults with head fuscous, prothorax fulvous, elytral maculae fulvous; elytron fuscous with a small and slender triangular flavous macula in the lower right corner of the proximal apical quadrant, narrow flavous macula ending in hook crossing from medial lateral quadrant to right half of apical proximal quadrant, slender quadrangular flavous macula in the upper right corner of basal proximal quadrant, apical and lateral margins fulvous; metasternum fulvous, abdominal sterna with III-VI, and epipleuron fulvous, abdominal sternum VII fuscous; legs flavotestaceous; antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-6 and basal half of 7 deeply infuscated, apical half of 7 and 8-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum moderately convex with lateral margin effaced except just anterior to hind angle and there a simple bead; hind angle moderately prominent; anterior angles feebly produced; median line feebly defined. Elytral interneurs evident as continuous rows of widely spaced coarse punctures, punctures fuscous.

Description.

Habitus ( Fig. 42 ). Size: [See also Table 14 ] Medium-size to large for the genus; ABL = 2.610 mm, SBL = 2.191 mm, TW (total width) 1.270 mm, LP = 0.46 mm, WP = 0.592 mm, LE = 1.372 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 42 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 42 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP, 1,062) longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.388), wider than long (W/L, mean both sexes: 1.726); slightly cordiform and rounded, lateral margin effaced with seta at anterior third on slightly raised area; apex markedly constricted; anterior angle feebly produced, hind angle slightly produced and setose; median line feebly defined, apical transverse impressions punctate, surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra moderate convex; at apical third twice as wide as head across eyes (WH/TW, mean both sexes: 0,495) and pronotum (WP/TW, mean both sexes: 0,495). Elytral interneurs evident as continuous rows of widely spaced coarse punctures, interneurs continuous along length of entire elytron. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Abdominal sterna. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male genitalia. Male unknown. Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 78 ). This species has been found at only one location on the middle Rio Cuiabá. But that does not at all indicate its real distribution: as has been pointed out above, very small beetles are inadequately sampled, especially in the Neotropics.

Way of life.

See Erwin (1991) for a general description. Adults of this species are active in August in these tropical savannah habitats with mild dry winter season; in August the air temperatures reach maxima between 30° to lower 40°C.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Figures

Figure 78. Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia species of the pulchripennis group.

Figure 41 - 44. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 41 Asklepia bracheia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 008121, Cocha Shimagai, Peru 42 Asklepia cuiabaensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 130044, Cuiaba, Brazil 43 Asklepia ecuadoriana Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132485, Limoncocha, Ecuador 44 Asklepia kathleenae Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132460, Belem, Brazil. Scale line = 1 mm.