Priocera chilotaxis OPITZ, 2021

Opitz, Weston, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Priocera KIRBY (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 1145-1255 : 1167-1168

Priocera chilotaxis OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 86 , 99 , 118 )

HOLOTYPE: ♀. Type locality: BRAZIL, Rondonia, 62 km SW Ariquemes , nr Fzda. Rancho Grande. A second label reads: Oct.20-31.1997, B. K. Dozier Collector ( FSCA) . PARATYPES: 19 specimens. Ecuador: Provincia de Napo, Loreto Road , vicinity Rio Hollin , 14-IV-1999, F. Hovore ( JNRC, 1). Bolivia : Departamento de Santa Cruz , Potrerillos del Guenda , Reserva Natural , Aka Snake Farm , 17°40'15''S 63°27'26''W, 13-17-X- 2014, 400 m, Wappes & Morris ( WOPC, 1) ; Buena Vista , Hotel Fauna & Flora, 22-26-X-2002, Morris & Wappes ( RFMC, 1) ; 4- 6 km SSE Buena Vista,Hotel Flora & Fauna, 21-24-XI-2003, J. Wappes, Morris & Nearns ( ACMT, 1). Peru: Provincia de Tambopata, Madre de Dios , Puerto Maldonado, 5-XII-2013, Malaise trap, T. Perez ( WOPC, 1). Brazil: Estado do Rondonia, 7 km NW Costa Marquez, 16- XI-1986, Malaise, R. Wilkerson ( JNRC, 1) ; 62 km SW Ariquemes, Fazenda Rancho Grande , 6- X-1993, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien ( WOPC, 1) ; idem, 1-17-XI-1997, B. K. Dozier ( CUIC, 1) ; idem, 17-18-XI-1985, W. J. Hanson ( ACMT, 1) ; idem, 5-16-XI-1996, W. J. Hanson ( EMUS, 1) ; idem, 22-31-X-1997, W. J. Hanson ( MCZC, 1) ; idem, 6-20-XI-1994, W. J. Hanson ( WFBM, 1) ; idem, 15-22-III-1991, W. J. Hanson & G. Bohart ( FMNH, 1) ; idem, 16-XI-1994, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien ( USNM, 1) ; idem, 16-X-1993. C. W.& L.B. O’Brien ( CASC,1) ; idem, 10°18'S 62°53'W, 8-20-IV-1997, A. C. Rehn & C. Alexander ( UCDC, 1) ; idem, 10-X-1993, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien ( WFBM, 1) ; 7 km NW Costa Marquez, 16- XI-1986, Malaise, R. Wilkerson ( FSCA, 1). Estado do Mato Grosso, Sinop ,?- X-1976, M. Alvarenga ( CMNH, 1)

D i a g n o s i s: Cranium, thorax, legs castaneous; antennae testaceous; elytra bicolorous, mostly castaneous, with two yellow lines, one line extends backwards from anterior margin, other is fractured and obliquely positioned at elytral middle, apical 1/5 th yellow; abdomen testaceous.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 7.0 mm; width 1.8 mm. Form: As in Fig. 118 . Head: Frons narrow, about as wide as antennal pedicel; EW/FW 40/13. Thorax: Pronotum with 2 tumescenses and small central fissure ( PW /PL 80/120); elytral disc slightly depressed at middle, sculptured with striate, asetiferous punctures in basal 1/2, elytral apex rounded ( EL /EW 300/55); metathoracic increasing in width to femoral apex. Abdomen: Aedeagus as in Fig. 86.

V a r i a t i o n: Size: Length 6.0-7.0 mm; width 1.5-1.8 mm. The yellow line that extends from the elytral anterior margin varies in prominence, as do the individual components of the oblique medially located yellow line.

N a t u r a l h i s t o r y: Specimens were collected during April, October, and November, one at 400 m.

D i s t r i b u t i o n ( Fig. 99 ): This species is known from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, chilotaxis, is a compound Greek name that stems from chilo (= border) and taxis (= line). I refer to the line that extends backwards from the anterior margin of the elytra.

Figures

Figs 99. Approximate distribution of species as noted.

Figs 85-87. Aedeagus. Priocera castanea (85), P. chilotaxis (86), P. clavipes (87).

Figs 116-119. Habitus. Priocera championi nov.sp. (116), P. catalinae (117), P. chilotaxis nov.sp. (118), P. chiricahuae (119).