Asklepia pakitza 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 : 61-62

Asklepia pakitza Erwin & Zamorano sp. n. Pakitza pattern-wing beetle Figs 48 , 71 , 78

Holotype.

Perú, Madre de Dios, BIOLAT Biological Station, Pakitza, Rio Manu, 11.9350°S, 71.3032°W, 329m, 18 & 21 February 1990 (T.L. Erwin, E. Pfuno S., F. Pfuno S.)(MUSM, ADP132466, male).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, pakitza, is a singular Latinized feminine noun in apposition, based on the name of the area in which these beetles are found. These beetles were collected under the auspices of the BIOLAT Program (see above under Asklepia biolat sp. n.).

Proposed english vernacular name.

Pakitza 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 medium-sized for the genus (SBL = 2.635-2.683 mm). Adults with head and fuscous, prothorax aurantiacus, elytral maculae aurantiacus in some individuals; elytron brunneus with a narrow rectangular-shaped aurantiacus macula horizontally oriented in the lower half of medial lateral quadrant, scutellar area aurantiacus, sutural area of apical quadrant aurantiacus except for apical margin; metasternum, abdominal sterna III-VI, and epipleuron flavotestaceous, abdominal sternum VII infuscated; legs testaceous; antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-6 markedly infuscated, 8-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum cordiform, feebly explanate, with medial lobe at base, lateral margin beaded; hind angle feebly prominent; median line markedly defined. Elytral interneurs effaced from greater part of the elytron surface, only evident as scattered punctures in the medial quadrants, as well as along interneur 1.

Description.

( Fig. 48 , 71 ). Habitus: ( Fig. 48 ). Size: [See also Table 20 ] Medium-size for the genus; ABL = 3.080-2.873 mm, SBL = 2.635-2.683 mm, TW (total width) 1.399-1.430 mm, LP = 0.564-0.572 mm, WP = 0.748-0.772 mm, LE = 1.701-1.743 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 48 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 48 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP, mean both sexes: 1.009), longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.539), wider than long (WP/LP, mean both sexes: 1.338); markedly cordiform and feebly explanate, lateral margin beaded with seta at anterior third; base markedly constricted with medial lobe at base; anterior angles feebly produced, hind angle markedly produced and setose; median line markedly define, apical transverse impressions punctate, punctures infuscated; surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra slightly convex; at apical third twice as wide as head across eyes (WH/TW, mean both sexes: 0.542) and pronotum (WP/TW, mean both sexes: 0.538), longer than wide. Elytral interneurs effaced from greater part of the elytron surface, only evident as scattered punctures in the medial quadrants, as well as along interneur 1; elytron substantially transparent. 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 ( Fig. 71 , see Fig. 61 for attribute labels). Median lobe with phallobase very short about a fifth the length of shaft, basal opening small, oriented parallel to shaft. Shaft swollen at middle, slightly sinuate ventrally, dorsally sclerotized except for moderate-length ostium; in ventral aspect tapered toward rather rounded apex, in lateral aspect, a rounded apex. Parameres: left large and broad, right small and lobed; apex of left paramere lobate much longer than right paramere, about two-thirds the length of shaft (measured in left lateral aspect). Endophallus with one preapical spine. 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 shore of an isolated black-water of the Río Manu a part of the upper Amazon River drainage system. 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 of the genus. Adults of this species are active in the dry season in wet leaf litter at the edge of a small lake.

Other specimens examined.

Perú, Madre de Dios, BIOLAT Biological Station, Pakitza, Rio Manu, 11.9350°S, 71.3032°W, 329m, 18 & 21 February 1990 (T.L. Erwin, E. Pfuno S., F. Pfuno S.) (NMNH, ADP132575, female paratype).

Notes.

See Erwin (1990) and Venable & Erwin (1997) for detailed trail maps of the BIOLAT Biodiversity Station. Adults of this species have a slightly explanate pronotal margin; however, they have the male endophallus of the pulchripennis group, thus the placement we suggest here. We have a specimen, in poor condition, that represents an undescribed species from Posto Jacaré, Brazil that also has a slightly explanate pronotal margin; however, it has the male endophallus of the hilaris group. With additional collecting and more specimens in the future, there may be an additional species group that we cannot, at present, define.

Figures

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

Figure 45 - 48. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 45 Asklepia macrops Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132496, Concordia, Rio Uruguay, Argentina 46 Asklepia marchantaria Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. Adis 000727, Ilha de Marchantaria, Lago Camaleao, Brazil 47 Asklepia marituba Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132494, Ananindeua, Marituba, Brazil 48 Asklepia pakitza Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132466, Patkitza, Peru. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 69 - 74. 69 Asklepia kathleenae Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132529, Belem, Brazil 70 Asklepia marchantaria Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. Adis 001103, Ilha de Marchantaria, Lago Camaleao, Brazil 71 Asklepia pakitza Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132466, Pakitza, Peru 72 Asklepia paraguayensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132769, San Lorenzo Paraguay 73 Asklepia surinamensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132763, l'Hermitage, Surinam 74 Asklepia vigilante Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 067301, Boca del Rio Samiria, Peru.

Figure 57 - 62. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 57 Asklepia geminata (Bates, 1871) ADP 109186, Rio Samiria, Boca Cano Ingles Camp, Peru 58 Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109196, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 59 Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132585, Rio Demiti, Brazil 60 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 052565, Rio Sucusari, Peru 61 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia. Legend: a apical area; bl basal lobe; bo basal orifice; lp left paramere; ml median lobe; om ostial membrane; oo ostial opening; rp right paramere; sh shaft; pb phallobase; ps phallobase shaft; ms medial spine; ds distal spine 62 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109208, Rio Demiti, Brazil. Scale line = 0.25 mm.