Asklepia macrops 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 : 57-58

Asklepia macrops Erwin & Zamorano sp. n. Argentina pattern-wing beetle Figs 45 , 78

Holotype.

Argentina, Entre Ríos, Concordia, Río Uruguay, 31.368°S, 57.993°W, 9m, (M.A. Cazier)(AMNH: ADP132496, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, macrops, is a Latin adjective descriptive of the eyes of adults of this species, which are bigger than those of congeners.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Argentina pattern-wing beetles.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and large-sized for the genus (SBL = 3.054 mm). Adults with head brunneus, prothorax aurantiacus, elytral maculae aurantiacus; elytron fuscous with a broad triangular aurantiacus macula covering most of proximal basal quadrant and humeral area of lateral basal quadrant, a narrow elongated aurantiacus macula vertically oriented in the medial lateral and proximal quadrant, sutural area fuscous, lateral margin, apical margin and sutural area aurantiacus; metasternum fulvous, abdominal sterna with III-VI, and epipleuron fulvous, abdominal sternum VII fuscous; legs flavotestaceous; antennal scape, pedicel, antennomere 3 and basal half of 4 testaceous, apical half of antennomere 4, 5-6 deeply infuscated, 7-11 white. Similar to Asklepia adisi and Asklepia marchantaria , but with very large eyes in which the lateral convexity of eye from head margin slightly more than length of antennomere 3, whereas in the other species it is less than the length of antennomere 3. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum markedly convex with lateral margin effaced except just anterior to hind angle and there a simple bead; hind angle moderately prominent; median line barely defined. Elytral interneurs effaced from the greater part of elytron, only evident as scattered infuscated punctures.

Description.

Habitus ( Fig. 45 ). Size: [See also Table 17 ] Medium-size to large-size for the genus; ABL = 3.141 mm, SBL = 3.054 mm, TW (total width) 1.648 mm, LP = 0.621 mm, WP = 0.779 mm, LE = 1.942 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 45 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 45 ) moderately broad, slightly narrower than head across eyes (WH/WP: 1.119), longer than head (LP/LH: 1.267), wider than longer (W/L: 1.254); markedly cordiform and convex, apical margin straight, lateral margin effaced with seta at anterior third on slightly raised area; apex markedly constricted; hind angle slightly produced and setose; median line feebly define as an infuscated line, transverse impressions punctate, punctures infuscated; surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra markedly convex; at apical third twice as wide as head across eyes (WH/TW: 0.529) and pronotum (WP/TW: 0.472), longer than wide. Elytral interneurs evident as short rows of discontinuous, coarse and spaced punctures. 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 Río Uruguay 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. Nothing specific about the way of life is known about this species.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Note.

The single known specimen is damaged, i.e., missing some appendages; however, there is the entire body with enough physical attributes and enough antennomeres to determine it represents a distinct species.

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.