Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle, 1876: 496

Thomas, Michael C., 2014, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 2. Neotropical species with antennal club of three antennomeres, Insecta Mundi 2014 (363), pp. 1-38 : 10

Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle, 1876: 496

Fig. 9 , 34-38

Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle, 1876: 496 Laemophloeus chevrolati Grouvelle, 1878: 264 , n ew synonym

Types: Of L. lecontei : I have examined two female specimens from the MNHM with the following label data: “Am. Bor. Chevrolat” [handwritten]/” Type ”[printed]/” TYPE ” [printed black on red]; and “ex. Mus. Chevrolat” [handwritten]/”Lecomti [sic] A. Grouv ” [in Grouvelle’s hand]; of L. chevrolati : I have examined a single male specimen with the following data: ” Cuba cn. Dejean.” [in Grouvelle’s hand]/ ”MUSEUM PARIS COLL. A. GROUVELLE 1917” [printed]/” L. Chevrolati prob. Grouv” [in Grouvelle’s hand]. Although not the specimen described by Grouvelle (1878), it is from the same collection and general locality, and may be part of the type series. It agrees with the description and illustration. It is conspecific with L. lecontei Grouvelle .

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters is diagnostic for this species: club antennomeres with complex pubescence ( Fig. 35 ), male with triangular epistomal horns that are sinuate laterally ( Fig. 34, 36 ), parameres narrowly acuminate distally ( Fig. 38 ). Females are very similar to those of L. taurus , but the epistome is emarginate over the mandibular insertion ( Fig. 2 ). Length, 1.6mm - 3.1mm.

Distribution. Caribbean, North, Central and South America.

Neotropical specimens examined. 195, BAHAMAS: Andros: Forfar Field Station ; Maidenhair Coppice ( Turnbow and Thomas 2008); BELIZE: Orange Walk: Rio Bravo Conservation District, vic. La Milpa Research Station ; BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna ; Potrerillos del Guendá , 40km NW Santa Cruz ; BRAZIL: Rondônia: 62km SW Ariquemes , near Fazenda Rancho Grande ; CAYMAN ISLANDS: Cayman Brac: Brac Paradise Subdivision ; Brac Parrot Reserve ; Hemmington Rd. at Songbird Dr .; Major Donald Dr., 0.6 km E jct. Ashton Reid Dr.; Grand Cayman: Mastic Trail; Little Cayman: North Coast Rd., 0.1 km W jct. Olivine Kirk Rd. ( Thomas et al. 2013) ; COLOMBIA: Antioquia: 24km. S & 21km W of Zaragoza, above Rio Anori ; Valle: Finca Kuchman; COSTA RICA: Cartago: Turrialba ; La Selva; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Pedernales: 21km. N Cabo Rojo ; HONDURAS: Olancho: Parque Nacional La Muralla , Sendero Pizole ; JAMAICA: Clarendon: Milk River Bath ; MEXICO: Quintana Roo: 19km N Felipe Carillo Puerto ; Veracruz: Lake Catemaco , “Coyame” ; PANAMA: Colón: Sierra Llorona Lodge ; TRINIDAD: San Juan-Laventille: Curepe ; Tunapuna-Piarco: Arima-Blanchissuese Rd.; VENEZUELA: Caracas Metropolitan: Caracas, Botanical Gardens ; Miranda: Panaquire. All in FSCA .

Discussion. This is one of the most abundant and widespread of the Neotropical species of Laemophloeus , occurring from Bolivia to Mexico, and throughout the West Indies to southern Florida. The peculiar pubescence character of the club antennomeres is shared only with L. taurus , which also possesses epistomal horns in the male and a similar form of genitalia. Interestingly, the form of the narrowly attenuate parameres also occurs in most of the species with six or more segmented antennal clubs (Thomas 2013). It is possible that the shared possession of attenuate parameres and modified antennae (indicates a close evolutionary relationship between the former and latter groups.

Figures

Figure 9. Habitus, Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle, male.

Figures 34-38. Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle. 34) Head and pronotum, male. 35) Antennomere X, male. 36) Head, male. 37) Abdominal segment 8, male. 38) Male genitalia.

Figures 2-3. Laemophloeus spp., female epistomal margin. 2) L. lecontei. 3) L. taurus, n.sp.