Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter,1876:50

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 : 13-14

Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter,1876:50

Fig. 13 , 55-58

Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter, 1876:50

Types: Reitter (1876) described Laemophloeus suturalis from two specimens: a male from Colombia and a female from Guatemala. Sharp (1899) noted that he had seen the female from Reitter’s collection, which was in the possession of Rene Oberthür at the time. The female should be in the MNHN with the rest of Reitter’s “ Cucujidae ” (Horn and Kahle 1935-37), but could not be located there (Azadeh Taghavian, in litt.). Reitter (1896) noted that the male specimen was in “der Sammlung der Herrn v. Bruck.” Horn and Kahle (1935-1937) wrote that the collection of Emil vom Bruck went in 1882 to “Zool. Univ. Mus., Bonn.” The vom Bruck collection apparently was destroyed during World War II when the University of Bonn was hit by Allied bombs ( Groll 2012).

Sharp (1899) added: “Reitter’s description applies, however, only in a very dubious manner to our insect, so it is quite probable that the male he had before him was that of some other allied species.” In the absence of that male specimen, I am basing my concept of this species on that of Sharp (1899).

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters is diagnostic for this species: Length, 2.1mm - 2.8mm; body color testaceous, with base and suture darkly infuscate ( Fig. 13 ); males without tuft of hair on scape, epistome without an emargination over the antennal insertions; basal plates moderately broad; parameres with two pairs of setae, the inner, basal pair long, stout and narrowly separated, the outer pair shorter and more slender ( Fig. 56 ). Females cannot be distinguished from those of L. megacephalus .

Distribution. North, Central, and South America. Sharp (1899) recorded it from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Colombia. Thomas (1993) added Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, and Trinidad, and recorded it for the first time from North America in extreme southern Florida.

Neotropical specimens examined. 168, BELIZE: Belize: Belize ; Toledo: Columbia Forest Station ; BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: Buena Vista ; 3.7km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna ; Potrerillos del Guendá , 40km NW Santa Cruz ; Saavedra; BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Cordisburgo ; Rondônia: 62km SW Ariquemes , near Fazenda Rancho Grande ; COSTA RICA: Alajuela; Cartago: Turrialba ; Guanacaste: El Viajo ; EL SALVADOR: San Vicente: Santo Domingo ; HONDURAS: Atlantida: Lancetilla Botanical Gardens ; MEXICO: Baja California Sur: 3.3mm. S. El Cien ; El Arco; Nayarit: San Blas; Oaxaca: Hwy 147, 6mi SE jct. 175 & 147; Quintana Roo: 19km N Felipe Carrillo Puerto ; San Luis Potosí: Tamazunchale; Veracruz: 10mi S Coatepec ; NICARAGUA: Rivas: 10km. NW Sapoa, Rio Casnas Gordas ; PANAMA: Chiriqui: Puerto Armuelles ; Rovira; TRINIDAD: San Juan-Laventille: Curepe ; VENEZUELA: Miranda: Panaquire. All in FSCA .

Discussion. This is another very widespread Neotropical species, occurring from Bolivia to Mexico, and extreme southern Florida. It has not been recorded from the West Indies.

Figures

Figure 13. Habitus, Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter, male.

Figures 55-58. Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter. 55) Head and pronotum, male. 56) Aedeagus. 57) Male genitalia. 58) Abdominal segment 8, male.