Somaovalis Opitz, 2016

Opitz, Weston, 2016, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of Tarsosteninae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae). Part III. Taxonomy of the New World GeneraArdearsusOpitz, New Genus, AbiliellaPeracchi, OchraceaOpitz, New Genus, andSomaovalisOpitz, New Genus, The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (1), pp. 153-167 : 153-167

Somaovalis Opitz , new genus

Type Species. Somaovalis sexnaeva Opitz , new species. By present designation.

Diagnosis. The members of this monotypic genus resemble those of Abiliella , but in Somaovalis the hind body is oblong-subovoid ( Fig. 31 ), the elytral asetiferous punctures end at about the elytral apical third, and the spicular apodemes are fused medially. In Abiliella specimens, the hind body is oblong-rectangulate ( Fig. 27 ), the elytral asetiferous punctures extend to the elytral apex, and the spicular apodemes are fused at their posterior extremity.

Apotypic Characteristics. Funicular antennomeres filiform; hind body oblong-subovoid.

Description. Size: Length 4.0–5.0 mm; width 1.3–1.7 mm. Form: Oblong-subovoid, about 4 times longer than broad. Vestiture: Cranium and frontoclypeal region densely setose, disc of cranium and pronotum vested with pale setae, elytral disc vested with 1° and 2° setae. Head: Cranium quadrate, subcorrugated, frons narrow or wide, indented with large, setiferous punctures, latter not widely separated; gula large, trapezoidal, sutures diagonal, gular processes prominent; labrum short, medial incision deep, curvate concave; mandibles stout, dens well-developed; maxillary terminal palpomere securiform; ligula deeply incised, ligular lobes not flared, labial terminal palpomere subsecuriform; eyes large, coarsely faceted, ocular notch large; antenna ( Fig. 6 ) comprised of 11 antennomeres, capitate, capitulum lax, scape short, about as long as combined length of pedicel and antennomere 3, funicular antennomeres filiform. Thorax: Pronotum oblong ( Fig. 12 ), scabrous, slightly convex, lateral margins without tubercles, sculptured with large, setiferous punctures, prebasal fissure not deep, prointercoxal process not expanded distally; pronotal projections short; elytron sculptured with 8 striae of asetiferous punctures, epipleural fold in oblique position, broad in anterior region, narrowed to elytral apex, anterior margin not carinate; tibial spur formula 0-1-1, tarsal pulvillar formula 3-3-3, unguis without denticle. Aedeagus: Shorter than length of abdomen; phallobase lobate anteriorly; lobes fimbriate; phallobase membranous dorsally; phallobasic struts not fused to phallobasic apodeme; phallobasic rod linear; phallic apex triangular; phallic plates broad; spicular plates flared; spicular apodemes fused at middle; intraspicular plate oblong-linear ( Fig. 38 ).

Distribution. This genus is known from Santa Cruz, in Bolivia, and from Rondonia, Brazil.

Etymology. The generic epithet Somaovalis is a compound name that stems from the Greek soma (= body) and the Latin ovum (= egg). I refer to the oblong-subovate form of the hind body of these beetles.

Somaovalis sexnaeva Opitz , new species ( Figs. 7, 12 , 31 , 38 , 39 , 40 )

Holotype. ♂. BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista , Hotel Flora & Fauna, 430 m, 17°29.949′S- 63°33.152′W, 5-15-XI-2001, M. C. Thomas, trop. transition forest, BLT. ( MNKM).

Paratypes. N i n e s p e c i m e n s. B O L I V I A, Santa Cruz, 4-6 k SSE Buena Vista, F & F Hotel, 23–26 Oct. 2000, Wappes & Morris ( WOPC, 1). BOLIVIA : Santa Cruz, Buena Vista , 380 m, 17°27′68″S, 63°39′63″W, 20-II-1999, L. Stange, Malaise trap ( FSCA, 1). BOLIVIA : Santa Cruz, Buena Vista vic. Flora & Fauna Hotel, 14-16/X/ 00, R. Morris ( RFMC, 1). BOLIVIA : Santa Cruz, Buena Vista vic. Flora & Fauna Hotel, 26-27/X/ 00, R. Morris ( WOPC, 1). BOLIVIA : Santa Cruz,

Buena Vista vic. Flora & Fauna Hotel, 22-26/X/02, R. Morris ( WOPC, 1). BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, Buena Vista vic. Flora & Fauna Hotel, 27-31/X/ 02, R. Morris ( JEWC, 1) . BOLIVIA, Cochabamba, 1 km E Villa Tunari , Oct.8–12, 1992, E. Giesbert ( FSCA, 1) . BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz, Est. Experimental Gral. Saavedra, V. 1974, L. Strange-C. Porter ( IMLA, 1; WOPC, 1) .

Diagnosis. The pale markings on the elytral disc (one posthumeral, one behind the middle, and one at the apex) will conveniently distinguish these beetles from congeners.

Description. Size: Length 3.5 mm; width 1.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 31 . Color: Cranium, pronotum, pterothorax, and abdomen black, mouthparts, antennae, and legs testaceous; elytral disc predominantly black, elytral disc with posthumeral, medial, and apical testaceous maculae. Head: Cranium coarsely punctate, frons wider than width of eye (FW/EW = 25/20); funicular antennomeres filiform, antennomeres 9 and 10 subtriangular, antennomere 11 subovoid ( Fig. 7 ). Thorax: Pronotum oblong ( Fig. 12 ) (PL/PW = 68/55), coarsely punctate, without lateral tubercles; elytral disc sculptured with 8 asetiferously punctate striae that end at elytral apical 3/4 (EL/EW = 175/45); elytral interstitial spaces large and smooth. Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at middle of anterior margin. Aedeagus: Phallobase very lightly sclero- tized; lobes well-developed; slightly fimbriate; phallobasic rod linear; phallobasic struts not fused to phallobasic apodeme; phallic apex large; phallic plates broad ( Fig. 38 ).

Variation. Length 3.0–5.0 mm; width 0.5– 0.8 mm. Other than body size, the beetles before me are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. The available specimens were collected in February, May, October, and November, at altitudes ranging from 380 to 430 m. One specimen was taken in a Malaise trap, whereas another was collected at blacklight.

Distribution. This species is known only from Santa Cruz in Bolivia

Etymology. The specific epithet sexnaeva is a Latin compound name that stems from sex (= six) and naevus (= blemish). I refer to the yellow maculae on the elytral disc.

Figures

Figs. 30–32. Habitus. 30) Ochracea xanthosa; 31) Somaovalis sexnaeva; 32) Somaovalis sinestigma.

Figs. 26–29. Habitus. 26) Abiliella albosutura; 27) Abiliella fasciata; 28) Abiliella galbina; 29) Ardearsus morulus.

Figs. 1–17. Morphological structures. Antenna: 1) Abiliella albosutura; 2) Abiliella fasciata; 3) Abiliella galbina; 4) Ochracea xanthosa; 5) Ardearsus morulus; 6) Somaovalis sinestigma; 7) Somaovalis sexnaeva. Pronotum: 8) A. albosutura; 9) Abiliella fasciata; 10) A. morulus; 11) O. xanthosa; 12) Somaovalis sexnaeva; 13) Somaovalis sinestigma; 14) A. galbina. Apical maxillary palpomere: 15) A. fasciata; 16) A. morulus; 17) O. xanthosa.

Figs. 33–38. Abdominal terminalia and aedeagi. 33) Abiliella albosutura; 34) Abiliella fasciata; 35) Abiliella galbina; 36) Ardearsus morulus; 37) Ochracea xanthosa; 38) Somaovalis sexnaeva.

Fig. 39. Geographical distributions of seven tarsostenine species.

Fig. 40. Hypothesized phylogeny of the species included in this work.