Laemophloeus germaini Grouvelle

Thomas, Michael C., 2013, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 1. Species with antennal club of more than three antennomeres, Insecta Mundi 2013 (294), pp. 1-23 : 7

Laemophloeus germaini Grouvelle

Fig. 10, 34-38 , 48

Laemophloeus germaini Grouvelle 1896: 200

Laemophloeus prominens Hetschko 1928: 142 , new synonym

Laemophloeus notabilis Kessel 1926: 72 , 81 (not Grouvelle 1904)

Types. There are eight specimens of this species on three cards in the MNHN bearing the handwritten labels: “Yungas de Cochabamba Bolivie ”. Each pin also bears a black on green printed label: “MUSEUM PARIS COLL. A GROUVELLE 1917”. One pin with two specimens also bears the identification label: “ Laemophloeus Germaini Grouv. ” in Grouvelle’s handwriting. Although these specimens agree with the data in the original description none is labeled as a type specimen as was Grouvelle’s usual practice and thus their status is uncertain.

Kessel (1926) wrote of L. notabilis : “Typo em minha collecção.” However, Tomasz Huflejt (in litt.) checked the Kessel collection in the MZPW and could not find it.

Diagnosis. Length, 1.8-2.6 mm. The following combination of character states distinguish this species: antennal club composed of more than six antennomeres; frons broadly triangularly impressed ( Fig. 34 ); eyes relatively small, with smooth facets ( Fig. 34 ); sides of head laterally produced so that eyes appear to be situated on short stalks; elytra epipleura broad but almost vertical; male genitalia with broad, obliquely truncate and widely separated parameres, and complex armature of internal sac ( Fig. 37-39 ).

Distribution. Central and South America. Grouvelle (1896) described L. germaini from “ Colombie. Bolivie, province de Cochabamba.” Sharp (1899) recorded it from Las Mercedes, Guatemala (in Quetzaltenango ( Selander and Vaurie 1962)) and Bugaba, Panama (in Chiriquí ( Selander and Vaurie 1962)). Kessel (1926) described L. notabilis from “Badenfurt, Sta. Catharina.” Badenfurt is in southern Brazil at approximately 26.877°S 49.148°W.

Specimens examined. 8, from the following localities: BELIZE: Orange Walk: Rio Bravo Conservation Area ; BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: Buena Vista ; HONDURAS: Atlantida: Lancetilla, Jardin Botanica ; Olancho: Catacomas ; PANAMA: Barro Colorado Is .; SURINAME: Brokopondo: nr. Brownsberg , Ston Eiland Eco Resort. All in FSCA .

Discussion. Individuals of this species can vary in color from a dark testaceous, usually variously infuscate, to almost completely piceous. Olfactory sensilla and a partial peri-articular gutter are present beginning on antennomere IV. The median excavation of the frons is present in both sexes.

Kessel (1926) distinguished his species from L. germaini by differences in color and number of lines on the elytra. Hetschko (1928) noted that L. notabilis Grouvelle 1904 had precedence and proposed L. prominens as a replacement name. Since the color is variable in this species (as pointed out by Sharp (1899)) and the number of impressed lines on the elytra historically has been difficult to interpret, I am synonymizing L. prominens Hetschko under L. germaini Grouvelle.

Figures

Figures 34-39. Laemophloeus germaini Grouvelle. 34) Head and pronotum. 35) Antennomeres IV-VI. 36) Antennomere V. 37) Male genitalia. 38) Median lobe and tegmen showing armature of internal sac. 39) Male

Figures 47-49. Laemophloeus spp., heads, ventral view. sexarticulatus.