Nelsopelonium aspikelum OPITZ, 2019

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 991

Nelsopelonium aspikelum OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 71 , 119 , 229 , 309 )

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: Sta. Rita Range, Res. Pima Co. ARIZ, 2000-4000', 10 Aug. 1971, E. Yensen ( FSCA).

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Nelsopelonium BARR was revised in 2014 ( OPITZ 2014a). This work included a key to genera. The available Nelsopelonium aspikelum specimen keys out to N. jenae BARR from which the N. aspikelum holotype differs by showing a much smaller body size (4 mm), more cribrate elytral disc, and a vastly different aedeagus.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 1.3 mm. Form: As in Fig. 309 . Color: Castaneous, except femora infuscated at extremity, pronotal disc with small infuscation at middle, and elytra piceous, with faint lighter fascia behind middle. Head: Frons deeply indented; antenna ( Fig. 71 ) capitate, funicular antennomeres progressively shorter towards capitulum, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 oblong, their anterior margin undulate; eyes small, coarsely facetted, eye much narrower than frons (EW/FW 15/30). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 119 ) slightly convex, oblong, finely punctate; side margins linear (PW/PL 62/67); elytra moderately convex; proximal 1/2 of disc sculptured with non-striate asetiferous punctures, posterior 1/2 of disc cribrate; epipleural margin diminutive at elytral apex (EL/EW 180/40). Abdomen: Pygidium transverse/scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 229.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The holotype was collected during August.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from The United States of America.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, aspikelum, is a Greek compound name that stems from aspin (= shield) and kelis (= spot); with reference to the small infuscation on the pronotal disc.

Figures

Figs 61-91: Antennae; (61) Madoniella muralla; (62) M. nota; (63) M. acicula; (64) M. aspera; (65) M. baja; (66) M. delta; (67) Amboakis bermejo; (68) Pujoliclerus variolus; (69) Megatrachys irrasis; (70) Cregya arima; (71) Nelsopelonium aspikelum; (72) Cregya vicosa; (73) Pujoliclerus abditus; (74) P. dexus; (75) Cregya triguttula; (76) Pyticeroides brevitubulus; (77) Pujoliclerus lasiosus; (78) Cregya biguttula; (79) Sirpa acara; (80) Parapelonides naranjo; (81) Cregya livida; (82) Amboakis collucoatis; (83) Ampleris jatai; (84) Megaphloeus yasuni; (85) Pelonium implacide, male; (86) Epiphloeus prolixicornus; (87) Pelonium implacide, female; (88) Epiphloeus mantillerii; (89) Amboakis mitaraka; (90) Ellipotoma makrosa; (91) Cregya maura.

Figs 118-133: Pronota; (118) Pujoliclerus abditus; (119) Nelsopelonium aspikelum; (120) Parapelonides naranjo; (121) Pujoliclerus lasiosus; (122) Neorthopleura rubra; (123) Pujoliclerus ariquemes; (124) Ichnea cerinis; (125) Ampleris amazon; (126) Pujoliclerus abditus; (127) P. dexsus; (128) Sirpa acara; (129) Madoniella aspera; (130) Pelonium tayrona; (131) Megatrachys irrasis; (132) Ordinis taxis; (133) Pujoliclerus cnecostus.

Figs 225-230: Aedeagi; (225) Madoniella selvanegra; (226) Megaphloeus imparilus; (227) Pyticeroides brevitubulus; (228) Kataspinula puebla; (229) Nelsopelonium aspikelum; (230) N. cuspidis.

Figs 306-309: Habitus; (306) Ridica achira; (307) R. merida; (308) Kataspinula puebla; (309) Nelsopelonium aspikelum.