Asklepia asuncionensis Erwin & Zamorano, 2014

Erwin, Terry L. & Zamorano, Laura S., 2014, A synopsis of the tribe Lachnophorini, with a new genus of Neotropical distribution and a revision of the Neotropical genus Asklepia Liebke, 1938 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 430, pp. 1-108 : 48-49

Asklepia asuncionensis Erwin & Zamorano sp. n. Asunción pattern-wing beetle Figs 39 , 78

Holotype.

Paraguay, Central, Asunción, Rio Paraguay, 25.320°S, 57.668°W, 54m, June (unknown)(CMNH: ADP130036, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, asuncionensis, is a singular Latinized feminine noun in apposition, based on the name of the place near where these beetles are found.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Asunción pattern-wing beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus Asklepia as described by Liebke (1938) and as noted above under the generic diagnosis, and small-size for the genus (SBL = 2.477 mm). Adults with head aurantiacus, prothorax fulvous, elytral maculae fulvous or aurantiacus; elytron brownish with a broad triangular flavous macula covering most of proximal apical quadrant and lower half of lateral apical quadrant, broad flavous macula ending in hook crossing from medial lateral quadrant to right half of medial proximal quadrant and almost reaching the proximal margin, small rectangular flavous macula in the upper right corner of basal proximal quadrant, apical, basal, and lateral margin broadly fulvous; metasternum fulvous, abdominal sterna with III-VI, and epipleuron fulvous, abdominal sternum VII fuscous; legs flavotestaceous; antennal scape, pedicel and antennomere 3 testaceous, antennomeres 4-6 infuscated, 7-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum markedly convex with lateral margin effaced except just anterior to hind angle and there a simple bead; hind angle moderately prominent; anterior angles feebly produced; median line moderately defined. Elytral interneurs evident as continuous rows of subsurface dots in the substantially transparent elytron.

Description.

Habitus ( Fig. 39 ). Size: [See also Table 11 ] Small-size for the genus; ABL = 2.70 mm, SBL = 2,477 mm, TW (total width) 1.270 mm, LP = 0.533 mm, WP = 0.648 mm, LE = 1.566 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 39 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 39 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP,1.035 mm), longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.410), wider than long (W/L, mean both sexes: 1.714); markedly cordiform and rounded, lateral margin effaced with seta at anterior third on slightly raised area; apex markedly constricted; anterior angle feebly produced, hind angle slightly produced and setose; median line moderately defined, apical transverse impressions punctate, punctures infuscated; surface smooth throughout. Pterothorax. Normal for genus, see description for genus above. Elytra moderate convex; at apical third twice as wide as head across eyes (WH/TW, mean both sexes: 1.071) and pronotum (WP/TW, mean both sexes: 1.018). Elytral interneurs evident as short discontinuous rows of widely spaced coarse punctures, interneurs effaced in the medial quadrants. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male unknown. Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 78 ). This species has been found at only one location on white-water of the middle Río Paraguay drainage system. But that does not at all indicate its real distribution: as has been pointed out above, very small beetles are inadequately sampled, especially in the Neotropics.

Way of life.

See Erwin (1991) for a general description.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Figures

Figure 78. Distribution map for known localities of Asklepia species of the pulchripennis group.

Figure 37 - 40. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 37 Asklepia matomena Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132519, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 38 Asklepia adisi Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. Adis 000691, Ilha de Marchantaria, Lago Camaleao, Brazil 39 Asklepia asuncionensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 130036, Asuncion, Rio Paraguay, Paraguay 40 Asklepia biolat Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132509, Pakitza, Peru. Scale line = 1 mm.