Asklepia paraguayensis Zamorano & Erwin, 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 : 63-64

Asklepia paraguayensis Zamorano & Erwin sp. n. Paraguayan pattern-wing beetle Figs 49 , 72 , 78

Holotype.

Paraguay, Central, San Lorenzo, Rio Paraguay, 25.385°S, 57.621°W, 52m, 23-24 November 1986 (J. Kochalka)(CMNH: ADP130038, male).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The specific epithet, paraguayensis, is a singular Latinized feminine noun in apposition, based on the name of the country in which these beetles are found.

Proposed english vernacular name.

Paraguayan 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 to medium-size for the genus (SBL = 2.478-2.769 mm). Adults with head fuscous, prothorax fulvous, elytral maculae fulvous or slightly aurantiacus in some individuals; elytron fuscous with a slender triangular flavous macula in the lower right corner of the proximal apical quadrant, broad flavous macula ending in hook crossing from medial lateral quadrant to right half of medial proximal quadrant, small triangular flavous macula in the upper right corner of basal proximal quadrant, apical and lateral margin fulvous, macula does not reach the humerus; metasternum fulvous, abdominal sterna III-VI, and epipleuron fulvous, abdominal sternum VII fuscous; legs flavotestaceous; antennal scape and pedicel testaceous, antennomeres 3-6 deeply infuscated, 7-11 white. Dorsal surface devoid of microsculpture, surface luster very shiny. Pronotum markedly convex and globose with lateral margin effaced except just anterior to hind angle and there a feeble bead; hind angle moderately prominent; anterior angles feebly produced; median line moderately defined. Elytral interneurs effaced from most of the elytron surface, only evident as short discontinuous rows of widely spaced coarse punctures.

Description.

( Fig. 49 , 72 ). Habitus: ( Fig. 49 ). Size: [See also Table 21 ] Medium-size to large for the genus; ABL = 3.002-3.372 mm, SBL = 2.478-2.769 mm, TW (total width) 1.397-1.598 mm, LP = 0.556-0.751 mm, WP = 0.703-0.861 mm, LE = 1.623-2.024 mm. Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: See diagnosis above. Head ( Fig. 49 ): as in description for genus above. Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 49 ) moderately broad, as wide as head across eyes (WH/WP, mean both sexes: 1.072), longer than head (LP/LH, mean both sexes: 1.397), wider than long (W/L, mean both sexes: 1.693); 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: 0.526) and pronotum (WP/TW, mean both sexes: 0.491). Elytral interneurs effaced from most of the elytron surface, only evident as short discontinuous rows of widely spaced coarse punctures. Hind wings fully developed. Legs. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Abdominal sterna. Overall, normal for genus, see description for genus above. Male genitalia ( Fig. 72 , see Fig. 61 for attribute labels). Median lobe with phallobase moderate, about a fourth the length of shaft, basal opening large, oriented oblique to shaft. Shaft broad, slightly curved ventrally, dorsally sclerotized except for short ostium; in ventral aspect tapered toward rather narrowly acute apex, in lateral aspect, a slightly rounded apex. Left paramere (missing) (lp), probably very large and broad, right small and triangular; apex of left paramere probably lobate and much longer than right paramere (rp). Internal sac with one median spine, one long distal spine. Female genitalia. Not investigated, presumably similar to that of Asklepia demiti sp. n.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and capable of flight; they are attracted to lights. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Distribution.

( Fig. 78 ). This species has been found at only one location along the white-water river 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. Adults of this species are active in the rainy season on margins of large rivers. They likely occur in wet leaf litter on wet soil in swales off to the side of the main river course.

Other specimens examined.

Paraguay, Central, San Lorenzo, Rio Paraguay, 25.385°S, 57.621°W, 52m, 23-24 November 1986 (J. Kochalka) (CMNH: ADP132769, ADP132767, male paratypes; ADP132765, female paratype).

Figures

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

Figure 49 - 52. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect of holotypes. 49 Asklepia paraguayensis Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 130038, San Lorenzo, Rio Paraguay, Paraguay 50 Asklepia pulchripennis (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 132531, Santarem, Rio Tapajos, Brazil 51 Asklepia samiriaensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 051663, Boca del Rio Samiria, Peru 52 Asklepia stalametlitos Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132535, Guayamerin, Rio Mamore, Bolivia. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 69 - 74. 69 Asklepia kathleenae Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132529, Belem, Brazil 70 Asklepia marchantaria Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. Adis 001103, Ilha de Marchantaria, Lago Camaleao, Brazil 71 Asklepia pakitza Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132466, Pakitza, Peru 72 Asklepia paraguayensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132769, San Lorenzo Paraguay 73 Asklepia surinamensis Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 132763, l'Hermitage, Surinam 74 Asklepia vigilante Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 067301, Boca del Rio Samiria, Peru.

Figure 57 - 62. Illustrations, male aedeagus, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects. 57 Asklepia geminata (Bates, 1871) ADP 109186, Rio Samiria, Boca Cano Ingles Camp, Peru 58 Asklepia campbellorum Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109196, 20 km SW Manaus, Brazil 59 Asklepia demiti Erwin & Zamorano, sp. n. ADP 132585, Rio Demiti, Brazil 60 Asklepia grammechrysea Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 052565, Rio Sucusari, Peru 61 Asklepia laetitia Zamorano & Erwin, sp. n. ADP 109190, Leticia, Colombia. Legend: a apical area; bl basal lobe; bo basal orifice; lp left paramere; ml median lobe; om ostial membrane; oo ostial opening; rp right paramere; sh shaft; pb phallobase; ps phallobase shaft; ms medial spine; ds distal spine 62 Asklepia lebioides (Bates, 1871), comb. n., ADP 109208, Rio Demiti, Brazil. Scale line = 0.25 mm.