Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part V. Decorosa Opitz, a New Genus of Checkered Beetles from Hispaniola With Description of Its Four New Species

2008·3.1 MB·English

by  Weston Opitz

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024
Number 3628, 19 pp., 46 figures, 1 table September 10, 2008
Classification, Natural History, and Evolution
of Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part V.
Decorosa Opitz, a New Genus of Checkered Beetles
from Hispaniola with Description of Its Four
New Species
WESTON OPITZ1
ABSTRACT
The new genus Decorosa Opitz, known only from the Dominican Republic, and its four new
species are described: D. aladecoris, D. iviei, D. limatula, and D. neiba. Reduction of the seventh
row of elytral punctations and filiform funicular antennomeres distinguish Decorosa specimens
from other epiphloeines with antennae composed of 10 antennomeres. Aside from the
conventional components of generic revisions this treatise also includes a review of Greater
Antillean and Hispaniolan paleogeography, and comments about phylogenetics and zoogeo-
graphicconsiderations.
Distributional records, in conjunction with analysis of intrageneric relationships suggest that
Decorosa evolved in northern Hispaniola. Available specimens of Decorosa were collected from
mountain forests of the Cordillera Central (1160–2885m), Sierra de Neiba, (1856–1874m), and
fromeasternterrainprehistoricallyconsideredpartofthenorthernelementofancientHispaniola.
CompellingevidencefromgeologyandbiologysuggeststhatextantHispaniolawasprehistorically
composedofanorthernandsouthernisland.ItissuggestedthatancestralDecorosasplitintothe
limatula-iviei and decorosa-neiba stocks in the more northern ancient terrain of Hispaniola.
Subsequently, each of two ancestral lineages yielded at least two sister species. It is further
postulatedthatthereoccurredtwodispersaleventsthatbroughtonespeciesofeachsisterpairto
moresouthern Hispaniola; limatula from the limatula-iviei lineage and neiba from the aladecoris-
neiba lineage.
1Kansas Wesleyan University, Department of Biology, 100 East Claflin Avenue, Salina, KS 67401-6196
([email protected]).
CopyrightEAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory2008 ISSN0003-0082
2 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3628
RESUMEN
El ge´nero nuevo Decorosa, de distribucio´n restringida a Republica Dominicana, y sus cuatro
nuevas especies son descritos: D. aladecoris, D. iviei, D. limatula, y D. neiba. Tres caracter´ısticas
discriminan los especimenes de Decorosa de otros Epiphloeinae: antenas compuestas de 10
antenomeros,reduccio´ndelase´ptimal´ıneadepuntuacionesyantenomerosfunicularesfiliformes.
Adema´sdeloselementosconvencionalesdeunarevisio´ngene´rica,estetrabajoincluyeunarevisio´n
delapaleogeograf´ıadeHispaniolaylasGrandesAntillas,as´ıcomocomentariossobrelafilogenia
y la zoogeograf´ıa del ge´nero. Cuarenta dibujos, incluyendo cuatro de especimenes enteros, una
micrograf´ıa electro´nica, una fotograf´ıa, un mapa y un a´rbol filogene´tico ilustran el trabajo. Las
caracter´ısticas morfolo´gicas son polarizadas filogene´ticamente, organizadas en una matriz de
caracteres y analizadas en una hipo´tesis filogene´tica intragene´rica, contrastada con un outgroup
compuesto porlos dema´sge´nerosdeEpiphloeinae conantenas de10antenomeros.
Ladistribucio´ngeogra´fica,enconjuntoconelana´lisisderelacionesintragene´rico,sugierequeel
grupo ancestral de Decorosa incluye el norte de Hispaniola. Los especimenes disponibles de
Decorosafueroncolectadosenlasselvasdemontan˜asdelaCordilleraCentral(1160–2885m),en
la Sierra de Neiba (1856–1874m), y en terrenos del este, considerados prehisto´ricamente como
parte del elemento norte de la antigua Hispaniola. Existe evidencias geolo´gica y biolo´gica que
sugierenquelaactualHispaniolaeraprehisto´ricamentecompuestadeunaislanorteyunaislasur.
Sesugierequelosancestrosdelasespeciesdelge´neroDecorosasesepararonenelgrupolimatula-
ivieiyelgrupodecorosa-neibaenlapartema´snortedeHispaniola.Posteriormente,cadalinajedio
origenaporlomenosdosespecieshermanas.Sepostulaqueocurrierondoseventosdedispersio´n,
que empujaron una especie de cada par de especies hermanas ma´s hacia el sur de Hispaniola;
limatula dellinaje limatula-ivieiy neiba dellinaje aladecoris-neiba.
INTRODUCTION Their loans, exchanges, and gifts have greatly
enhanced my research progress.
Despite the long history of entomological
Elsewhere,I(Opitz,2005:8;2007:79)allude
research in Hispaniola there remains a dearth to difficulties one usually encounters in
of information about the diversity of Cleridae attempts to collect Cleridae, with frequent
on the island. Not one species is listed from capture events of a single individual or no
that island in the world catalogue of specimens at all. Therefore, loans from muse-
Corporaal (1950). I became interested in the ums and private collections have been the
entomofauna of this island as a result of my primary source of my research material. In
studiesofthenewworldsubfamilyEpiphloeinae, recent months, I was delighted to receive an
whichoccuronmanyoftheCaribbeanislands. assortment of checkered beetles from Robert
My commitment to make knowledge avail- Davidson,MichaelA.Ivie,andPhilipPerkins,
able incrementally about this monophyletic on whose specimens this study is based.
lineage of the Cleridae, the epiphloeines, has
involvedlengthyperiodsofspecimenaccumu-
MATERIALS AND METHODS
lation. Insufficient number of specimens may
at times be a considerable deterrent toward This contribution is based on 16 adult
crediblehypothesesofthebiologicalspecies.It specimens of Decorosa. Unfortunately, small
alsominimizestheopportunityfordiscussions sample sizes are common in taxonomic
ofataxon’sevolutionandbiogeography.This revisions of the Cleridae because species of
is particularly relevant among the anatomi- many genera are often collected in increments
callyhomogeneouscomponentsofepiphloeine of one. One specimen of D. iviei, n. sp., the
species(Opitz,2004:7).Adequatelyrepresent- type species, was completely disarticulated to
ing the full geographic range of these check- establish the basic anatomical characteristics
ered beetles is imperative for their biological of the genus. All male specimens were
study so that a hypothesis about their species dissected to determine aedeagal and spicular
concept may be credible and, thus, their fork structure. The primary type specimen of
ecological role may be most usefully evaluat- Decorosa aladecoris, n. sp., was prepared with
ed. Extraordinary efforts in cooperation from legs and antennae symmetrically arranged for
colleagues have greatly facilitated this goal. photography with a Nikon DXM1200 digital
2008 OPITZ:EPIPHLOEINAE, PARTV:DECOROSA OPITZ 3
camera attached to a Leica MZ microscope. NONA (Goloboff, 1993) in conjunction with
Thescale barwithmorphological illustrations Wincladaversion1.00.08(Nixon,2002)(fig. 45).
represent 1 millimeter. Specimens are deposited in the following
The rationale to identify biological species collectionsandcopiesofthiscontributionwill
and to predict phylogenetic relationships is be sent to their respective libraries:
similar to those expressed in earlier works
(Opitz, 2006: 84. 2007: 84). I use ‘‘homoplasic AMNH American Museum of Natural
apotypy’’ to define those characteristics that I History,DepartmentofEntomology,
CentralParkWestat79thStreet,New
presumeevolvedindependentlyinevolutionari-
York, New York 10024–5192 (Lee
lydistanttaxaconglomerates.Therationaland
Herman;[email protected]).
justificationfortheuseofsuchapotypieswillbe
CMNH CarnegieMuseumofNaturalHistory,
addressedelsewhere(Opitz,inpreparation).
Invertebrate Zoology, 4400 Forbes
Techniques of dissection, measurements, Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
illustration, and terminology of anatomic 15213(RobertDavidson;davidsonr@
structure are similar to those described in my mus-nature.ca).
previous revisionary works (Ekis, 1977: 6; MAIC MichaelA.IvieCollection,Montana
Opitz, 2004: 7; 2005: 8). Label information of State University, Department of
Biology, Bozeman, Montana 59717;
each primary type is presented in species
(MichaelA.Ivie;[email protected]).
descriptions in exact sequence and script as
MCZC Harvard University, Museum of
indicatedonspecimenlabels.Indescriptions,I
Comparative Zoology, Department
refertoprimary(1u)andsecondary(2u)degree
of Entomology, 26 Oxford Street,
setaenotinthesensethattheymightbeusedin
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138–
larval ontogeny, but in the sense of physical 2902 (Philip Perkins, perkins@oeb.
prominence, with primary setae being much harvard.edu).
longerthanthesecondarysetae.Thesesetaeare RHTC Robert H. Turnbow, Jr., Collection,
foundontheelytraldiscandarefurtherdefined Directorate of Engineering and
as follows: primary setae are longer and more Logistics, Fort Rucker, Alabama,
36362–5000 (Robert H. Turnbow,
suberectthansecondarysetae,whichareshort
Jr.; [email protected]).
to an extent that they give an impression of
USNM United States Department of
‘‘setalmats’’(Opitz,2005:80,fig.260).Rowsof
Agriculture, Systematic Entomology
punctations on the elytral disc are numbered
Laboratory,c/oNationalMuseumof
suchthattherownearestthesuturalmarginis Natural History MRC 168, Wash-
consideredrownumber1.Speciesdescriptions ington, D.C.20560–0165(Natalia J.
also include an itemization of the kinds of Vandenberg;[email protected].
labels found beneath the holotype, further gov).
minimizing potential confusion of the primary WFBC William F. Barr Collection, 514
type identity during future research. Specific North Eisenhower Street, Moscow,
Idaho, 83844; Willian F. Barr; 208-
epithets were coined or taken from the com-
882-2886).
prehensiveworkofBrown(1956).
WOPC Weston Opitz Collection, Kansas
Sister group relationships within Decorosa
Wesleyan University, Department of
are based on principles as advocated by
Biology, 100 East Claflin Avenue,
Hennig (1966), but I agree with Tuomikosky Salina, Kansas 67401–6196; Weston
(1967: 138) who states that the terms apotypic Opitz; [email protected]).
and plesiotypic rather than apomorphic and
plesiomorphic should be used on the grounds
CHARACTERS SELECTED FOR
that evolutionary syntheses are not confined
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS
to structural character states. The apotypic or
plesiotypic states of adult morphological Fourteen anatomical characters serve to
characters are determined and organized into establishanintragenericphylogenetic hypoth-
a character matrix. The data matrix was esis of Decorosa species and to root the genus
analyzed by hand, which represents strictly to its outgroup taxa. I relied on outgroup
intuitive conclusions (fig. 44), and by use of comparisonstoestablishcharacterpolarity.In
4 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3628
this treatise, the outgroup involves members DECOROSA, NEW GENUS
of the genera Amboakis Opitz, Ellipotoma
Spinola, Hapsidopteris Opitz, Ichnea Laporte, TYPE SPECIES: Decorosa iviei, n. sp.
Katamyurus Opitz, Madoniella Pic, Megatra- DIAGNOSIS: The known geographic distri-
chys Opitz, Parvochaetus Opitz, and Plocam- bution of the members of this genus is
ocera Spinola. Character states identified as confined to the Dominican Republic.
‘‘0’’arejudgedplesiotypicwhereasthosegiven Morphologically, the most striking synapoty-
a value of ‘‘1’’ are considered apotypic. pic characteristic that distinguishes the mem-
Derivedcharacterstatesmarkedbyanasterisk bers of this genus is that there has been a
identify homoplasic apotypies, a type of reduction in expression of the seventh row of
apotypy defined under ‘‘Materials and elytral punctations. The seventh row is absent
Methods’’. in the anterior third or anterior half of the
elytral disc (see figs. 24, 29). Also, the
Character 0 Seventh row of elytral punctations: funicular antennomeres are filiform, and the
(0) present throughout elytral disc; vertex is wider (fig. 2) than in specimens of
(1) absent in some portion of elytral some of the superficially similar specimens of
disc Amboakis Opitz (2006: 22), Madoniella Pic
Character 1 Elytral color pattern: (0) not multi- (1935: 10), and Parvochaetus Opitz (2006: 14).
ples of streaks; (1) multiples of
Terminal palpomeres of the maxilla and
streaks
labium may also be used to distinguish
Character 2 Labialterminalpalpomere:(0)conic;
Decorosa specimens from those of other
(1)curved-rectangular
above-mentioned epiphloeines. For example,
Character 3 Pronotal anterior transverse depres-
in Madoniella specimens the maxillary termi-
sion: (0)present; (1)absent*
nal palpomere is curved-subconic (fig. 36)
Character 4 Pronotalcontour:(0)convex;(1)flat
Character 5 Elytral punctations: (0) not binoded; whereas in Decorosa specimens it is curved-
(1)binoded* rectangulate (fig. 38). The labial terminal
Character 6 Configuration of elytral posterior palpomere is conic in specimens of
margin; (0)obtuse;(1)acute* Madoniella (fig. 35), but slightly curved-conic
Character 7 Eyesize: (0)notsmall; (1) small in those of Decorosa (fig. 37). The cranium
Character Vertex width: (0) not very wide; (1) and pronotal disc are vested with short, pale,
verywide* horizontally decumbent, silken setae, the
Character 9 Phallic apex: (0) not hooked; (1) elytral disc is very ornate with its pattern of
hooked
yellow and brown markings (fig. 1), and the
Character 10 Form of sixth antennomere: (0) not
pronotum is longer than wide (fig. 7).
expanded;(1)expanded
From superficially similar specimens of
Character 11 Number of antennomeres: (0) not 11
the genera Madoniella, Amboakis, and
(1)10
Parvochaetus,characterizedbyfunicularanten-
Character 12 Phallicapexform:(0)notconstricted
atmiddle; (1) constricted atmiddle nomeres that are expanded (fig. 28), Decorosa
Character 13 Elytraldiscmarkings:(0)notsharply specimens are distinguished by less bulgy eyes
defined;(1)sharply defined andashallowermedialborderoftheeye.Lastly,
TABLE1
CharacterMatrix of 14Morphological Characters
Characters
Taxa 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
outgroup-Decorosastock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
outgroup 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
aladecoris 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
limatula 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
iviei 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
neiba 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
2008 OPITZ:EPIPHLOEINAE, PARTV:DECOROSA OPITZ 5
in specimens of Decorosa the epipleural fold cavities open; elytra rectangulate, posterior
spans the entire length of the elytra (fig. 26), portion of epipleural margin gradually or
whichisnotthecaseinspecimensofMadoniella sharply rounded toward sutural margin, ante-
(fig. 27),Amboakis,orParvochaetus. rior half of disc surface macrosculptured with
DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 3.5–5.6 mm; nine rows of punctations, posterior half
width 1.0–1.4 mm. Form (fig. 12): Elongate, macrosculptured with 10 rows of punctations,
narrow, rectangulate; pronotum elongate seventh row of punctations absent in basal
(fig. 7) or about as long as wide (fig. 12); halftobasalthirdofdisc(fig. 24);punctations
elytra about three times longer than wide, large, sometimes binodal (fig. 25), and much
epipleural margin subparallel, posterolateral wider than width of interstitial spaces; epi-
margin gradually or sharply curved toward pleural fold extends entire length of the elytra
sutural margin. Integument: Cranium and (fig. 26), posterior rounded portion of epi-
pronotumlightreddishbrowntodarkbrown; pleuralmarginminutelyspinous;metathoracic
elytra with intermixture of yellow and brown wing as in figure 23; mesoscutellum subqua-
drate; tibial spur formula 0-1-1, tarsal pulvilli
streaklike ornate patterns (figs. 1, 12–14);legs
formula 3-3-1, anterior margin of tibia with
yellow, tibiae may be infuscated at their
one to three spines; tarsal claws with large
anterior margins; abdomen dark brown.
basal denticle. Abdomen: Six visible sterna;
Vestiture: Cranium and pronotum vested
pygidium broad scutiform. Male Genitalia:
densely with short, pale, horizontally decum-
Aedeagus short and broad, phallobasic apo-
bent, silken setae, elytral disc vested with
demeshortandbroad,phallobasicrodusually
moderately stout, dark 1u setae, very uniform
tapered to a fine point, phallic plates very
in length, and fine decumbent pale 2u,
narrow; spicular fork as in figure 31.
profusely distributed throughout elytral sur-
face. Head: Cranium fine, rugosely punctate; DISTRIBUTION: Thisinsulargenusisknown
only from the Dominican Republic.
eyes not very bulgy, finely faceted, ocular
notch angle not acute at innermost point ETYMOLOGY: The genus name stems from
the Latin adjective decorus (‘‘beautiful’’) and
(fig. 2);antenna(fig. 4)insertedatlowerangle
the Latin feminine suffix -a. I refer to the
ofeyeincision,comprisedof10antennomeres,
stunning elytral color pattern of these beetles.
loosely clubbed, scape about as long as
combined length of next three antennomeres,
pedicel oblong, funicular antennomeres fili-
KEY TO DIFFERENTIATE DECOROSA
form, antennomeres 3–6 elongate, antenno-
FROM AMBOAKIS AND MADONIELLA,
mere7 quadrate, antennomeres 8 and 9 tria-
AND KEY TO SPECIES OF DECOROSA
gonal, antennomere10 subglobose to ovate;
labrum (fig. 5) deeply incised, incision bor- Epiphloeinae checkered beetles have four
deredbyeightsetae;mandible(fig. 10)robust, trichobothria on the pronotum, two are
anterior and posterior dentes well developed, dorsal-paralateral (fig. 33) and one occurs
mandibular penicillus poorly developed; max- on each pronotal side. Also, the anterior
illa(fig. 9)welldeveloped,terminalpalpomere margin of the protibiae exhibit one to many
curved-subconic, only slightly narrowed dis- acute spines, which are not to be confused
tally,laterolaciniapresent;labium(fig. 8)well with the more coarse and obtuse spines
developed, terminal palpomere curved-rectan- found among some members of Enopliinae;
gular; frons planar; gula (fig. 3) subtrapezoi- the latter tend to be in the 8–15 mm body-
dal. Thorax: Pronotum (figs. 6, 7) oblong or size range whereas Decorosa specimens are
about as long as wide, pronotal lateral usually about 4 mm. This key deals only
tubercle obtuse (fig. 12) or subacute (fig. 7); with epiphloeines from Hispaniola.
anterior margin convex, posterior margin
linear, anterior transverse depression absent
1. Anteriorhalfofelytraldiscmacrosculptured
(fig. 1) or short (figs. 12–14), disc slightly
by 10 rows of punctations, or elytral disc
depressedatsideswherediscalandparalateral
somewhat roughened and densely matted
trichobothriaareprominent;epimeralprolon- with decumbent setae to extent that
gations slightly extended to middle; procoxal punctation organization poorly defined;
6 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3628
epipleural fold extended slightly beyond neoprene block; gender label and metathorac-
middleofelytra(fig. 27);elytraldiscvested ic wing mounted on support card; locality
withbristlelike verticalsetae . .. .. . .. 2 label; holotype label).
19. Anterior half to anterior third of elytra
PARATYPES: Three specimens: Dominican
macrosculpturedbyninerowsofpunctations
Republic: La Vega: Estacio´n Cabanito, 20-
and by 10 behind middle, elytral disc never
VII-1996, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); Cordillera
roughened or densely matted with decum-
bentsetae;epipleuralfoldextendedtoelytral Central, 4.1 km SW El Convento, 18u509N
apex (fig.26); elytral disc not vested with 70u429W,31-IV-2003, 1729 m, disturbed ever-
bristlelikeverticalsetae(Decorosa)..... 3 greenforestwithpinecanopytrap,J.Rawlins,
2(1). Funicular antennomeres subfiliform, fourth R.Davidson,C.Young,C.Nun˜ez,P.Acevedo
andsixthslightlyexpanded(fig. 29);elytra (CMNH, 1); Loma Casablito, 16.0 km NW
usually somewhat oblong-suboval (fig. Bonao,19u02uN70u319W,28-IV-2003.1487 m,
32)... .. .. .. . .. .. .. . Madoniella Pic evergreencloudforestatsummit,canopytrap,
29. Funicular antennomeres very expanded
J.Rawlins,R.Davidson,C.Young,C.Nun˜ez,
(fig. 28); elytra usually narrow-rectangu-
P.Acevedo(WOPC,1).
late(fig. 30). . . .. .. .. . AmboakisOpitz
3(19).Seventh row of elytral punctations begins at DIAGNOSIS: From congeners these beetles
are distinguished by the uniform dark brown
aboutbasalthirdofelytraldisc,anteriorto
the planeof metacoxae. .. .. .. .. . .. 4 coloration of the cranium and pronotum, and
39. Seventh row of elytral punctations begins bythecolorpatternontheelytraldisc(fig, 1).
nearmiddleofelytraldiscbehindplaneof DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 4.0 mm; width
metacoxae(fig. 24).. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 5 1.2 mm. Integumental Color: Cranium and
4(3). Cranium and pronotum uniformly dark pronotum dark brown; antennae yellow;
brown; elytral markings as in figure1 elytra as in figure 1; legs yellow; venter dark
(DominicanRepublic: LaVega)... . .. .
brown. Vestiture: Cranium and pronotum
.. .. .. .. .. .Decorosa aladecoris,n. sp.
densely vested with pale decumbent setae.
4. Cranium and pronotum not uniformly dark
Head: Vertex much wider than width of eye
brown, cranium narrowly reddish, brown
(27:13); ratio of head width to pronotal width
atmarginsofeyes,pronotumnarrowlyred
brown along anterior margin (Dominican 1.05(62:59);antennalform similartoantenna
Republic: SanJuan). .. .. .. .. .. . .. . depicted in figure 4. Thorax: Pronotum only
.. .. .. .. .. . .. .Decorosa neiba,n. sp. slightly longer than broad (60:58); pronotal
5(39).Pronotum narrow (figs.13–14); apex of lateral tubercle obtuse; anterior margin con-
anteriorprotibialmarginofrighttibiawith spicuously wider than posterior margin
one stout spine; pronotal lateral tubercle (58:50); apical region of protibial anterior
subacute(fig.7);elytraldiscmarkingsasin
margin with 3 spines; seventh row of elytral
figures13–14 (Dominican Republic: San
punctations begins slightly anterior to elytral
Juan:Santiago)..... Decorosaiviei,n.sp
middle. Abdomen: Aedeagus as in figure 34.
59. Pronotum broad (fig. 12); pronotal lateral
tubercle obtuse (fig. 12); apex of anterior VARIATION: There is some variation in the
protibial margin of right tibia with 2 extentofdarkandlightcolorationinthemost
spines; elytral markings as in fig.12 distal region of the elytral disc.
(DominicanRepublic:Azua).......... NATURAL HISTORY: Specimens were col-
............. Decorosalimatula,n.sp. lected during May, July, and August, one by
beating secondary vegetation in a pine/guava
DESCRIPTION OF DECOROSA SPECIES forest at 1160 m. Two specimens were cap-
tured in canopy traps, one in disturbed
Decorosa aladecoris, new species evergreen forest with pine at 1729 m, the
other at the summit of an evergreen cloud
Figures 1, 34, 39, 42, 46
forest at 1487 m.
HOLOTYPE: Female. DOMINIC. REP.: La DISTRIBUTION (fig. 46): Known only from
Vega, Constanza, 1160 m, 30AUG1988, beat- the highlands of the La Vega Province of the
inginsecondarypineguavaforest,M.A.Ivie, Dominican Republic.
T. K. Philips & K. A. Johnson (USNM). ETYMOLOGY: ThespecificepithetisaLatin
(Specimen mounted on on minuten pin in compoundnamethatstemsfromthenounala
2008 OPITZ:EPIPHLOEINAE, PARTV:DECOROSA OPITZ 7
Fig. 1. Habitus ofDecorosa aladecorisOpitz.
8 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3628
(‘‘wing’’) and decoris (‘‘adorned’’). I refer to NATURAL HISTORY: Members of this spe-
the ornate markings on the elytral disc. cies have been captured during June–August
at altitudes ranging from 1524–2885 m.
Decorosa iviei, new species DISTRIBUTION (fig. 46): This species is
known from the highlands of the Cordillera
Figures 2–11, 13, 14, 19–26, 37–38, 46 Central of the Dominican Republic.
HOLOTYPE: Female. DOMIN. REP: Prov. ETYMOLOGY: The trivial name is a dedica-
tive patronym to express appreciation to
San Juan, Pico Duarte weather sta., 2885 m,
Michael A. Ivie for his contributions to West
07APR.–08JUL 1992, lindgren funnel, M. A.
Indian coleopterology.
& R. O. Ivie (USNM). (Specimen point
mounted, gender label affixed to paper point;
support card; locality label; holotype label.) Decorosa limatula, new species
PARATYPES: Seven specimens. Dominican
Figures 12, 15–18, 46
Republic: La Vega: Loma Rucilla & moun-
tains, N, day not noted-VI-1938, 1524– HOLOTYPE: Female. Loma Vieja, S Con-
2439 m, Darlington (MCZC, 2; AMNH, 1); stanza, Aug. ’38, Dom. Rep., c. 6,000 ft.,
53 km SE Constanza, 9-VIII-1979, L. B. Darl. (MCZC). (Specimen point mounted,
O’Brien (WFBC, 1); Parque Nacional gender label affixed to paper point; support
Armando Bermudez, N Pico del Yaque, 29- card; locality label; holotype label.)
VII-1993, 2375 m, beating vegetation, D. PARATYPES: None.
Sikes&R.P.Rosenfeld(MAIC,2;WOPC,1). DIAGNOSIS: The broadly flattened prono-
DIAGNOSIS: The more narrow pronotum, tum, less acute lateral pronotal tubercle,
more angular lateral pronotal tubercle, singu- bispinous condition of the anteroapical mar-
lar spine on the anterior margin of the gin of the protibia, and configuration of the
protibia, and configuration of the elytral elytral pattern (fig. 12) readily distinguish the
pattern (figs. 13, 14) conveniently distinguish members of this species from congeners.
the members of this species from the superfi- DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 5.0 mm; width
cially similar specimens of Decorosa limatula. 1.3 mm. Integumental Color: Cranium and
DESCRIPTION: Size: Length 3.8–5.8 mm; pronotum light red-brown, vertex infuscated;
width 1.0–1.3 mm. Integumental Color: Cra- antennae yellow; elytra as in figure 12; legs
nium and pronotum light reddish brown; predominantly yellow, tibiae infuscated; ven-
antennae yellow; elytra as in figure 13 and ter dark brown. Vestiture: Cranium and
14; legs predominantly yellow, tibiae infus- pronotumdenselyvestedwithpaledecumbent
cated; venter dark brown. Vestiture: Cranium setae. Head: Vertex about two times wider
and pronotum densely vested with pale than width of eye (19:34); antennae generally
decumbent setae. Head: Vertex about four asinfigure 4.Thorax:Pronotum onlyslightly
times wider than widthofeye(12:40);ratio of longer than broad (70:68), broadly flattened;
headwidthtowidthofpronotum1.18(67:57); pronotal lateral tubercle obtuse; side margins
antennae as in figure 4. Thorax: Pronotum not very sinuous; anterior margin conspicu-
only slightly longer than broad (60:58); ously wider than posterior margin (65:60);
pronotal lateral tubercle acute; side margins protibial anteroapical region with two spines.
very sinuous; anterior margin conspicuously Abdomen: No aedeagal information available.
wider than posterior margin (56:47); apical VARIATION: One specimen examined.
region of protibial anterior margin with one NATURAL HISTORY: The unique specimen
spine.Abdomen:Aedeagusasinfigures 19–22. was collected in August at 1829 m.
VARIATION: In one specimen the cranium DISTRIBUTION (fig. 46): This species is
and pronotum is dark brown rather than known from the highlands of south-central
reddishbrown andtheexpressionoflightand Dominican Republic.
dark coloration of the elytral disc varies as ETYMOLOGY: ThespecificepithetisaLatin
indicated in figures 13 and 14. These figures adjective derived from limatulus (‘‘rather
represent the extremes in elytral color density polished’’) with a feminine ending to modify
among the species examined. the genus name. I refer to the shimmering
2008 OPITZ:EPIPHLOEINAE, PARTV:DECOROSA OPITZ 9
Figs.2–11. AnatomicalorgansofDecorosaivieiOpitz.2.Head(anteriorview).3.Head(posteriorview).
4.Antenna.5.Labrum.6.Pronotum(ventralview).7.Pronotum(dorsalview).8.Labium.9.Maxilla.10.
Mandible.11. Metendosternite. Scalebarsin allfigures represent1 millimeter.
10 AMERICAN MUSEUMNOVITATES NO. 3628
Figs.12–22. Habitiandaedeagi.12.Habitus,DecorosalimatulaOpitz.13–14.Habiti,D.ivieiOpitz.15–
18. Aedeagus, D. limatula (15, tegmen, ventral view; 16, tegmen, lateral view; 17, phallus, dorsal view; 18,
phallus, lateral view). 19–22. Aedeagus, D. iviei (19, tegmen, ventral view; 20, tegmen, lateral view; 21,
phallus, dorsalview;22, phallus, lateralview).