Neaneflus opacicornis Lingafelter 2022, new combination
Creators: name: Lingafelter, Steven W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cerambycidae
Neaneflus
Neaneflus opacicornis

description: Neaneflus opacicornis (Linsley), new combination
(Fig. 2d, 6m, 7m, 8l, 9l, 10m, 17)
Aneflomorpha opacicornis Linsley 1957: 285.
Neaneflus brevispinus Chemsak 1962: 109. New synonym.
Diagnosis. Length 13–18 mm, pronotum averages 0.99 times longer than wide, elytra together average 3.05 times longer than wide (Fig. 2d). Integument brunneous to dark rufous. Antennae weakly carinate (Fig. 9l); antennomeres with vestiture of very short, uniform, dense setae (long setae nearly absent); middle and outer antennomeres expanded apicolaterally. Spine of third antennomere usually shorter than second antennomere, projecting away from antennal plane by less than 20 degrees, acute at apex (Fig. 9l); fourth antennomere usually lacking a spine or dentiform. Pronotum broadly rounded at sides and constricted at basal fifth, broader or as broad as long; with dense punctures slightly obscured by pubescence; posteromedial impunctate callus usually present (Fig. 6m). Elytral apices rounded apicolaterally to dentiform or spinose suture (sutural spine more strongly developed in larger specimens) (Fig. 8l). Elytral pubescence moderately dense, with equal distribution of white or off-white, recumbent, recurved setae and suberect setae (Fig. 7m). Procoxal cavities open by approximately the width or more than width of the weakly expanded and usually rounded prosternal process (Fig. 10m, 17g, h). Protibia slender, gradually widening apically with the dorsal margin straight and non-carinate (as in Fig. 11h).
Discussion. The antennae with a vestiture of very short of pubescence with long setae nearly lacking, combined with the apicolaterally expanded middle and apical antennomeres, the unexpanded or weakly expanded, rounded prosternal process, and the pronotum very nearly as wide as long, as well as the overall broad proportions, suggest that Aneflomorpha opacicornis is best assigned to Neaneflus. Comparison of the holotype of Neaneflus brevispinus Chemsak (Fig. 17f) to the holotype of N. opacicornis (Fig. 17e), shows it to be a new synonym of N. opacicornis. Note that the photograph of N. brevispinus used a lighting diffuser and presents the surface reflectivity differently from the photo of N. opacicornis, however, all the morphological features are nearly identical.
The very short spine on antennomere three and the absent spine or barely dentiform apex of antennomere four combined with the rounded outer apex of the elytra to a dentiform suture are unique to N. opacicornis. A further defining character is the dense vestiture of very short, erect pubescence coating the antennomeres and most visible along the outer margin, especially against a dark background. Small individuals are less broad than larger individuals and do resemble some species of Aneflomorpha. Aneflomorpha unispinosa has rounded elytra apicolaterally as in N. opacicornis, but has a distinct sutural spine (Fig. 8t, w), and pronounced antennal carinae (Fig. 9s), and the suberect elytral setae are nearly completely lacking (Fig. 7v). Aneflomorpha texana (Fig. 3c, d) is similar but the elongate and more parallel-sided pronotum (Fig. 6w) is distinct from the much broader and more broadly-rounded pronotum of N. opacicornis (Fig. 17a, b). Most specimens of A. texana are further distinguished by having the elytral apex not as rounded apicolaterally (Fig. 8u) and having a longer spine on antennomere three (distinctly longer than second antennomere) (Fig. 9t), although, like N. opacicornis, most A. texana have the apex of the fourth antennomere dentiform. The pronotal and basal elytral setae of A. texana are erect and suberect and mostly straight and not recurved (Fig. 7w), unlike N. opacicornis which has abundant recurved, recumbent setae (Fig. 7m). The procoxal cavities in A. texana are open by less than half the width of the broadly expanded prosternal process (Fig. 10w) unlike the more open cavities and less expanded prosternal process of N. opacicornis (Fig. 10m).
Distribution and biology. This species is primarily distributed in south and west Texas, but additional specimens examined in this study expand the range into New Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico. These three states represent new state records. One specimen from Arizona was seen, although it is apparently very rare in that state. Almost all specimens have been collected at lights from May through August, however one was reared from Quercus hypoleucoides by Hopkins in the USNM. Vlasak and Vlasakova (2021) reared larvae from living stems (1–3 cm in diameter) of Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm. in Brewster County, Texas.
Material examined. USA: Texas: Cline (holotype of Aneflomorpha opacicornis, USNM); Brewster Co., Santa Elena Jct., July 10, 2001, MV, D. W. Sundberg (DJHC); Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, North Rosillos Mtns. Lodge at Butrill Spring, 12 July 1991, R. Vogtsberger, uv/mv light (2, USNM); Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, North Rosillos Mtns., Lodge at Butrill Spring, 12 July 1991, MV/UV light, R. Vogtsberger (7, TAMU); Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, K-Bar Campground, 3400′, 29°18′N, 103°10′W, uv light, 29 June 1982, R. S. Anderson (2, TAMU); Brewster Co., BBNP, Croton Springs, 29°20′24″N, 103°20′45″W, 3 August 2003, E. Riley (EGRC); Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, Chisos Mtns., 4000′, Oak Canyon, 22 July 1967, Robert G. Beard, uv light (BTC); Brewster Co., 10 mi. S. Marathon, at light, 17 August 2016, Kyle E. Schnepp (KESC); Presidio Co., Dalquest Desert Research Station headquarter, 29°33.783′N, 103°48.350′W, 15 August 2015, mv/uv lights, S. W. Lingafelter (SWLC); Jeff Davis Co., Terlingua Ranch, Alpine, 29.45247°, −103.39288°, 3768′, 23 July 2014, S. Lee, uv light trap (ASUC); Val Verde Co., 30 miles NNW Del Rio, vicinity of Gold Mine Canyon, 29.802° N, 100.937° W; 5 June-14 July 2021, 407 m., uv light trap, B. Raber and D. Heffern (2 SWLC; 6 DJHC); same but 3 May-5 June (11, DJHC); Val Verde Co., Seminole Canyon State Park, 10 mi. W. Comstock, 16–17 May 1986 and 29 July 1986, S. Jay Hanselmann (3, DJHC); Val Verde Co., Seminole Canyon, 28 July 1984, at lights, M. E. Rice (2, USNM); Val Verde Co., Dolan Creek Campground, 29°54′N, 100°53′ W, 14 June 1975, at light, J. S. Ashe (TAMU); Val Verde Co., Seminole Canyon State Historic Area, 30 August 1986, East, Kovarik, Haack (8, TAMU); El Paso Co., Co. Rd. 1281 15 km E. Horizon City, 1245 m, 31°40′40″N, 106°02′29″W, 18 August 2001, mv, J. D. Oswald (TAMU); Hardeman Co., Copper Breaks S. P., 10 June 1996, C. Wolfe and D. Marqua (TAMU); Randall Co., Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 30 June 1994, E. G. Riley (2, EGRC); Graza Co., 2 mi. NW Post, 3 July 1995, E. G. Riley (EGRC); Nolan Co., Sweetwater, 29 July 1937 (TAMU); Crosby Co., 4 mi. E. Crosbyton, 14 June 1980, M. Rice (TAMU); Crosby Co., 4 mi. E. Crosbyton, 14 June 1980, Marlin E. Rice (TAMU); Dickens Co., 8 mi. W. Dickens, 7–9 July 1981, M. Rice (3, TAMU); Dickens Co., 7 mi. W Dickens, 57 July 1981, Marlin Rice (TAMU); Arizona (new state record): Cochise Co., 7 mi. W. Sunsites, 30 June 2009, F.W. Skillman, Jr., at light (FWSC); New Mexico (new state record): 10 miles W. Cloudcroft, New Mexico, 4 August 1959, R. B. Selander and J. C. Schaffner (USNM); Otero Co., 12 mi. W. Cloudcroft, Dry Canyon, Hg lt., 22 July 1989, Morris & Walker (RFMC); Chiricahua, 3/10/59, W. M. F., Hopkins Collection, reared from Quercus hypoleucoides (USNM); Otero Co., Sacramento Mtns., Fresnal Canyon, 5850′, 32° 56′ 50″ N, 105° 52′ 29″ W, 10 August 2003, E. G. Riley (USNM); Eddy Co., Whites City, 13–15 July 1968, D. G. Marqua (TAMU); Otero Co., 12 mi. W. Cloudcroft, Dry Canyon, mv lights, 22 July 1989, Morris and Walker (JAGC); Mexico: Chihuahua (new country and state record): 5 km S. Saucillo, 2–3 August 1974, E.M. and J. L. Fisher (ACMT).
description: Published as part of Lingafelter, Steven W., 2022, Revision of Aneflomorpha Casey and Neaneflus Linsley (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of the United States with an illustrated key to species, pp. 1-59 in Insecta Mundi 2022 (954) on pages 55-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7399054