Alphus alboguttatus Melzer 1935, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Santos-Silva, Antonio
name: Bezark, Larry G.
name: Galileo, Maria Helena M.
name: Li, Lin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cerambycidae
Alphus
Alphus alboguttatus

description: Alphus alboguttatus (Melzer, 1935), comb. nov.
(Fig. 11)
Acanthoderes alboguttata Melzer, 1935: 192.
Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus?) alboguttata; Gilmour, 1965: 616 (cat.). Psapharochrus alboguttatus; Monné, 2005: 200 (cat.); Monné, 2015: 305 (cat.).
Melzer (1935) described Acanthoderes alboguttata from Brazil (Santa Catarina), based on a single female. Gilmour (1965) placed this species in Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus), but he was not sure about the placement: “ alboguttata Melz. (1935, Arch. Inst. Biol. Veg. Biol. Veg., II. p. 192) [gen?]”. However, it was Monné (1994) who formally placed A. alboguttata in the subgenus A. (Psapharochrus). Currently, Psapharochrus is considered a genus distinct from Acanthoderes Audinet-Serville, 1835.
Restello et al. (2001) divided Alphus White, 1855 into three genera. Characters of Psapharochrus alboguttatus are different from some of the features used by these authors to separate Alphus from Exalphus Restello et al. 2001, and from Ateralphus Restello et al. 2001. Melzer’s species agrees very well with the following features pointed out for Alphus by Restello et al. (2001): Anterior region of the pronotum without transverse depression (it is slightly distinct in A. alboguttatus) (with depression in Exalphus; without depression in Ateralphus); pronotum, close to anterior and posterior margins, with contrasting bands of pubescence (with bands in Exalphus; absent in Ateralphus); pronotum, close to basal margin, with wide longitudinal carina, starting at posterolateral projection (with narrow carina in Exalphus; absent in Ateralphus); elytral color pattern as in Exalphus, not agreeing with remaining species currently placed in Alphus sensu Restello et al. (2001); elytra only with basal crests, not tuberculate, not carinate (with crests tuberculate and carinate in Exalphus; with crests and carinate in Ateralphus); punctures on basal half of elytra more or less irregularly distributed as in Exalphus and Ateralphus (coarse, aligned in rows in Alphus sensu Restello et al. 2001); mesosternal process subtuberculate, with anterior region at an angle of 90º (without tubercle and at an angle of about 45º in Alphus; tuberculate and at an angle of 90º in Exalphus; without tubercles and at an angle of about 45º in Ateralphus); pubescence of the tarsomere V bicolorous as in Exalphus and Ateralphus (unicolorous in Alphus). Additionally, Restello et al. (2001) affirmed that the last ventrite in the female has no longitudinal sulcus in Alphus and Exalphus, and Souza and Monné (2013) confirmed this information. In the same table (Table 1) with features separating the genera, Restello et al. (2001) affirmed that the ventral surface in males has sexual pubescence in Alphus, which is absent in Exalphus and Ateralphus. However, in the original description of Exalphus, it was recorded that the pubescence in males is present. These authors also affirmed in the redescription of Alphus that the sexual pubescence in males of Alphus is slightly distinct (almost absent). Also according to them (Table 1) Exalphus has elytral carinae. However, in the description of the genus they pointed out (translated): “Elytra with basal crests strongly distinct, often tuberculate, parallel to concave in relation to suture; with or without a second line of tubercles, oblique, from humerus to distal quarter.” Souza and Monné (2013) discussed the differences between Alphus, Exalphus and Ateralphus, and concluded that the former is the genus more easily recognized, and pointed out: “In this genus [Alphus], the basal-crest is somewhat raised and sometimes even inconspicuous and the elytral punctation is arranged in longitudinal and parallel rows on the basal half.” Nevertheless, as noted above, Melzer’s species is different from Alphus regarding the distribution of elytral punctures.
As seen above, Psapharochrus alboguttatus has some features intermediate between Alphus and Exalphus. However, as nearly all agree better with species currently placed in Alphus (notably the absence of elytral carinae, and sexual pubescence on ventral side of males, features of the type species of the genus, Lamia tuberosa Germar, 1824), we think that this is the correct genus for Melzer’s species.
Alphus differs from Acanthoderes mainly by the eyes being coarsely faceted, while they are distinctly finely faceted in the latter. It is not easy to define Psapharochrus, mainly because many species currently placed in it differ when compared with the type species of the genus. Thus, we used features present in the type species to establish the differences between Alphus and Psapharochrus: elytra not carinate and not distinctly flattened dorsally; pronotum without central-longitudinal carina; pronotum with wide longitudinal carina, starting at posterolateral projection; protarsi in males without long setae laterally. In Psapharochrus the elytra is carinate and flattened dorsally, the pronotum has a central-longitudinal carina and has no carina starting at the posterolateral projection, and the protarsi in male have long setae laterally.
Currently, Alphus alboguttatus is recorded from Bolivia and Brazil (Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina) (Monné 2016). It is now recorded from Panama (new country record).
Material examined. PANAMA, Panama: 31 km E Cañita, 1 female, 21.V.1995, F. T. Hovore col. (CASC). BRAZIL, São Paulo: Peruíbe, 04.XII.1942, 1 male, H. Zellibor col. (MZSP). Santa Catarina: Corupá (former Hansa Humboldt), male [no other data] (MZSP); holotype female, I.1933, A. Maller col. (MZSP).
Exalphus cicatricornis Schmid, 2014. Material examined: ECUADOR: 1 specimen, 19.VI.1999, MV light, V. L.M. & A.T. col. (CSCA) (new country record).
It was described from Brazil (Monné 2016).
Exalphus foveatus (Marinoni & Martins, 1978). Material examined. PANAMA, Panama: Canal zone, Howard Air Force Base, 1 female, 21.V.1991, F. T. Hovore col. (CASC) (new country record).
It was described based on two males from Brazil (Goiás, São Paulo). Currently it is known from French Guiana, Bolivia and Brazil (Maranhão, Piauí, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, São Paulo) (Monné 2016).
AERENICINI
Recchia boliviana Martins & Galileo 1998. Material examined: BOLIVIA, Cochabamba: Villa Tunari, 1 specimen, 11.IX.2001, malaise trap, H. Heider col. (LGBC); 1 specimen, 7–20.IX.2002, malaise trap, H. Heider col. (LGBC); (new department record).
It was described from Bolivia (Santa Cruz) (Monné 2016).
APOMECYNINI
Adetus pacaruaia Martins & Galileo, 2003. Material examined. ECUADOR, Napo: Cabanas Alinahui, 1 female, 14.IX.2000, F. T. Hovore (CASC) (new country record).
It was described and is known from Peru (Monné 2016).
Amphicnaeia antennata Galileo & Martins, 2001. Material examined. PANAMA, Darien: Cerro Chucanti (875m, 08º47’21.4”N / 078º27’05.5”W), 1 male, 13–16.II.2012, L. G. Bezark col. (LGBC) (new country record). Species described and known only from Brazil (Minas Gerais) (Monné 2016).
Euteleuta laticauda Bates 1885. Material examined: GUATEMALA, Peten: 4 km S of Poptun (500 m; beating), 1 specimen, 17–18.VI. 2012, E. Fuller col. (WHTC) (new country record).
This species was described from Panama, and is known from Costa Rica and Panama (Monné 2016).
CALLIINI
Callia boliviana Belon, 1903. Material examined. BRAZIL, Rondônia: Fazenda Rancho Grande (62 Km SE Ariquemes, 165m), 1 female, 12–22.XI.1991, E. M. Fisher (LGBC) (new country record). Species described from Bolivia and known also from Peru (Monné 2016).
Eumathes amazonicus Bates, 1866. Material examined. ECUADOR, Orellana: 16 km W Coca, 5 males, 1 female, 20.II.2004, F. T. Hovore col. (CASC). Napo: 1 km W Ahuano, 1 male, 29.VIII.2004, F. T. Hovore col. (MZSP) (new country record).
It was described and it is known only from Brazil (Amazonas) (Monné, 2016).
Euryestola cribrata (Bates, 1881). Material examined. BELIZE, Cayo: Chiquibul National Park (3 miles S Millionario, 16º44.365’N / 89º00.719’W, 1,976 ft.), 1 female, 14–20.V.2007, F. G. Andrews (LGBC) (new country record).
It was described from Guatemala and currently it is known also from Mexico (Veracruz), Honduras and Costa Rica (Monné 2016; Chemsak et al. 1992).
DESMIPHORINI
Malthonea piraiuba Martins & Galileo, 2009. Material examined: PANAMA, Chiriqui: Quetzales Lodge (Guadeloupe; 2189 m), 1 specimen, 30.V–4.VI.2014, E. Fuller col. (WHTC) (new country record). It was described from Costa Rica (Monné 2016).
Pseudestoloides rubiginosa Martins & Galileo, 2009. Material examined: PANAMA, Cocle: El Valle (640 m), 1 specimen, 26–28.VI.2011, E. Fuller col (WHTC) (new country record).
This species was described from Costa Rica (Monné 2016).
HEMILOPHINI
Apagomerella versicolor (Boheman, 1859). Material examined. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual Rio Doce, male, 27.X–14.XII.2013, L. Migliori (MZSP) (new state record).
This species was described from Argentina (Buenos Aires). It is currently known from Brazil (Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), Paraguay, Argentina (Catamarca, Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, Mendoza, San Juan, San Luís, Formosa, Misiones, Chaco, Santa Fé, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Rio Negro, Neuquén), and Uruguay (Martins & Galileo 2014; Monné 2016).
ONCIDERINI
Bacuris sexvittatus (Bates, 1865). Material examined: GUATEMALA, Baja Verapaz: 3 km S Purulhá (15º12’96”N / 90º13’15”W; light trap; 1676 m), 1 specimen, 12–14.VI.2013, E. Fuller col. (WHTC) (new country record).
This species was described from Brazil, and is known from Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil (Amazonas, Pará), French Guiana, and Peru (Monné 2016).
description: Published as part of Santos-Silva, Antonio, Bezark, Larry G., Galileo, Maria Helena M. & Li, Lin, 2016, Descriptions, transference and new records of Lamiinae from Central and South America (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), pp. 159-168 in Zootaxa 4170 (1) on pages 165-168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4170.1.9, http://zenodo.org/record/261897