Aneflomorpha aculeata
Creators: name: Lingafelter, Steven W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cerambycidae
Aneflomorpha
Aneflomorpha aculeata

description: Aneflomorpha aculeata (LeConte)
(Fig. 1a, 5a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 10a, 16a)
Elaphidion aculeatum LeConte 1873: 264.
Diagnosis. Length 10–16 mm, pronotum averages 1.20 times longer than wide, elytra together average 3.38 times longer than wide (Fig. 1a). Integument rufous (Fig. 1a, 16a). Antennae not or weakly carinate (Fig. 9a). Spine of third antennomere at least 1.5 times as long as second antennomere, projecting away from antennal plane by less than 40 degrees, acute at apex (Fig. 9a). Spine of fourth antennomere well-developed, acute, longer than second antennomere. Pronotum densely punctate with punctures of differing sizes and contiguous; unobscured by pubescence. Some specimens with small, narrow post-median callus (Fig. 5a). Elytral apices moderately to strongly bispinose in most specimens, some without produced apical spines (Fig. 8a). Elytral pubescence white or off-white, with very numerous long, erect setae in addition to recumbent and recurved setae (Fig. 7a). Procoxal cavities moderately open by over two-thirds the width of the broadly expanded prosternal process (Fig. 10a). Protibia slender, gradually widening apically with the dorsal margin straight and non-carinate (as in Fig. 11h).
Discussion. Aneflomorpha aculeata is most similar to A. texana, A. linsleyae and A. subpubescens in having rufous coloration, moderately open procoxal cavities, densely punctate pronotum, and abundant erect and suberect setae on the elytra and appendages. The erect setae are longer, more abundant, and not as uniformly distributed on the body and appendages of A. aculeata as in A. linsleyae which has the erect and suberect setae of more uniform length and distribution (Fig. 7j). This feature also distinguishes A. aculeata from A. seminuda Casey (Fig. 7s) and A. subpubescens (LeConte) (Fig. 7t) which have more uniform length and distributed setae on the elytra and appendages (mostly recumbent and recurved in A. seminuda and straight and erect or suberect in A. subpubescens). Aneflomorpha aculeata differs also from A. linsleyae in having the base of the protibia slender and gradually widening apically with the dorsal margin straight and non-carinate while in A. linsleyae the base of the protibia is bulging and then narrowed distally, then widening apically such that the dorsal margin is slightly sinuate and weakly carinate dorsally at the base (Fig. 11c). The antennae are moderately carinate in A. linsleyae (Fig. 9i) while not carinate or weakly so in A. aculeata (Fig. 9a). Most specimens of Aneflomorpha aculeata usually have strongly or moderately bispinose elytral apices (Fig. 8a), while in A. linsleyae, the apices are usually bidentate, without spines (Fig. 8i). Aneflomorpha aculeata is not known west of Texas while A. linsleyae is known only from the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona. The very long, acute spines of the third and usually fourth antennomeres further distinguish A. aculeata from the superficially similar A. seminuda and A. subpubescens which have much shorter spines (Fig. 9p,q, respectively). In specimens where the antennal and elytral apical spines are not pronounced, the finer pronotal punctation and typically ochraceous pubescence on the scutellum in A. aculeata distinguish it from A. subpubescens which has larger pronotal punctures and typically fine, white scutellar pubescence. Aneflomorpha texana can be distinguished by the near absence of recurved, recumbent elytral setae (the setae are straight) (Fig. 7w), the pronotum having a pronounced median callus in most specimens (Fig. 6w), a dentiform or absent spine on antennomere 4 in most specimens (Fig. 9t), and the outer elytral apex rounded to dentiform (Fig. 8u).
Note that some A. aculeata from Texas and Oklahoma are not typical and have reduced elytral and antennal spines as well as less prevalent long, erect setae. These are somewhat intermediate with A. seminuda and some have been found mixed with specimens identified as A. subpubescens due to their similar size and coloration. They are tentatively assigned to A. aculeata in this work, but further study may conclude they belong elsewhere.
Distribution and biology. Specimens have been encountered from May through September at lights, sugar and other fermented bait traps, and Lindgren Funnel traps baited with ethanol in central and southwestern Texas. Specimens were examined from eastern Oklahoma, southwestern Missouri, and northwestern South Carolina which represent three new state records for the species. One digital specimen, tentatively assigned to this species, was seen on BugGuide (BugGuide 2022) from Bibb County, Alabama (Alabama Museum of Natural History). No larval hosts have been documented for Aneflomorpha aculeata. Two specimens were examined from Coahuila, Mexico (TAMU), representing a new state record for Mexico and a range extension considerably south of the previously known distribution.
Material examined. Mexico: Coahuila (new state record): Sierra de los Burros, 18 June 1938, Rollin Baker (2, TAMU); USA: Texas: no further data (holotype, MCZ); Comal Co., N. of Bulverde, Honeycreek Nature Conservancy, 27 April 1985, Cicero (RFMC); Crosby Co., White Riv. Res. Merc. Vap. 25 June 1987, Morris & Sites (RFMC); Dickens Co., White River Res., Fermented Bait Trap, 18–25 June 1989, R. F. Morris (RFMC); Dickens Co., White River Lake, 8 June 1989, R. Morris (2, RAAC); Jeff Davis Co., near Fort Davis, 2 July 1957, L. N. Bell (RFMC); Jeff Davis Co., FM 1832, 11 mi. W. SR 17, 24 June 2014, F. W. Skillman, Jr. (2, FWSC); Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mts. St. Pk., 27 June–1 July 1987, 5200′, J. B. Heppner (RFMC); Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mtn. S. P. 7 June 1974, D. E. Foster, J. V. Moody (2, RFMC); Jeff Davis Co., 3 mi. E. Davis Mtn. SP, MV light, 4 July 1987, R. Morris (2, RFMC); Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mtns. Resort, 5800′, June-July, D. G. Marqua (4, TAMU); Brazos Co., College Station, 4 July 1994, E. G. Riley (EGRC); Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mtns. St. Pk. 29–30 June 1999, UV, E. G. Riley (EGRC); Bandera Co., Lost Maples State Park, 29.81046°N, 99.57409°W, 23 June 1990, E. Riley and C. Wolfe (EGRC); Jeff Davis Co., Limpia Canyon, 27 June 1967, B. A. Tilden (BTC); Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mtns. Resort, 5800′, May–June 1991 –2002, D. G. Marqua (8, TAMU); Eastland Co., 5 mi. SW Eastland, 32.364° N, 98.8925° W, 1538′, 2 June 2021, F. W. Skillman, Jr. (2, FWSC); Kimble Co., TTU Center, Junction, MV light, 13 May 1988, R. Morris (2, RFMC); Anderson Co., Engeling Wildlife Management Area, 28 May 1995, E. G. Riley (SWLC); Anderson Co., Engeling Wildlife Management Area, 28 May and 3 June 1995, E. G. Riley (2, EGRC); Smith Co., Tyler State Park, July 5, 1989, C. S. Wolfe (DJHC); Bexar Co., China Grove, June 1992, D. Walters (DJHC); Bexar Co., NW edge of San Antonio, May 28, 1992, D. W. Sundberg (DJHC); Val Verde Co., Langtry at Rio Grande, June 21, 1990, C. S. Wolfe (DJHC); 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 (3 SWLC; 13 DJHC); same but 3 May –5 June (2 SWLC; 11, DJHC); Val Verde Co., 30 mi NNW Del Rio, nr Carlos Camp Spr. Devils R. near Dry Devils R. 387 m., 29.798° N, 101.000° W, Lindgren with EtOH bait, 29 August–26 September 2020, E. Raber & D. Heffern (DJHC); Kerr Co., Kerrville, 26 August 1966, R. R. Blume (FWSC); Bandera Co. Hill Country St. Natural Area, 14 June 2003, D. W. Sundberg (DJHC); Kerrville, at light, FC Pratt (2, USNM); Kerrville, 15 May 1990, uv light, W. F. Chamberlain (TAMU); Hidalgo Co., Santa Ana National Refuge, 8–9 May 1978, J. E. Wappes (FWSC); Hidalgo Co., Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, 2 May 1987, E. G. Riley and F. Whitford (2, EGRC); Brazos Co., College Station, June 1989, E. G. Riley (EGRC); Brazos Co., 5 km SW Wellborn, 30.5022°N, 96.3360°W, 16–0 June 2017, at lights, V. Belov (2, ABRC, EGCCRC); Wharton Co., MacKay UV trap, July–August 1983 –1984, Marlin E. Rice (8, TAMU); Wharton Co., MacKay UV trap, May 1984, Marlin E. Rice (3, TAMU); Texas: Mexia, 23 June 1937 (TAMU); College Station, Texas Experimental Station, 20 May 1930, S. E. Jones (TAMU); Rio Frio, at light, 10 May 1910 (USNM); Texas (no further data), C. V. Riley Collection (USNM); Oklahoma (new state record): Sequoyah Co., Tenkiller Lake, 3 mi. W. Blackgum, D. and M. Davis, 6–9 July 1979 (USNM); Robber’s Cave State Park, 5 mi. N. Wilburton, H. V. Weems, Jr. 15 June 1966, at light (FSCA); Latimer Co., SW of Red Oak, June 1997, K. Stephan (TAMU); Latimer Co., 5 mi. W. Red Oak, 2 July 1977, K. Stephan (6, TAMU); Latimer Co., 5 mi. W. Red Oak, June-July 2001, UV light, K. Stephan (6, TAMU); Missouri (new state record): Barry Co., SR 112, 5.5 mi. S. Cassville, Deer Ridge Lodge, 10 June 2018, Skillman and Wappes (FWSC). South Carolina (new state record): Newberry Co., Saluda River and S. H. 121, 28 May 2017, at light, Kyle E. Schnepp (KESC).
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 page 27, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7399054