158 Volume 11, No.2, June, 1997, INSECTA MUNDI An illustrated descriptive catalogue of the genera Anidrytus Gerstaecker and Epopterus Chevrolat, with descriptions of new species (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) H. F. Stroheckerl Research Associate, Florida State Collection of Arthropods Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 1911 SW 34th St. Gainesville, FL 32614-7100 U.S.A. Abstract: The endomychid beetle genera Anidrytus Gerstaecker and Epopterus Chevrolat have been confused for many years. This paper discusses the similarities and differences of these genera, describes new species, makes some nomenclatural changes, and illustrates the genitalia for many species. New species described: Epopterus picticollis, E. biocu/atus, E. confusus, E. grad/is, E. /oretensis, E. alloma/us, E. arauacus, E. atriuelltris, E. crypticus, E. queclwanus, E. callerianus, E. /Zauollotatus, E. sublll(Jcu/atus, E. paruus, Allidrytus nimbiferus, A. pm'hi, A. compactus, A. gibbosus, A. circumdnctus, A. bechYlleorum, A. balesi, A. me:'dccmus, A. trinitatis, A. major, A. humerosus, A. grandis, A. cardiosoma. New synonymies: E. UCtC/UIS Gerstaecker (= E. scaloris Gorham); E. decempunctatus Gerstaecker (= E. bifasdatus Pic); E. uariegatus Erichson (= E. decomtus Kirsch); A. cOlltmctus Gerstaeclcer (= A. dolosus Gorham); A. he/uolus Gerstaecker (= Ephebus ignobilis Gorham); A. pamllelus Gerstaecker (= Ephebus depressus Gorham). Changes in nomenclatural status or combination: Epopterus hirshi Strohecker is reduced to a subspecies of E. partitus Gerstaecker; E. angustatus Strohecker is reduced to a subspecies of E. fasdatus (Fabricius); E. fuligl:/IOSUS Guerin-Meneville is transferred to Allidrytus. The genera Anidrytus Gerstaecker andEpopter­ Mostprevious descriptions have been drawn on us Chevrolat share many common features, among body form and color pattern. Many similarities in them: body form ovate to oblong; dorsum pubes- these features are found among the species. Yet, cent, but much abraded in many specimens; anten- strong differences in color pattern are shown by nomeres III & IV subequaJ; antennomeres IX & X, specimens of Epopterus which, on the basis of especially X, mesally acuminate; spinasternum aedeagal structure, are conspecific. Some of the horizontal, extended beyond front coxae, broadly observed variation is due, no doubt, to differences spatulate with apex subtruncate. Males have protib- in maturity, but may also exist as color phases in ia curved, enlarged in apical third, often with a some species. I have used trinomials only where small tooth below; and abdominal sternite VI is names have already been published. visible. I consider the aedeagus the most reliable taxo- Gerstaecker (1858) distinguished the two gen- nomic character. This organ is strongly sclerotized, era on the basis of mandibular and maxillary struc- often asymmetrical and bizarre in form, which ture: mandibular apex in Anidrytus is entire, in differs in appearance with change of position, ei- Epopterus it is bifid; maxillary galea is corneous at ther by rotation or inclination. The camera lucida base in Anidrytus, in Epopterus it is entirely mem- drawings are of dextro-ventral aspect, the lesser branous. I doubt that Gerstaecker subjected all the curvature of the base is considered ventral. species which he treated to much analysis but, Study of the aedeagi suggests relationships rather, fell into the habit of assigning plainly col- between species which transgress the nominal ge- ored and mostly larger forms to Anidrytus and neric boundaries of these genera and suggests long those of strongly variegated pattern and mostly separated evolutionary lines not reflected in cur- smaller size to Epopterus. Later authors, notably rent nomenclature. Evaluation and action on these Gorham, followed him in this practice. ideas would be a long task, for which material and I have not so tested the many species now time left to me are inadequate. Therefore, I follow known but, after examining the holo- or lectotype of Gerstaecker's and Gorham's concepts in the assign- nearly all described forms, I think that a prelimi- ment of species. nary treatment may enable any future student of Because of interspecific similarities and in- the group to proceed without repeating my efforts, traspecific variations in external features, I found which have extended over many years. it impossible to construct a worthwhile key. I would be loathe to attach identity labels to most females 1 Dr. Strohecker finished this paper before his death, November 14, 1988. The manuscript has been changed little from its original form, and lacks certain details generally required for modern systematic papers and by Illsecta MUlldi. Even in its current state, it represents a step forward in the study of these genera and is here published for that reason. Paul E. Skelley, Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 1911 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32614·7100, U.S.A. INSECTA MUNDI, Vol. 11, No.2, June, 1997 159 unless in series 'with males, and I believe the most for the following nominal species: E. myops Guerin- reliable path to identification of males is by compar- Meneville and E. trimacu1atus Guerin-Meneville, ing figures of the aedeagi with the specimen. Each which I have been unable to locate; E. geniculatus figure is followed by a number in parentheses Pic, which is compared with E. picticollis n. sp.; E. which indicates the species number in the text. ryei Gorham, E. lineoguttatus Gorham, E. pan­ Material examined for this study is found in the therinus Gorham, and E. ocellatus maculosus following institu tions, the officers of which I thank Gorham. Habitus figures of the last four accompa- for their cooperation: American Museum of Natu- ny the original descriptions. ral History, New York (AMNI-I); California Acade- my of Sciences, San Francisco (CASC); Canadian 1. Epopterlls ocellatlls (Olivier) Museum of Nature, Ottawa (CMNC); Deutsches Fig. 24, 33 Entomoligisches Institut, Eberswalde Finow Erotylus ocellatus Olivier 1792:437. Type repository (DEI C); Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago unknown. Eumorphus ocellatus (Olivier) 1808: 1067, pI. 1, fig. 6. (FMNH); Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Epoptems ocellatus Gerstaecker 1858:275, pI. 3, fig. Gainesville (FSCA); Hungarian Natural History 43u, x; Strohecker 1953:pl. 3, fig. 30. Museum, Budapest (HNHM); Funcacion e Institu- to Miguel Lillo, Tucuman (IMLA); Instituto de Oblong, rather flat above, almost equally round- Zoologia Agricola, Universidad Central de Venezu- ed in front and in rear. Legs, head and antennal ela, Maracay (IZAV); Entomologisches Institut, base reddish yellow. Venter and pronotum reddish Museum G. Frey, Tutzing (MGF'!'); Museum brown, the latter with 4 black spots in a transverse d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva (MHNG); Museum row. Elytron blackish brown with suture reddish. A National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN); Nat- yellow band on base of elytron encloses a dark ural History Museum, London (NHML); Staatli- humeral spot and a large dark ocellus, almost or ches Museum fur Tierkunde, Dresden (SMTD); U. quite touching base. A yellow pre-apical band emits S. National Museum, Washington (USNM); Muse- a short ray at middle of its front edge and 2 long um fur Naturkunde der Humboldt UniversiUit, posterior rays, one along margin, other near su- Berlin (ZMHB); Museum & Institute of Zoology, ture; it may form 2 complete rings enclosing dark Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw (ZMPA); Zoo- spots. Front tibia of male abruptly widened beyond 10gicalMuseum, University of Copenhagen, Copen- middle. Length 6-6.5 mm, width 3.4-3.6 mm. hagen (ZMUC); Zoologische Staatssammlung, Mu- Most specimens examined are labeled "Brazil". nich (ZSM C). Brazil: Sta. Catarina, Corupa, XII. 1944, A. Muller Genus Epopterlls Chevrolat (AMNH). Chevrolat 1844::380; Erichson 1847: 181; Gerstaecker 2. Epopterlls annlllatlls Guerin-Mimeville 1858:274; Chapuis 1876:123; Gorham 1890:129; Fig. 34 Strohecker 1953:62. Epoptems annulatus Guerin-Meneville 1857:268, pI. Type species: Erotylus ocellatus Olivier (Strohecker 13., fig. 20. Holotype 0', Brazil (NHML). 1953:63). Very similar to and probably a color form of E. Most species :3.5 - 5 mm long, although some ocellatus, as noted by Csiki (1901 :47). The figure in may slightly exceed 6 mm. Body outline broadly Guerin-Meneville does not properly show the long cordate to oblong and subparallel. Elytra variegat- caudal rays of the posterior elytral band. ed with black or brown and yellow or red markings, "Guyana", 0' (FSCA). often with a broad clark band across middle. In two species, E. lineoguUaf,us Gorham and E. clara 3. Epopterlls myops Guerin-Meneville Gorham, the pale elytra are marked with black points or streaks. The dorsum is pubescent, but E(poptems) myops Guerin-Meneville 1857:268. Type often much abraded in museum material. material from Brazil?, Colombia?; repository un- Diagrams of color pattern only are shown for known. four species described from unique female types: E. Epopterus ocellatus myops Csiki 1901:47. vicinus Pic, E. fallax Gerstaecker, E. rubiginosus Gerstaecker, and E. qlwesitus Gorham. All figures Originally described as tawny brown, elytra of elytra are intended to show only pattern; any very dark, pronotum lighter, venter and legs yel- realism is fortuitous. No illustrations are offered lowish, femora briefly fuscous at base. Pronotum 160 Volume 11, No.2, June, 1997, INSECTA MUNDI with 4 black