Museum, University of Nebraska State Insecta Mundi University of Nebraska - Lincoln Year An illustrated descriptive catalogue of the genera Anidrytus Gerstaecker and Epopterus Chevrolat, with descriptions of new species (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) H. F. Strohecker Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL, This paper is posted at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/266 158 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 32614-7 100 U.S.A. Abstract: The endomychit1 beetle genera Artidrytus Gerstaecker and Epopt.erus Chevrolat have been confused for many years. This paper discusses the similarities ancl differencesof these genera, describes new species, makes some nomenclatural changes, and illustrates the genitalia for many species. New species described: Epo~>teruspicticollis,E. bioculatus, E. cortfirsns, E. grucilis, E. lor.etertsis,E. atrort~nl~rs,E. arcruacus,E. utriuerttris, E. crypticus, E. qrrechuanus, E. calleriar~~rs,E. fluuortotat~~s, E. srrbrttaclrlatus, E. pcrrucrs, Attidrytus rtirrtbiferus,A. parki, A. corrrpactus,A. gibbosus, A. circurrlcirrctus,A. becl~yr~eorurrt,A. bat,esi,A. rt~r~xicctr1us,A. trir~itntis, A. r~tctjor,A. Ir~l.rt~erosus,A. grurrdis, A. cardiosonta. New synonymies:E. uacrc.ns Gerstaecker (= E. sccrlaris Gorham);E. decerr~purtctutusGerstaecker (= E. bifasciutus Pic);E. uuriegutus Erichson (= E. decoratus Kirsch); A. cotrtr.ucti~sGerstaeclter (= A. dolosus Gorham); A. heluolus Gerstaecker (= Epitebus igrlobilis Gorham);A. parallelus Gerstaecker (= Ephebus depressirs Gorham). Changes in nomenclatural status or combination: Epopterus kirshi Strohecker is reduced to a subspecies of E. pclrtitirs Gerstaecker; E. arlgrrstatus Strohecksr is reduced to a subspecies of E. fascicttus (Fabricius);E. filligittosus GuBrin-MenBville is transferred to Artidrytus. The genera A~bidrytu,sGerstaecker anclEpopter- Most previous 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 I11 & IV subequal; antennomeres IS & X, specimens of El)opterus which, on the basis of especially X, mesally acuminate; spinasternum aedeagal structure, are conspecific. Some of the horizontal, extencled beyond front coxae, broadly observed variation is due, no doubt, to dirferences spatulate with apex subtruncate. Maleshaveprotib- in maturity, but may also exist as color phases in ia curvecl, enlarged in apical third, often with a some species. I have used trinomials only where small tootth below; and abdominal sternite VI is names have already been published. visible. I consider the aedeagus the most reliable taxo- Gerstaecker (1858) clistinguished 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: mantlibular apex in Ar~idrytrisis entire, in cliffers 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 Alr.idryt,rr.s,in Epopterus it is entirely mem- drawings are of destro-ventral aspect, the lesser branous. I doubt t,hat Gerstaecker subjectecl all the curvature of the base is consiclerecl 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 Ar~idrytusancl 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 t,he assign- nearly all described forms, I think that a prelimi- men t of species. nary treatment may enable any future student of Because of interspeclfic 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 Dr. Stroheclter finishetl this pnper before his death, November 14, 1988. The manuscript has been changed little from its original form, and lacks certain details generally required for modern systematicpapers and by Zrzsecta Mirrtdi. 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 Collectio~lof Arthropocls, Florida Department of Agriculture & Co~lsumerServices, Division of Plant Intlustry, 1911 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32614-7100, U.S.A. INSECTA MUNDI, Vol. 11, No. 2, June, 1997 unless in series with males, and I believe the most for the following nominal species: E. rr1,yops GuBrin- reliable path to identification of males is by compar- MBneville and E. trirnacu.la.tus GuBrin-MBneville, ing figures of the aedeagi with the specimen. Each which I have been unable to locate; E. gerbicu1a.tu.s figure is followed by a number in parentheses Pic, which is compared with E. picticollis n. sp.; E. which indicates t,he species number in the text. ryei Gorham, E. 1ir~eoguttu.tusGorham, E. pau- Material esamineclfor this study is foundin the tl~erirtusGorham, and E. ocellatus rriaculosus following institutions, 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. Epopterr~socellatus (Olivier) Museum of Nat,ure, Ottawa (CMNC); Deutsches Fig. 24, 33 Entomoligisches Institut, Eberswalde Finow Erotylus ocellatus Olivier 1792:437. Type reposit,ory (DEIC); Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago unknown. Eutrl.orphus ocellatus (Olivier) 1808:1067, pl. 1, fig. 6. (FMNH); Floricla State Collection of Arthropods, Epopterus ocellatus Gerstaecker 1858:275, pl. 3, fig. Gainesville (FSCA); Hungarian Natural History 43u, x; Strohecker 1953:pl. 3, fig. 30. Museum, Budapest (I-INI-IM); Funcacion e Institu- to Miguel Lillo, Tucumfin (IMLA); Instituto de Oblong, rather flat above, almost equally round- Zoologia Agricola, Universidacl Central de Venezu- ed in front and in rear. Legs, head and antenna1 ela, Maracay (IZAV); Ent,omologisches Institut, base reclclish yellow. Venter and pronot,um reddish Museum G. Frey, Tiitzing (MGFrI'); Museum brown, the latter witth 4 black spots in a transverse &Histsoire Naturelle, Geneva (MI-ING); Musdum row. Elytron blackish brown with suture reddish. A National cTI-Iistoire Nat,urelle, Paris (MNHN); Nat- yellow band on base of elytron encloses a dark ural I-Iist,ory Museum, London (NHML); Staatli- humeral spot and a large dark ocellus, almost or ches Museum fur Tierkuncle, Dresden (ShfTD); U. quite touching base. A yellow pre-apical band emits S. National Museum, M'ashington (USNM); Muse- a short ray at middle of its front edge and 2 long um fur Naturkunde cler I-Iumboldt Universitat, posterior rays, one along margin, other near su- Berlin (ZMI-IB); 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 logicalMuseum, University of Copenhagen, Copen- miclclle. Length 6-6.5 mm, width 3.4-3.6mm. hagen (ZhfUC); Zoologische St,nntssammlung, Mu- Most specimens examined are labeled "Brazil". nich (ZSMC). Brazil: Sta. Catarina, Corupa, XII. 1944, A. Muller Genus Epopterus Chevrolat (AMN 1-1). Chevrolat 1844::380; Erichson 1847:181; Gerstaeclter 2. Epopterus annr~latusGukrin-Mkneville 1858:274; Cl~apuis1876: 123; Gorham 1890:129; Fig. 34 Stroheclier 1953:62. Epopterus ar~r~i~latusGuBrin-MQneville 1857:268, pi. Type species: Erotylr~socel1a.t~~ Olivier (Stroheclier 13., fig. 20. Holotype 6,Brazil (NHML). 1953:63). Very similar to and probably a color form of E. hfost species r3.5 - 5 mm long, although some ocelltr.tus, as noted by Csiki (1901:47). The figure in may slightly exceed 6 mm. Body outline broadly Guerin-Mkneville does not properly show the long cordate t,o oblong ant1 subparallel. Elytra variegat- caudal rays of the posterior elytral band. ed with black or brown and yellow or red markings, "Guyana", (FSCA). often wit,h a brontl tlarl; band across midclle. In two species, E. lir~eogrcl,l,tr.l,t~sGorham and E. clarn 3. Epopterus myops Gukrin-Mbneville Gorham, the pale elytra are marked with black points or st,reaks. The clorsum is pubescent, but E(popterr~s) trlyops Guitrin-MBneville 1857:268. Type often