Zopherus laevicollis Solier

Zopherus laevicollis Solier

Zopherus laevicollis Solier, 1841:46.—Champion, 1884:40.

Zopherus laevicollis var. venosus Champion, 1884:40; 1892:488. [new synonymy].

Zopherus tuberculatus Champion, 1884:41, tab. 2, fig. 3. [new synonymy].

Zopherinus limbatus Casey, 1907a:37 [new synonymy].

This is an extremely variable species in dorsal coloration, luster, and sculpture. Coloration ranges from completely black individuals to specimens in which the dorsal surface is in greater part white, with prominent black, flattened tubercles. In some specimens the tubercles are large and numerous and are arranged in definite longitudinal rows. In others the tubercles tend to coalesce and form wavy transverse plicae. A few individuals have the tubercles well separated and surrounded by the white ground color. Two specimens are entirely black, without trace of white markings whatsoever. Surface luster ranges from dull to distinctly shining. This species may be distinguished from all other species of Zopherus except xestus by the peculiar formation of the ventral callosity of the terminal abdominal sternum. In both laevicollis and xestus there is a prominent ridge projecting cephalad from the normal bilobed callosity, causing this structure to appear trilobed as described by Solier.

After studying a good series of Champion’s specimens of venosus and specimens which he determined as laevicollis, I concur with his earlier (1884) conviction that they are not separable. I have seen only one of Champion’s two specimens of tuberculatus from Santo Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico, mentioned in the Biologia and see no reason for separating that species from laevicollis.

MEASUREMENTS.—Length 13.7–22.4 mm; width 4.9–8.2 mm.

TYPES.—Zopherinus limbatus Casey. The Casey collection contains 6 specimens bearing the USNM type number 46366. All are from Amecameca, Morelos, Mexico, collected by Höge. I have selected and labeled the first one of the series a lectotype. All of the Casey specimens fall well within the range of variation observed in the numerous examples of this species that were studied. Casey had one specimen determined as laevicollis, also from Amecameca. To me it appears identical to those he called limbatus. One of his specimens of limbatus bears a “Z. venosus” label. Apparently Casey saw so few specimens of laevicollis that he had no concept of its range of variability.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—216 from the localities that follow. MEXICO. CHIAPAS: 10 miles north of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. CHIHUAHUA: 30 miles west of Belleza. COAHUILA: 33 miles southeast of Saltillo. DISTRITO FEDERAL: 15 miles south of El Guarda, Mexico City, Tacubaya. DURANGO: 6 miles northeast of El Salto, San Miguel, Tepehuanes. GUERRERO: Acapulco, Mochitlán. HIDALGO: Zacualtipán. JALISCO: Mazamitla. MEXICO: Amecameca, Chapingo, Otumba. MICHOACAN: Uruapan. MORELOS: Cuernavaca. NUEVO LEON: Galeana, 10 miles east of San Roberto. OAXACA: Juquila Mixes, La Parada, Ruinas de Mitla, Salina Cruz, Santo Domingo, 17.2 miles northwest of Tehuantepec, Km 180-212 Puerto Escondido Highway, 22.3 miles west northwest of Zanatepec. PUEBLA: 3 miles northeast of Zacatepec. TLAXCALA: Apizaco. VERACRUZ: Jalapa, Las Vigas, Tlapacoyan. Champion listed it from the following localities: Sierra de San Miguelito (San Luis Potosí), San Andrés Chalchicomula (Puebla), Juquila and Calpulalpan (Oaxaca). Specimens have been taken in every month except March.