Pericompsus (Eidocompsus) tolype Erwin 1974

Pericompsus tolype

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Twelve kilometers south of Calabozo, Estacion Biologica de Los Llanos Venezuela.

TYPE-SPECIMENS.—The holotype male is in USNM. It was collected by P. and P. Spangler in 1969. Eleven paratypes are listed below.

DESCRIPTION.—Form (Figure 50): Similar to P. jeppeseni, but easily distinguished from members of that species by the long setae on the elytral margin and the accessory setae of the abdominal sterna III–IV.

Color: Shiny rufotestaceous, head and elytral cloud slightly more rufous, appendages testaceous.

Head: Across eyes narrower than width of pronotum; frontal furrows well impressed, short and linear to middle of frons; eyes large and prominent.

Pronotum (Figure 50): Broadly subcordate, sides strongly sinuate in basal half; base broadly lobed; hind angles about right; side margins narrowly reflexed in basal half; disc moderately convex.

Elytra: Each elytron with 5 punctate interneurs; punctures moderately large and coarse, separated longitudinally by twice their own diameter or more, except row 1, where they are more closely arranged; rows 2–5 effaced apically, row 1 entire though less impressed apically, interneurs 6 and 7 effaced externally throughout, interneur 8 well impressed throughout, foveate at basal third; fovea small, subequal in diameter to width of elytral explanation; humeral margin evenly rounded to level of interneur 4, not connected to base of 4; side margin narrowly explanate, coarsely serrate in basal fourth, setose along entire margin; chaetotaxy as in P. brasiliensis; plica long and well developed externally.

Microsculpture: Effaced from dorsal surface.

Genitalia: Male (Figure 52) (2 examined); female characteristic of ephippiatus group (1 examined).

Size: Length, 2.04–2.40 mm; width, 0.92–1.08 mm; 10 specimens measured.

VARIATION.—The small samples available are quite homogeneous.

NATURAL HISTORY.—Specimens were collected in February, March, June, September, October, and November; none were teneral.

ETYMOLOGY.—Greek feminine noun, tolype, meaning a “ball of yarn,” referring to the form of these beetles as well as their fringe of setae on the elytral margin.

LOCALITY RECORDS (Figure 57).—I have seen 12 specimens from the following localities:

SOUTH AMERICA: ARGENTINA: La Rioja Province, El Quemado (USNM); Salta Province, Tartagal (USNM). BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz Department, Tatarenda (USNM); Tarija Department, Villa Montes on Rio Pilcomayo (USNM); Department Unknown, “Boyuibe to Yacuiba” (USNM), “Guairui” (USNM). BRAZIL: Santa Catarina State, Nova Teutonia (JNeg, MCZ). VENEZUELA: Guarico State Estacion Biologica de Los Llanos, 12.0 kilometers south of Calabozo (USNM).

DESCRIPTION.—Form various, generally subcylindrical rather than depressed, in some species quite robust. Easily distinguished from members of the other Pericompsus subgenera by the presence of a large, nearly perforate, fovea at or near the middle of interneur 8.

Color: Testaceous to almost black, forebody usually contrasting with elytra or elytral pattern, appendages testaceous or with some parts infuscated or white.

Head: As described for genus except eyes glabrous, sparsely setiferous, or pubescent, ocular bulge posterior to eye glabrous, frons with two or three supraorbital setae per eye, middle of frons glabrous, furrows various.

Prothorax: Prosternum glabrous; pronotum with lateral margins beaded or bead partically effaced, margins with one, two, or more pairs of setae, basal transverse impression strongly punctate, punctures stretched longitudinally and separated by sharp carinae, base lobed at middle, hind angles various.

Mesothorax: Elytral interneurs punctate, striate, or striate-punctate, interneur 8 subsulcate throughout and foveate at or near middle, also foveate or bifoveate at basal fourth, humeral margin rounded or angulate to level of interneur 4; chaetotaxy various.

Metathorax: Flight wings fully developed.

Abdomen: Sterna III to V each with one pair of paramedial ambulatory setae, sternum VI in female with two pairs of setae arranged in a straight row across sternum, female also with short accessory setae on sternum VI, male with a single pair of long setae on VI.

Size: Length, 1.88–3.72 mm; width, 0.81–1.48 mm.

ETYMOLOGY.—Greek adjective, peri, meaning “very,” and kompsus, meaning “elegant” or “pretty,” referring to the beautiful coloration and pattern of these beetles.

DISTRIBUTION.—The combined ranges of the species of this group extend from Massachusetts and California in the United States to middle Argentina and Chile in South America. Several species occur on the major Caribbean islands.

The univittatus group

The members of the univittatus group are characterized by the presence of the following: seven entire and well-impressed punctate interneurs on each elytron; long and rather narrow, subdepressed form; and pale testaceous color.

There is only one species presently representing this group with a poorly known range. Specimens are recorded from “Mendoza Province, Argentina” and “Chile pampas.”