A Gaxonomic Review of the Genus Pseudozonitis Dillon (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Abstract

ISSO 0002-8320 http://taes.entomology-aes.org/ This included elytral color and body size which vary intraspecifically as well as features associated with the hind tibial spurs which do not provide the separation contended. The aim of this paper is to augment Enns' study by treating the entire known range of the genus, incorporating more recent collections, and emphasizing characters which better reflect species differences. As a result the definitions of certain species are modified considerably. Included are generic and species descriptions, a discussion of the relationship of Pseudozonitis to other nemognathine genera, a revised key to species, a summary of seasonal and geographic distribution, and the description of three new species, P. dianae, P. florida, and P. huetheri. Additionally, two nominal species, P. castaneis Dillon and P. vogti Dillon, are synonymized.

Two New Species of Meloidae (Coleoptera) from Mexico

“…Thus, it is possible that the features in common are convergent. It should be noted that Pseudozonitis, the genus that both species superficially resemble, is predominantly nocturnal (Pinto 2018). These traits (larger eyes, elongate filiform antennae) similarly are shared by presumably unrelated nocturnal nemognathines in other parts of the world, namely Zonitoschema Péringuey, Zoltanzonitis Bologna and Pinto, and certain species of Australozonitis Bologna, Turco, and Pinto (Bologna and Pinto 2018).…”

“…These include the structure of the antennae, maxillary galeae, and abdominal ventrite 6. In Pseudozonitis, antennomere 3 is shorter than 4, the maxillary galeae are penicillate apically and extend slightly beyond the mandibles, and abdominal ventrite 6 typically has a relatively deep U-or Vshaped emargination (Pinto 2018). As is characteristic of Zonitis, antennomere 3 is longer than 4 in Z. bolognorum, the maxillary galeae do not extend beyond the mandibles and, while setose, are not penicillate apically.…”

“…Zonitis bolognorum is characterized by its greatly enlarged eyes and elongate filiform antennae. Within North American Nemognathini, these features also characterize Pseudozonitis Dillon (Enns 1956;Pinto 2018). The male traits separating Pseudozonitis from Zonitis, i.e., the recurved gonostyli of the genitalia and the strongly emarginate and medially impressed fifth abdominal ventrite, cannot be evaluated in Z. bolognorum.…”

Analyses of head and thorax in Eupomphini (Meloidae) suggest that complex behaviors are not associated to changes in general shape

“…Information about the presence/absence of the courtship and defensive behaviors were obtained from the literature. We mainly based on the following references : Hubbard 1901;Varley 1939;Pinto 1975Pinto , 1977Pinto , 1979. Each trait was analyzed separately.…”

“…Males of the species belonging to the lineages Eupompha LeConte, 1858, Tegrodera LeConte, 1852, and Pleuropasta Wellman, 1909 concur in that the male pull the antennae of the female into his head capsule during courtship (see p. 942 of Pinto 1977 for a graphical representation). Males of these species display a pronounced modification in head morphology (Pinto 1977, 1979), which is the presence of a cephalic sulcus that goes from the middle of the clypeus (cuticular plate on the head positioned between the labrum and the frons) to near the basis of vertex (dorsal region of the head behind the frons, or the area between the two eyes). In addition, species belonging to Tegrodera and Phodaga LeConte, 1858 exhibit an unusual defensive behavior (Pinto 1975) that consists in holding open (as in flight) the elytra and wings—allowing the bright and red abdomen to be seen—followed by rapid walking on the ground (Hubbard 1901; Varley 1939; Pinto 1975) (Fig.…”