Badister (Badister) amazonus Erwin & Ball 2011

(Fig. 1, 2, 3A–C, 4, 5A–C, 6A–D, 7). Size: Moderately large for the subgenus; ABL = 6.2–7.9mm, SBL = 5.36–6.73mm, EW (maximum width) 2.55–3.43mm, LP = 0.97–1.22mm, WP = 1.71–1.91 mm, LE = 3.86–4.84mm. Color: See Diagnosis above. Luster: See Diagnosis above. Head (Fig. 2): clypeus (cl) medially depressed, unisetose laterally, no clear demarcation from frons. Frons markedly depressed, apically with depression extended to eye carina, posteriorly somewhat concave with slight swellings medially raised to occiput; occiput shallowly domed; neck broad. Eye moderately convex; gena short and flat. Antennae and mouthparts typical for genus (see above for details) . Prothorax. Pronotum (Fig. 1, 2) markedly broad, about twice as long as head (mean LP/LH: 1.683 for males , 1.846 for females), cordiform, margin narrowly explanate with seta at anterior third; base deeply and bilaterally depressed; hind angle slightly obtusely produced and setose; moderately broader than long (mean W/L: 1.71 for males, 1.91 for females); surface medially smooth, slightly rugose laterally medial to explanation. Pterothorax. Normal for genus. Elytra. Elytron about same width as head across eyes (mean WH/WE: 0.998 for both sexes), moderately convex, intervals moderately convex and slightly more so laterally, interval 3 bisetose with each setigerous puncture adherent to interneur 2. Hind wings. Macropterous. Legs. (Fig. 1). Overall, normal for subgenus. Male front tarsus (Fig. 3B, 3C) with tarsomeres 1–3 slightly dilated and each ventrally (Fig. 3C) with 2–4 rows of white articulo-setae. Abdominal sterna with normal setation for genus. Male genitalia (Fig. 5A–5C). Median lobe (ml) with basal lobe (bl) about half length of shaft (sh), basal opening (bo) large. Shaft slender, curved ventrally, dorsally membranous (om) except for two long sclerotized strips (ss) extended from basal lobe to ostial opening (oo); in ventral aspect tapered toward rather broadly rounded apex, preapically with prominent preapical ridge (par), in lateral aspect, ridge a prominently projected point. Parameres (lp, rp)broad, apices subtruncate left paramere (lp) longer than right paramere (rp) about three quarters length of shaft (measured in left lateral aspect). Internal sac with apical ring of rather densely distributed microtrichia, without preapical spines. Female genitalia. (Fig. 6A–D). Ovipositor with broad laterotergite (lt) and two gonocoxites (gc 1, gc 2); gonocoxite 1 asetose; gonocoxite 2 falcate, base (b) large, broad, blade (bl) rather short, with two dorsal ensiform setae (des), and one ventral ensiform seta (ves), all ensiform setae short; without ventral preapical nematiform setae. Reproductive tract (Fig. 6A, 6B) proximally with short, broad bursa copulatrix (bc), continuous at its distal end with common oviduct (co) and long spermatheca (sp), latter coiled distally; villous canal (vc) extended from near base of spermatheca well up common oviduct; spermathecal gland (sg) bulbous; spermathecal gland duct (sgd) long, slender, attached to spermatheca at base of its coiled portion. Markedly similar to homologous structures in Badister (Baudia) reflexus LeConte (Will 1998: 99, Fig. 8), which differ as follows: spermatheca with basal uncoiled portion more extensive; distal coiled portion short; spermathecal gland elongate digitiform. Classification. Ball (1959: 194–195) arranged the species of subgenus Badister in two “complexes” characterized principally by features of the male genitalia and ovipositor gonocoxite 2. The combination of these features in Badister amazonus fits neither complex. Accordingly, we propose here the monobasic amazonus complex, characterized as follows: median lobe of male genitalia dorsally with two long sclerotized strips, internal sac without sclerotized plates or spines; gonocoxite 2 of ovipositor relatively broad basally, ensiform setae relatively short; nematiform setae absent. Additional diagnostic features are: male fore tarsomeres 1–3 (Fig. 3B) relatively slender, not much wider than tarsomeres 1–3 of middle and hind tarsi, fore tarsomere 1 longer than wide, ventral adhesive setae (Fig. 3C) concentrated in anterior half of each tarsomere. Dispersal potential. These beetles are fully macropterous and are probably capable of flight; they are fast walkers. They also are climbers on grasses (Paspalum spp.). Way of life. Adults are associated with water: in open grassy marshes, on beaches of black and white water rivers, and in forest swamps at the edges of standing black water ponds in leaf litter on grey clay soil (Kaolin). They are active at night and take cover in the day among grass stems and under flood debris. They are active in May and August–September; no teneral adults were encountered in these months. Other specimens examined. Perú, Loreto, SW bank of Rio Ucayali, 90m, 4.2089°S, 73.3657°W, 2 September 1991, (T.L. Erwin)(NMNH: ADP051862, female); Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Rio Samiria, Cocha Shinguito, 90m, 5.1775°S, 74.6556°W, 21 May 1990 (T.L. Erwin)(NMNH: ADP093676, 128618, females); 1.0 km SW boca del Rio Samiria, Vigilante Post 1, 130m, "04°40.5'S, 074°18.9'W" 31 August 1991–1 November 1991 (G.E. Ball & D. Shpeley)(NMNH: ADP127151, female, 127149, male); 1.0 km SW boca del Rio Samiria, Vigilante Post 1, 130m, "04°40.5'S, 074°18.9'W" 31 August 1991 (T.L. Erwin & M.G. Pogue)(NMNH: ADP051697, 051603, 051336, 051721, 051672, 051743, 051693, 051698, 051722, 051694, 051724, 051692, 051670, 051717, 051718, 051723, 050590, 050589, 050605, 051696, 051720 females and ADP051824, 051630, 051719, 051713, 051826, 051691, 051695 males); 1.0 km SW boca del Rio Samiria, Vigilante Post 1, 130m, "04°40.5'S, 074°18.9'W" 31 August 1991 (T.L. Erwin)(NMNH: ADP051592, 051563, 051544, 051583, 051589, 051559, 051590, 051564, 051567, 051569, 051561, 051581, 051585, 051570, 051584, 051565, 051543 females and ADP051562, 051541, 051591, 051542, 051566, 051588, 051560, 051568 males). Two males and 12 females at UASM with the following label data: /PERU Dpto. Loreto/ 1 km SW Boca del Rio/Samiria 04°40'29"S, 74°18'55"W 130m/marsh, treading/31.VIII.& 1.IX.91 30–91//T. L. ERWIN EXP./Res. Pacaya-Samiria/G.E. Ball & D. Shpeley/collectors 1991//. Geographic distribution. (Fig. 7). This species is currently known from only three localities: two along the Río Samiria, and one along the Río Ucayali, Loreto Department, Perú. Notes. We are not presenting an analysis of variation in body proportions because this species can be separated from all other members of the genus without resorting to such attributes. In regard to the location (latitude/longitude) above for “1.0 km SW del boca Rio Samiria,” Google Earth allows us now to refine what is given on the labels. The actual site is 4.686779°S, 74.336711°W at an elevation of 101m. Also, the female specimen from the Río Ucayali was mistakenly labeled “Río Amazonas.” The river changes names in the vicinity of Iquitos, Perú.