Pericompsus (Eidocompsus) immaculatus Bates 1871

Pericompsus immaculatus Bates

Pericompsus immaculatus Bates, 1871:246. [Lectotype, here selected, a female, in MHNP. Two paralectotypes also labeled by me in MHNP. Type-locality: “Ega” (Tefé), Amazonas, Brazil.]

DESCRIPTION.—Form (Figure 29): Similar to P. brasiliensis, but easily distinguished from members of that species by the paler color including the noninfuscated distal antennal articles and the rufescent dorsal color, by the subcordate rather than transverse pronotum, and by the smaller size.

Color: Rufous, elytral cloud and antennal articles 3–5 slightly darker, appendages testaceous.

Head: Much narrower across eyes than pronotum; frontal furrows moderately impressed and evenly arcuate to posterior margin of eye; eyes moderately large and prominent.

Pronotum (Figure 29): Broadly subcordate, sides moderately sinuate in basal half; base slightly lobed at middle; hind angles about right; side margins not reflexed; disc moderately strongly convex.

Elytra: Each elytron with 5 punctate interneurs; punctures moderately large and separated longitudinally by about their own diameter; rows 2–5 effaced in basal third, row 1 entire though less impressed apically, interneurs 6 and 7 effaced externally throughout, interneur 8 well impressed throughout, not foveate; humeral margin rounded and slightly concave to level of interneur 4, not connected to base of 4; side margin narrowly explanate, coarsely serrate-setulose in basal fourth; chaetotaxy as in P. brasiliensis; plica long and well developed externally.

Microsculpture: Effaced from dorsal surface.

Genitalia: Male (Figure 35) (8 examined); female characteristic of ephippiatus group (2 examined).

Size: Length, 1.84–2.64 mm; width, 0.80–1.00 mm; 10 specimens measured.

VARIATION.—A very constant species throughout a large range. Its presence on the island of Cuba and its occurrence along sea beaches indicates great vagility and probable gene flow between remote populations.

NATURAL HISTORY.—Specimens were collected in all months of the year; teneral specimens were collected in March, May, August, and September. Several specimens were collected at light. The wings are fully developed; thus, the beetles are probably capable of flight. George and Kay Ball collected a long series on the sea beach in Veracruz, and other specimen labels indicate proximity to oceans.

DISTRIBUTION.—The range of this species extends from the Caribbean to the southern Amazonian Basin. Its occurence in Cuba indicates high vagility; hence it can be expected to be found anywhere in the Neotropical Region north of 20° S latitude.

LOCALITY RECORDS (Figure 38).—I have seen 123 specimens from the following localities:

CARIBBEAN: CUBA: Cayamas (MCZ, UASM, USNM); Havana (USNM); Soledad, Cienfuegos (MCZ, USNM).

MEXICO: VERACRUZ: 18.0 miles east of Paso del Toro (UASM, USNM); Tres Zapotes (USNM).

CENTRAL AMERICA: COSTA RICA: Hamburg Farm, Reventazon (USNM); Port Limon (MCZ). Honduras: 5.0 miles east of Choluteca (USNM). PANAMA: Canal Zone, Albrook Forest in Fort Clayton (RTAI), Ancon (USNM), Fort Kobbe, Pacific area (USNM).

SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL: Amazonas State, Amazonas River at Benjamin Constant (MCZ), Amazonas River at Parana da Eva (CNC), Ega (MHNP); Ceara State, Fortaleza (MCZ); Mato Grosso State, Rio Caraguata (MCZ). COLOMBIA: Magdalena Department, Aracataca (MCZ, USNM), Rio Frio (MCZ, USNM). PERU: Loreto Department, San Jorge, about 10 miles west of Pucallpa (CAS). VENEZUELA: Guarico State, 12.0 kilometers south of Calabozo at Estacion Biologica de Los Llanos (USNM); Portuguesa State, Guanare (CAS).