Physiomorphus mimeticus Pollock & Ide & Costa 2000, sp. n.

Overview & Synopsis

Physiomorphus mimeticus Pollock sp. n.(Figures 28, 35, 37-38, 59, 69)HOLOTYPE, ♀, labelled:`ECUADOR: Sucumbios Sacha Lodge, 0.5°S, 76.5°W, 270 m, 31 X - 10.XI 1994, Hibbs, ex: malaise / [barcoded label] SM002309 1 KUNHM-ENT’, in SEMC. PARATYPE, ♀, labelled:`PERU: Dept. Loreto; 160 km NE Iquitos, Explornapo Camp, 2km from Rio Napo on Rio Sucusari; day catch 27-31.VIII.1992; P. Skelley’, in DAPC.Derivation of specific epithetThis new and striking species is named for the orange and black colouration, and the elongate antennomeres, both of which are indicative of possible membership in a mimicry complex.Diagnosis, adultThis species may be separated from its congeners by the following diagnostic combination: antennomeres fl abellate from antennomere 3; body surface with dense vestiture; colour pattern vividly contrasting black and orange.Description, adultCharacters of Physiomorphus, with the following specific features: Body elongate (TL/GEW 3.23-3.65), parallel-sided. Head. Scape relatively short, subglobular; antennomere 2 very short, less than one third length of scape; antennomeres 3-10 fl abellate, becoming more produced towards apex of antenna; antennomere 11 with distal cleft; distal maxillary palpomere securiform; eyes relatively small and widely separated. Pronotum moderately wide (GPW /PL 1.33-1.41), distinctly wider than head (GPW /GHW 1.24-1.26); lateral margins of disc subparallel basally to near middle, then slightly and evenly arcuate to anterior margin; discal depressions relatively shallow, indistinctly de fi ned, especially laterally; punctation shallow, umbilicate, irregular; setation dense, especially laterally (orange areas), with setae somewhat whorled. Elytra relatively convex, with suggestions of multiple, longitudinal costae; epipleuron present to apex, gradually and evenly narrowed posteriorly; vestiture relatively dense, obscuring very fi ne punctation. Abdomen. Sexual setae and male genitalia not examined. Colour. Black, except for the following areas, orange: narrow margin of frons along inner eye margin, area of head behind eyes, lateral areas on pronotum, humeri and central third of elytra; ventral body surface mixture of rufous and piceous; legs with rufous femora and piceous tibiae and tarsi.