Zalophia auricomis ( Chemsak and Linsley, 1979 ), 2024

Zalophia auricomis ( Chemsak and Linsley, 1979) , new combination

( Fig. 52–64 View Figures 52–64 )

Lophalia auricomis Chemsak and Linsley 1979: 267 View in CoL ; Chemsak et al. 1992: 84; Monné and Giesbert 1994: 146; Monné 1994: 33; Turnbow et al. 2003: 17

Materials examined. Holotype, male, HONDURAS: Yoro, Yoro, 28 Dec. 1977, J.V. Mankins ( CASC). Two paratypes from HONDURAS: La Paz: El Taladro, 26 Dec. 1977, J.V. Mankins (1 male, EMEC); Cortés: Omoa, 30 Dec. 1977, J.V. Mankins (1 female, EMEC) . Other materials examined: HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: Uyuca- Masicaran, 13°58′20.81″N, 87°3′22.70″, 1000 m, 8 Sept. 2017, van den Berghe (1 male, FSCA).

Discussion. According to Chemsak and Linsley (1979: 267), this species is “moderate in size (14–16 mm) and slightly tapering with integument black.” “Each elytron has two glabrous, slightly elevated, longitudinal, yellowish vittae,” a broad, subsutural vitta almost attain apex, and “a narrow submarginal one beginning behind humerus not attaining apex.” The antennae are “stout, extending slightly beyond elytra” in males, and antennomeres I–V “minutely, densely punctate,” and “densely clothed with dark, suberect and subdepressed setae.” The pronotum is moderately, coarsely, and densely punctate with transverse, appressed, golden pubescence “except for a glabrous longitudinal median line.” The mesosternal “intercoxal process is elevated above coxae and abruptly declivous” anteriorly. The apex of each elytron is noted as “sinuate-truncate with outer angle usually dentate;” however, the tooth on outer angle in males is minute and obtuse, and in the female the outer angle is unarmed.

Lophalia auricomis Chemsak and Linsley is placed under the genus Zalophia Casey since the overall appearance more closely resembles Zalophia funebris (Bates) than Lophalia Casey. Similarity includes the overall dimensions of pronotum (L/ W 0.85 –0.946 ×) and elytra (L/W: 2.32–2.44 ×), more prominent mesosternal process, short and stout antennae, and densely pubescent head, pronotum and antennomeres I–V. In both Z. funebris (Bates) and Z. auricomis (Chemsak and Linsley) new combination the front is declivous, antennal tubercles are divergent, and the outer angles of elytra are either unarmed, obtusely angulate, or minutely dentate. Zalophia auricomis can be differentiated from Z. funebris by the pronotum that is rounded at sides, and the disc that is coarsely, densely punctate with transverse, appressed golden pubescence, and glabrous longitudinal midline. The pronotum of Z. funebris is angulate and tuberculate on sides, and the disc is alveolate punctate, longitudinally keeled in middle on apical half, which terminates as a glabrous callus, and the basal half is vaguely depressed in the center with pubescence dense and dark. The submarginal yellow costa on the elytron of Z. auricomis start immediately behind the humerus, while in Z. funebris the costa starts from the basal fifth of elytra, which is often darker on basal half and apically yellowish. Lophalia Casey can be differentiated from this species by the glabrous, sparsely clothed integument, front that is convex with integument between antennal tubercles that is not or barely impressed, outer angles of elytral apices that are distinctly dentate, and antennomeres I–V that are sparsely pubescent and comparatively slenderer. The species name “ auricomis ” is derived from “ auricomus ”, which is an adjective meaning “ aurum ” (“gold”) and “ coma ” (“hair of the head”) referring to the golden pubescence on the pronotum of this species.