Mannophorus virgulata virescens ( Eya, 2010 ), 2024

Mannophorus virgulata virescens ( Eya, 2010) , new combination and new synonymy

( Fig. 192–199 View Figures 188–201 )

Ischnocnemis virescens Eya 2010: 10 View in CoL (new synonymy)

Materials examined. MEXICO: Oaxaca: 23 km N Huajuapan de Leon , HWY 125, 15 Oct. 2005, B.K. Eya (paratype: 1 male, BKEC) ; 5 km S Huapanapan ( Hwy 125), 6015 ft. gps, N18°06′30″, W97°41′13″, 18 Oct. 2004, CLB 899, C.L. Belamy, flowers of yellow composite (4 males, 2 females, CSCA) GoogleMaps ; 1.2–1.8 km S Huapanapan , 1785–1815 m., 18°07′, 97°40′, 14 Oct. 1989, R.L. Westcott, on flower of Asteraceous shrub (1 male, EMEC) ; 63 km N Huajuapan 14 Oct. 1978, E. Giesbert (3 males, FSCA). Puebla: 5 km NW Petlalcingo , 1400 m., 13 Oct. 1989, R.L. Westcott, on flower of Asteraceous shrub (1 male, EMEC) ; MX 190, 2.25 mi S Chila de las Flores , 13 Oct. 2019, F.W. Skillman, J.F. Limon, N17.94615 W97.87542, el. 5891′ (3 males, 3 females, FWSC) GoogleMaps ; 21 km NW Huajuapan 13 Oct. 1978, E. Giesbert (1 male, 2 females, FSCA). Guerrero: 6–8 km W Tixtla, 15–20 Oct. 1984, E. Giesbert (2 males, FSCA) ; 10 km E Tixtla , 18/ 22 Sept. 1982, elev. 1770, J.A. Powell, J.A. Chemsak (paratypes: 6 males, 9 females, EMEC) ; 10.5 km N Iguala, 12 Oct. 1994, E. Giesbert (1 female, FSCA) ; 10.5 km N Iguala, 19–21 Sept. 1989, + 4000′ E. Giesbert (1 female, FSCA) ; 39 km W Iguala , 5000′, 18–21 Sept. 1989, E. Giesbert (1 male, 1 female, FSCA) ; 5–7 km NW Taxco , 14 Sept. 1982, 1850–1900 m., J.A Powell, J.A. Chemsak (paratypes: 3 males, 2 females, EMEC) ; km 55, 5 km SW Jct. Iguala-Taxco Hwy , 27 Sept. 1994, Chemsak (paratypes: 2 males, EMEC) ; 10 km N Iguala , 26, Nov. 1994, F.A. Noguera (paratype: 1 male, EMEC) ; 16 km NW Iguala , 12/ 15 Sept. 1982, elev. 1160 m., J.A. Powell, J.A. Chemsak (paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, EMEC) ; 33 km W Iguala , 28 Sept. 1994, Chemsak (paratype: 1 female, EMEC) ; 12 km S of Ixcateopan , 13 Sept. 1982, 1530 m., J.A. Powell, J.A. Chemsak (paratype: 1 female, EMEC) ; 22 km NE Teloloapan , 16 Sept. 1982, 1530 m., J.A. Powell, J.A. Chemsak (paratypes: 3 males, EMEC) ; 6 km S of Petaquillas , 19 Sept. 1982, 1730 m., (paratype: 1 male, EMEC) ; Mochitlan , 24 Sept. 1964, E.G. Linsley, A.E. Michelbaucher (paratype: 1 female, EMEC) ; Acahuizotla , 18 Oct. 1989, J. Blackaller (paratype: 1 female, EMEC) ; 22 km E Chichihualco , 5200′, 22 Sept. 1989, E. Giesbert (1 male, 1 female, FSCA). Morelos: 46 mi. S Cuernavaca, 5250 ft., 12 Sept. 1957, H.A. Scullen (paratypes: 2 males, 3 females, EMEC) ; Cañon de Lobos , 6/ 12 Sept. 1976, E. Barrera (paratype: 1 female, EMEC), 6/ 12 Sept. 1976, J. Butze (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), 7 Sept. 1976, S. Barrios (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), col. diurna, I. Riuas (paratype: 1 female, EMEC), col. Diurna, Y. Rico (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), 8 Sept. 1976, E. Flora (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), M. Ponce (paratype: 1 female, EMEC), 9 Sept. 1976, G. Ortega (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), col. Diurna, E. Flora (paratype: 1 female, EMEC), J.M. Pino (paratype: 1 female, EMEC), 10 Sept. 1976, col. Diurna, S. Suarez (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), col. Diurna, M. Mendez (paratype: 1 male, EMEC), J.M. Pino (paratype: 1 male, EMEC) .

Discussion. Comparative examination of Mannophorus virgulata virescens (Eya) new combination and new synonymy reveals that virescens is structurally almost identical to the nominotypical subspecies M. virgulata virgulata (Chemsak) . However, M. v. virescens is slightly larger in overall size (10–14 mm), punctures smaller shallower and sparser, erect pubescence comparatively shorter, and the integument of pronotal disc more frequently aeneous metallic green. Also, the subsutural eburneous costae of elytra tend to be broader anteriorly, and the lateral collar-like projections on the anterior margin of the pronotum are more prominent in M. v. virescens . This subspecies is slightly larger than M. v. virgulata and therefore, the antennae are longer and the antennomeres are more elongate due to the allometric development frequently observed in trachyderines (e.g., Linsley and Chemsak 1961: 28). The antennae of female M. v. virescens compared to M. v. virgulata are usually longer attaining elytral apices or exceeding apices by a half of antennomere while those of the M. v. virgulata female are shorter than body attaining the base of fourth abdominal sternite. In males the antennae exceed the elytral apices in both subspecies with those of M. v. virescens usually exceeding the apices by three antennomeres and M. v. virgulata usually by two. The most strikingly distinct hypoallometric feature in the female M. v. virgulata is the shortened antennae with enlarged or expanded distal antennomeres from antennomere VI as found in Chemsakiella . The distal antennomeres of virescens females are elongate, slender, and not enlarged. The comparative lengths of antennomeres for several female specimens examined showed that the M. v. virgulata female have antennomeres IV–VII that are shorter than I compared to the M. v. virescens females with antennomere IV subequal to I and V–VII slightly longer than I. Similar examination of several male specimens revealed that M. v. virgulata have antennomeres that are thickened or expanded with IV, IX and X that are subequal to or slightly longer than I, while M. v. virescens have antennomeres that are slender with IV, IX and X much longer than I. Mannophorus v. virescens is redesignated as a subspecies of M. v. virgulata since my comparative examination did not reveal any other striking difference ( Fig. 202–217 View Figures 202–217 ) except for the morphology of the antennae ( Fig. 218–221 View Figures 218–221 ). The examples of dorsal habitus as shown in the figures ( Fig. 218–221 View Figures 218–221 ) are the extreme forms of the two subspecies.

Based on the materials examined, M. v. virescens ranges from southern Puebla (i.e., Petlalcingo, and Chila de las Flores), southward to Oaxaca (i.e., Huajuapan de Leon), west into Guerrero (i.e., from Acahuizotla and Tixtla to Ixateopan), and northward to Morelos (near Cuernavaca).