Albascopia columbica ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890 )

Albascopia columbica ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890) View in CoL

( Figs. 4–5 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 , Map 1)

Apioscelis columbica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890: 100 View in CoL . Syntypes: male and female, COLOMBIA. Depository : NMW. Apioscelis columbica View in CoL : Kirby, 1910: 85. Catalogued.

Apioscelis columbica View in CoL : Carbonell, 1977: 8. Lectotype and paralectotype designation.

Apioscelis columbica : Carbonell et al., 2007: 44. Catalogued.

Albascopia columbica View in CoL : Bentos-Pereira et al., 2015: 112.

Redescription. Male. Slender and large ( 60 mm) compared to other known species of the genus. General body coloration brown ( Figs. 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ); eyes reddish-brown ( Figs. 4C, D View FIGURE 4 ). Genae with two light brown stripes separated by a thin dark brown stripe ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ). Head distinctly constricted below the eyes ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); fastigium truncate at apex in frontal view ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ), subtriangular in lateral view, not surpassing the first four antennal segments, slightly curved forward ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ). Antennae with eight segments; last four segments slightly dorsoventrally flattened ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). Eyes globose, prominent, occupying one-third of the cephalic capsule ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ). Thorax. Pronotum rugose, covered with multiple granules throughout ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Mesonotum forming a rectangular plate, longer than wide ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ). Metanotum divided into two plates: anterior plate larger, longer than wide; posterior plate half the size of the anterior, wider than long ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ). Legs. Fore and mid legs slender, similar in shape. Hind femur dilated at basal half, then tapering toward the apex. Hind tibia slender, armed with 16 spines along the outer dorsal margin and 10 smaller spines along the inner dorsal margin. Abdomen. Epiproct lanceolate, longer than wide, with angled apex ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Cerci cylindrical, half the length of the epiproct ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ), apex rounded, unmodified ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ). Subgenital plate twice as long as the preceding sternite ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ). Pallium without projections or modifications ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ); distal margin curved, forming a shallow angular emargination at midline ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ). Genitalia. Not examined.

Female. Not examined.

Comments. This species was originally described by Brunner von Wattenwyl (1890) from Colombia, without a specific locality. Since its description, no additional specimens have been recorded.

Recently, the species was placed in the genus Albascopia based on specimens from the Colombian Orinoquía region, which exhibited similar external morphology (Bentos Pereira et al. 2015). However, upon re-examination and comparison with the type specimens of A. columbica , it was determined that these specimens belong to a different species within the genus Paraproscopia . These specimens will be detailed in a forthcoming publication (Cadena-Castañeda in prep.).

Examination of the type specimens of A. columbica revealed that males lack the spine-like projection on the posterior frontal plate of subgenital plate, a character present in some Paraproscopia species. Comparisons with species here included in Albascopia indicate a closer affinity, particularly with A. caldensis comb. nov. Accordingly, the definition of Albascopia is revised, and a redescription of the genus and A. columbica is provided, based on its type specimens, which represent the type species of the genus. This comprehensive redefinition aims to prevent future confusion and contribute to the taxonomic stability of this group of proscopiids.

According to its original description, the precise locality of A. columbica remains unknown. In correspondence with the curatorial team at the Natural History Museum in Vienna ( NMW), I was informed that the collection contains two male specimens designated as lectotype and paralectotype, both labeled with specimen code 9987. Additionally, an immature female specimen, not designated as a type, is cataloged under code 9946 (Wöss Günther pers comm.) .

The NMW collection includes a record of localities associated with specimens studied by Brunner von Wattenwyl, which are linked to specimen or type codes. For the males labeled 9987, the associated locality is “Muzo 25/12,” while the immature female (code 9946) is labeled “San Carlos 1/4 73.” Muzo is a known locality in the department of Boyacá, Colombia (Map 1). However , the exact identity of “San Carlos” remains uncertain, as several places with this name exist in Colombia. The original description also mentions another adult female specimen that could not be located in the Vienna collection .

Specimens of Paraproscopia aberrans ( Hebard, 1923) , one male and one female, have also been recorded from Muzo and are deposited at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) ( Hebard 1923). The female specimen from Muzo studied by Hebard (1933) differs markedly from the conspecific females we examined from Villavicencio, Colombia, and surrounding areas (Cadena-Castañeda in prep.). Based on these differences, we suggest that both the female and possibly the male specimens studied by Hebard may belong to A. columbica .

In support of this hypothesis, we reviewed several iNaturalist records from areas near the type locality of A. columbica . One observation from Otanche, Boyacá (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235232403), features a male specimen with a reddish-brown coloration ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ), which may fade post-mortem. Morphologically, this specimen closely resembles the type specimens. Two females’ specimens from Puerto Boyacá, Boyacá, near the border with Bolívar municipality in Santander department (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257371748, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/254248500) ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ), show a strong resemblance to the female studied by Hebard, currently identified as P. aberrans , but likely conspecific with the males of A. columbica . These females also match the external morphological characteristics typical of the genus Albascopia , further supporting the hypothesis presented here.