Elaphidion Audinet-Serville, 1834

Elaphidion Audinet-Serville, 1834 View in CoL View at ENA

Elaphidion tuberculicolle Fisher, 1932: 25 View in CoL ; Devesa et al., 2015: 224. ( Fig. 1- 29, 34-36 & 41).

Elaphidion scaramuzzai Fisher, 1951: 77 View in CoL ; Devesa et al., 2015: 220 (part). ( Fig. 30-33 & 37 - 40).

Reviewer:

Remarks. – According to Fisher (1951), E. scaramuzzai is similar to E. tuberculicolle , but differs by the body more broadly elongate, darker color, not having the elytra costate posteriorly, antennomeres III–VI unispinose at apex, and each elytron ornamented with a large, irregular, glabrous area along the sutural margin and a distinct irregular space of dense white pubescence in front of the middle.

However, comparing photographs of the holotypes:

1. The body shape is nearly identical in both;

2. The color in the holotype of E. scaramuzzai (described as being brownish black) appears to be slightly darker than in the holotype of E. tuberculicolle (described as being brownish black). However, the color is also variable in several specimens of E. tuberculicolle examined ( Fig.1- 29), at least on some areas: from dark brown to black. Therefore, the color is not a specific feature:it is just chromatic variation;

3. The posterior half of the elytra is clearly carinate in both holotypes; 4. Although itis notpossible to verify in the photograph of the holotype of E. tuberculicolle whether there really is not a spine at the apex of the antennomere VI, it is quite likely that there is at most a spicule. In the photograph of the holotype of E. scaramuzzai is possible to see that there is a spicule or a short spine.In males of E.tuberculicolle examined ( Fig. 23-29), the apex of the antennomere V has at most a spicule. However,in allfemalesof E. tuberculicolle examined ( Fig.1-22),there is always a short spine on the apex of antennomere VI, at most slightly shorter than in the females of E.scaramuzzai examined ( Fig.30-33); in fact,females of E.tuberculicolle and E.scaramuzzai have III-VI,III-VII (more rare) or, in a few specimens, VIII also with a spicule. Therefore, the difference is not reliable to separate the two species and, probably, is a variable feature even in males, although males of E. scaramuzzai apparently are rare;

5. The glabrous areas on elytra are variable in both species, may be identical and, probably, are associated, at least partially, with rubbing; 6. The “white” pubescent area on the elytra is very variable in size and shape and, color vary from white to yellowish in both species.

Therefore, all the features pointed out by Fisher (1951) to separate the two species are variable and not useful.

Fisher (1932) described the scape in E. tuberculicolle as being “robust, strongly clavate, subequal in length to the third joint.” However, the scape evidently is not clavate in the holotype and in males and females examined by us. In fact, it is slightly and gradually widened from base to apex. Fisher (1951) described the scape in E. scaramuzzai as being “robust, very strongly clavate, slightly longer than third joint.” At least in the holotype, the scape is clavate, actually, more subpiriform. Depending on the viewing angle, the scape in E. scaramuzzai may appear less pedunculate ( Fig. 37-38) than it really is ( Fig. 30, 33, 39). Therefore, it is possible that the type series of both species be a mixture of the two species. Although Fisher (1932, 1951) did not comment about the inclination of the outer spine of elytra, it is variable and may be straight, slightly inclined inward, slightly inclined sideward, or distinct inclined sideward.According to Fisher (1932, 1951) the antennae is “one and one-half times as long as the body” in males of E. tuberculicolle , “about one and one-half times as long as body” in males of E. scaramuzzai , and “slightly longer than the body” in females of both species. However, we examined a female of E. tuberculicolle with the antennae about 1.1 times longer than the body ( Fig.21-22). Furthermore,the length of the antennomere XI in females is variable and may be shorter, equal, or longer than antennomere X.

According to Zayas (1975) on E. tuberculicolle (translated): “They [specimens] resemble E. scaramuzzae Fish. [sic] in the drawing, so sometimes this similarity leads me to suspect that both forms may constitute the same species.” Zayas (1975) described the scape shape as being clavate (“en forma de basto”). However, Zayas (1975) did not report the scape shape in E. scaramuzzai . However, as mentioned above, the scape is not clavate in E. tuberculicolle . In the collection of Zayas, examined by us, there are specimens of E. tuberculicolle identifiedas E. scaramuzzai butthere arenospecimens of E. scaramuzzai identified as E. tuberculicolle .

Devesa et al. (2015) redescribed E.scaramuzzai and E. tuberculicolle . However, the male and female of E. scaramuzzai used for the redescription were specimens of E. tuberculicolle . However, among the 11 specimens listed (excluding the holotype) in material examined, there are seven that actually correspond to E. scaramuzzai , six from Zayas’collection, collected between 1949 and 1965, and one collected in the province of Granma. By examining all specimens available in the Cuban collections, we were able to identify nine specimens that correspond to E. scaramuzzai (only females) and 187 specimens to E. tuberculicolle (males and females).

Based on the above, we consider that E. scaramuzzai differs from E. tuberculicolle only by the shape of the scape: pedunculate (subpiriform) in the former, not pedunculate in the latter. We are providing a series of photographs allowing readers and researchers to verify the variations and the real difference between the two species.

The key to Cuban species of Elaphidiini by Devesa et al. (2015) is updated from the alternative of couplet “35” as follows:

35 (33). Central area of the prosternum close to the prosternal process with dense pubescence.................... 36

––– Central area of the prosternum close to the prosternal process glabrous or almost so...................... 37

36 (35). Scape clavate (subpiriform) in both sexes ( Fig.30, 33,39)...

.......................... E. scaramuzzai Fisher, 1951 ––– Scape gradually widened from base to apex in both sexes

( Fig.34-36)............. E. tuberculicolle Fisher, 1951

37 (35). Elytra with isolated whitish pubescent maculae laterally....... E. irroratum irroratum (Linaeus, 1767)

––– Elytra with abundant pubescence on entire lateral surface............................................. 38

38 (37). Spine on apex of the antennomere III slightly arched.................... E. cristalense Zayas, 1975 ––– Spine on apex of the antennomere III straight......

................................ E. cubae Fisher, 1932

Material examined

Elaphidion tuberculicolle

(Fig. 41)

CUBA

Artemisa

- Artemisa,Campismo “La Chorrea”, 22º50’13”N 82º53’30”W

1 ♀, E.Fonseca & G.León leg.

- Candelaria,Aspiro-Rangel, Sierra del Rosario, 22º42’10.2’’N 83º10’7.8W 1 ♂, 14.IV.1934,A. Bierig leg. ( MZSP).

- Loma “El Salón,” Sierra del Rosario, 22º49’52”N 82º57’24”W

1 ♀, 18.V.2012, E.Fonseca leg.( SDPC).

- Soroa, Sierra del Rosario, 22º48’00”N 83º01’00”W

1 ex., V.1963, F. Zayas, P.Alayo & I. García leg.( FZPC);

1 ♀, V.1963, F. Zayas, P.Alayo & I. García leg. (CZACC);

1 ex., IV.1964, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- San Antonio de los Baños, Ojito de Agua, Bosque Ariguanabo, 22º54’51”N 81º59’49”W

1 ♂, 29.X.2003, S. Devesa,A. Barro, E. Fonseca & R. Nuñez leg. (SDPC).

Faunitaxys, 11 (33), 2023: 1 – 7. 3

1- 3. ♀ 1. 1. Dorsal. 2. Ventral. 3. Lateral. 4-5. ♀ 2. 4. Dorsal. 5. Ventral. 6-7. ♀ 3. 6. Dorsal. 7. Ventral. 8 -9. ♀ 4. 8. Dorsal. 9. Ventral. 10-11. ♀ 5. 10. Dorsal. 11. Ventral. 12. ♀ 6, dorsal. 13-14. ♀ 7. 13. Dorsal. 14. Ventral. 15 -17. ♀ 8. 15. Dorsal. 16. Ventral. 17. Lateral.

- San Cristóbal, Rancho Mundito , 22º44’00”N 83º14’00”W 1 ex., III.1963, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) GoogleMaps .

- San Cristóbal, Sierra de Rangel , 22º45’00”N 83º11’00”W 4 ex., IV.1963, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) GoogleMaps .

Camagüey

- Nuevitas, Monte California, Imías, 21º35’00”N 77º30’00”W 2 ex., VI.1959, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) GoogleMaps .

- Nuevitas , Playa de Santa Lucía, 21º33’42” 77º02’27”W 1 ex., VI.1955, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) .

Cienfuegos

- Aguada de Pasajeros , Cayamas, 22º15’00”N 80º48’00”W 1 ex., 15.II.1917, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) GoogleMaps .

-Cumanayagua, 22º08’58”N 80º12’7.8”W

1 ex., III.1953, F.Zayas leg.(FZPC).

Holguín

- Rafael Freire, Yuraguanal, 21º06’37.2”N 75º53’30”W 1 ♀, 15.IV.2006, S. Devesa leg. ( SDPC) GoogleMaps .

4 DEVESA & SANTOS-SILVA – On Elaphidion sp.

18 -20. ♀ 9. 18. Dorsal. 19. Ventral. 20. Lateral. 21-22. ♀ 10. 21. Dorsal. 22. Ventral. 23 -24. ♂ 1. 23. Dorsal. 24. Ventral. 25 -26. ♂ 2. 25. Dorsal. 26. Ventral.

Matanzas

- Ciénaga de Zapata , Península de Zapata, 22º18’16”N 81º22’40”W 3 ex., III.1964, F. Zayas leg. ( FZPC) GoogleMaps ;

1 ♂, 1.IV.1965, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- Ciénaga de Zapata, Playa Girón, 22º04’01”N 81º01’54”W

1 ex., 4.V.2018, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 14.IV.1987, I. Fernández leg. (CZACC).

- Matanzas, Tres Ceibas de Clavellinas, 23º04’00”N 81º39’00”W

1 ♀, 29.V.2014, A. Barro & A. Serrano leg. (SDPC).

- Martí, San Blas (Península de Zapata), 22º08’16”N 80º58’21”W 4 ex., VI.1959, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

Pinar del Río

- Sandino, Cabo Corrientes, Guanahacabibes, 21º45’17.99”N 84º30’36.01”W 1 ex., 15.IV.2018, E. Fonseca leg. ( SDPC) GoogleMaps ;

1 ♀, 20.IV.2018,A. Barro & E. Fonseca leg.(SDPC).

- Sandino, María La Gorda, Guanahacabibe, 21º48’58.58”N 84º29’49”W 1 ex., 15.VI.1955, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- Guane, Pedrera de Mendoza, 22º09’46”N 84º05’56”W

2 ex., V.1953, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- Consolación del Norte, Sierra de Cajálbana, 22°47’25”N 83º26’44”W

1 ex., VI.1956, F. Zayas leg.(FZPC).

27-29. Elaphidion tuberculicolle Fisher, 1932 , ♂ habitus 3. 27. Dorsal. 28. Ventral. 29. Lateral. 30-32. Elaphidion scaramuzzai Fisher, 1951 , ♀ 1, habitus. 30. Dorsal. 31. Ventral. 32. Lateral. 33. Elaphidion scaramuzzai , ♀ 2, dorsal habitus. 34- 39. Head, pronotum, and scape. 34. E. tuberculicolle , ♂ 3. 35. E. tuberculicolle , ♀ 2. 36. E. tuberculicolle , ♀ 7. 37. E. scaramuzzai , ♀ 1. 38-39. E. scaramuzzai , ♀ 2.

Sancti Spiritus

- Trinidad, Topes de Collantes (mirador), 21º51’49.52”N 80º01’12.86”W 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 15.VII.2009, S. Devesa leg. ( SDPC) GoogleMaps ;

1 ♀, 15.VIII.2009, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 4 ♀, 15.XI.2009, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 10 ♀, 15.XII.2009, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 3 ♀, 15.I.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

3 ♀, 15.III.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

3 ♂, 10 ♀, 15.V.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

8 ♂, 19 ♀, 15.VI.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ex., 15.IX.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ex., 15.X.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

3 ♂, 4 ♀, 15.XI.2010, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

4 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.II.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.III.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 6 ♀, 17.V.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

2 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.VI.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.X.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.XI.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.XII.2011, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1.I.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

3 ♂, 6 ♀, 15.II.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

5 ♂, 10 ♀, 15.III.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

2 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.IV.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 1 ♀, 15.V.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 3 ♀, 1.VI.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 15.VIII.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC).

1 ♂, 15.X.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 3 ♀, 15.XII.2012, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.I.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 3 ♀, 15.II.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.III.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.IV.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

2 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.V.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♂, 2 ♀, 15.VI.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC);

1 ♀, 15.VII.2013, S. Devesa leg. (SDPC).

Santiago de Cuba

- Santiago de Cuba , La Gran Piedra, 20º0’34’’N 75º37’38’’W 1 ♀, 26.VI.1998, Y.Suárez leg. ( CZCTR) GoogleMaps .

40. Elaphidion scaramuzzai Fisher, 1951 . 41. Elaphidion tuberculicolle Fisher, 1932 .

Elaphidion scaramuzzai

(Fig. 40)

CUBA

Guantánamo

- Baracoa, ruta de Baracoa a Imías, PK 26, 4, 420 m.s.n.m., 19’31’07’’N 76º22’37’’W

1 ♀, 23.VII.1996, J. Hexaire leg. ( JTPC).

Granma

- Bartolomé Masó, Aguada de Joaquín, Sierra Maestra, 19º59’22”N 76º50’09”W

1 ♀, 27.I.2007, E. Fonseca leg. (SDPC).

Holguín

- Mayarí, Sierra del Cristal, 20º33’00”N 75º31’00”W

1 ♀, 1.VI.1956, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC);

1 ♀, 1.VI.1959, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- Mayarí, La Zolita, Sierra del Cristal, 20º34’00”N 75º28’00”W

1 ♀, 18.II.2010, R. Nuñez & O. Madruga leg. (SDPC).

Santiago de Cuba

- Santiago de Cuba , Cuabitas, 20°03'48"N 75°48'45"W GoogleMaps

1 ♀, 1.I.1949, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).

- Santiago de Cuba, La Gran Piedra, 20°00'34"N 75°37'38"W

1 ♀, 1.VI.1954, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC);

1 ♀, 9.III.2008, R. Núñez & O. Madruga leg. (SDPC).

- Guamá, Pico Turquino, Sierra Maestra, 19º59’22”N 76º50’09”W

1 ♀, 1.VI.1954, F. Zayas leg. (FZPC).