Adetus scissicauda ( Bates, 1874 )

Adetus scissicauda ( Bates, 1874) View in CoL , reinstated ( Fig. 6B View Figure 6 )

Tautoclines scissicauda Bates 1874: 225 View in CoL

Adetus scissicauda View in CoL ; Bates 1880: 107; Breuning 1960: 179 (catalogue, synonymy)

Adetus alboapicalis Breuning 1943: 37 View in CoL ; Monné 2023b: 428 (catalogue). New synonym

Remarks. Bates (1874) described A. scissicauda View in CoL based on a single specimen from Nicaragua. Breuning (1960) synonymised A. scissicauda View in CoL with A. costicollis Bates, 1872 View in CoL . Breuning (1971) confirmed the synonymy but did not explain why he considered them as synonyms. However, the description of A. scissicauda View in CoL does not suggest they are the same species. For example, Bates (1872) reported that the prothorax in A. costicollis View in CoL is narrowed anteriorly [“ thorace antice angustato ”], whereas Bates (1874) indicated that the thorax is not narrowed anteriorly [“ capite thoraceque (antice haud attenuato) :::.” The general appearances of the holotype of A. scissicauda View in CoL ( Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ) and of the lectotype of A. costicollis View in CoL ( Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ) also do not allow considering them as belonging to the same species. Therefore, we believe that Breuning (1960, 1971) did not examine the type specimens when establishing the synonymy. Additionally, the elytral pubescence is different in these two species, especially that on the apical region, and A. costicollis View in CoL has a distinct white pubescent spot just after middle of the elytra, which is absent in A. scissicauda View in CoL . Furthermore, the elytral apex in A. scissicauda View in CoL is obliquely truncate, and it is narrowly rounded in A. costicollis View in CoL . Therefore, we are reinstating A. scissicauda View in CoL . Breuning (1943) described A. alboapicalis View in CoL based on a single specimen from Venezuela. Breuning (1971) separated A. alboapicalis View in CoL ( Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ) from A. costicollis View in CoL as follows (translated): “Elytra notched apically,” leading to A. alboapicalis View in CoL ; and “Elytra rounded apically,” leading to A. costicollis View in CoL . Breuning (1960, 1971) incorrectly interpreted the elytral apex in A. scissicauda View in CoL based on a confused description by Bates (1874), who affirmed that it was obtusely rounded, and strongly emarginate near the suture [“ apice ipso obtuse rotundato, juxta suturam conjunctim fortiter emarginato ”]. In fact, the elytral apex in the holotype of A. scissicauda View in CoL is identical to that in the holotype of A. alboapicalis View in CoL . As the general appearance, including the pronotal and elytral pubescence, is similar in both holotypes, we consider A. alboapicalis View in CoL to be a junior synonym of A. scissicauda View in CoL . Adetus scissicauda View in CoL is similar to A. griseicauda ( Bates, 1872) View in CoL ( Fig. 6E View Figure 6 ) but differs in having sparser pronotal punctures (partially confluent in A. griseicauda View in CoL ), elytra with punctures not aligned (punctures aligned in A. griseicauda View in CoL ), and the elytral apex obliquely truncate (narrowly rounded in A. griseicauda View in CoL ).

Adetus scissicauda View in CoL is known from Mexico (Guerrero), Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela ( Bezark 2023; Monné 2023b; Tavakilian and Chevillotte 2023).