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Description of Coctilelater minimus sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae)

2009; Entomological Society of Brazil; Volume: 53; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/s0085-56262009000100009

1806-9665

Simone Policena Rosa,

Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography

The Neotropical genus Coctilelater was described by Costa (1975) to include two species, C. corymbitoides (Candèze, 1900) and C. sanguinicollis (Candèze, 1878), which were described in Pyrophorus Billberg, 1820, a genus which comprised all bioluminescent Agrypninae.Coctilelater was included in the tribe Heligmini Costa, 1975 (pre-occupied name, replaced by Cleidecostini Johnson, 2002) with several other species closely related to bioluminescent agrypnines, but without bioluminescent organs.In a cladistic analysis of the Pyrophorini (Rosa, 2007) Coctilelater is among the descendants of the most recent ancestor of Pyrophorini and the absence of bioluminescent organs is due to the loss of this character.In fact, at least C. corymbitoides has a pair of yellow nebulous spots on the pronotal posterior margin similar to the bioluminescent organs of some Pyrophorini.However, until now, there is not any report of the luminescent emission capability in that species.Coctilelater species are mainly characterized by small size (6.0-12.9mm), subserrate antennae, small eyes and mandibles without subapical tooth.The purpose of this work is to describe Coctilelater minimus sp nov., from Brazil (Pará).The types are deposited in the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) and Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP).Coctilelater minimus sp.nov.Etymology.Latin: minimus = the smallest; in reference to the relative size of the species.