Studies on the subgenus Agraphoderus Bates of Blennidus Motschulsky from Peru: the jelskii species–group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Pterostichini)

G Allegro,P M Giachino

doi:10.32800/abc.2011.34.0295

Abstract

Four new species of Blennidus subgenus Agraphoderus are described from the Andes of Southern Peru: B. (A.) procerus n. sp., B. (A.) abramalagae n. sp., B. (A.) etontii n. sp. and B. (A.) straneoi n. sp. Together with B. (A.) jelskii (Tschitschérine, 1897), they form a very homogeneous group of probably closely related species (the jelskii group), which is distinguished from other members of the subgenus by the distinctive morphology of the aedeagus. A redescription of B. (A.) jelskii is given based on the lectotype and paralectotype designated by Straneo & Vereshagina (1991), supplementing Tschitschérine’s brief original description. The distribution pattern of the species presently included in the jelskii species–group is discussed, emphasizing distinctive traits of stenoendemic species inhabiting restricted geographical areas, and discussing their possible origin by allopatric speciation.

Highlights

IntroductionThe genus Blennidus Motschulsky, 1866 at present includes about 120 species (Lorenz, 2005a) distributed in the Andean region of South America, extending from North Colombia to Chile
The genus Blennidus Motschulsky, 1866 at present includes about 120 species (Lorenz, 2005a) distributed in the Andean region of South America, extending from North Colombia to Chile.Moret (1995) considered the genera/subgenera Agraphoderus Bates, 1891, Ogmopleura Tschitschérine, 1899, Sierrobius Straneo, 1951, Pachyabaris Straneo, 1953 and Pseudocynthidia Straneo, 1953 as synonyms of the senior name Blennidus
High variability can be observed among species which are probably related based on the similarities of their external morphology and, above all, their genitalia

Summary

Introduction

The genus Blennidus Motschulsky, 1866 at present includes about 120 species (Lorenz, 2005a) distributed in the Andean region of South America, extending from North Colombia to Chile. Moret (1995) considered the genera/subgenera Agraphoderus Bates, 1891, Ogmopleura Tschitschérine, 1899, Sierrobius Straneo, 1951, Pachyabaris Straneo, 1953 and Pseudocynthidia Straneo, 1953 (formerly separated based on the presence/absence of metathoracic wings as well as of a transverse sulcus on the abdominal sterna IV–VI) as synonyms of the senior name Blennidus. He regarded these characters were largely inconsistent, in particular the presence/absence of an abdominal transverse sulcus. The subgenus Agraphoderus is the richest in species It includes the micropterous species which usually display a transverse sulcus and/or puncture rows only laterally on abdominal sterna IV–VI, with a gap in the middle. B. (A.) jelskii is redescribed, as the original description (Tschitschérine, 1897) is incomplete concerning some characters

Material and methods

Discussion