Jonathan Mawdsley.
A revision of the genus Dieropsis Gahan (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae).
Psyche 100:5-24, 1993.

Full text (searchable PDF, 1736K)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/100/100-005.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

A REVISION OF THE GENUS DZEROPSXS GAHAN
(COLEOPTERA: CLERIDAE: CLERINAE)
Department of Entomology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 021 38
The genus Dieropsis Gahan is certainly one of the most unusual genera of the family Cleridae. Its position within the Cleridae has been discussed by Gahan (1908:95-96), Schenkling (1910:98). Corporaal (1950:244), Crowson (1964:303), and Winkler (1964: 3 17-329; l982:5 19-523). Species of the genus Dieropsis display unique characters such as the elongated profemora and protibiae in males of one species and an unusual ocular division which Winkler (1964:317-329; 1982519-523) has argued call for the establish- ment of a separate subfamily (Dieropsinae) for this genus. On the other hand, Gahan (19089-96), Schenkling (1910:98), Corporaal (1950:244), and Crowson (1964:303) retain the species of this genus within the subfamily Clerinae near the genus Trichodes Herbst. I have been able, through a Hennigian analysis similar to that performed by Ekis (1977:126-134), to show that the sister group of the genus Dieropsis is the genus Trichodes and therefore recognition of a subfamily Dieropsinae would invalidate the previ- ously established subfamily Clerinae by paraphyly. The number of species in the genus Dieropsis has also been open to debate. Gahan (1908:95-96) described a single sexually dimorphic species, Dieropsis quadriplagiata Gahan, while Winkler (1964:305-329) described the female representatives of Gahan's Dieropsis quadriplagiata as a separate species, Dieropsis femina Winkler. On the basis of my own morphological investigations, I have been able to determine that the majority of specimens identi- fied as Dieropsis femina are actually females of the species Dieropsis quadriplagiata, while those specimens identified as Manuscript received 19 October 1992.
Pu&f 100524 (1993). hup Yipsychc rntclub nrgtlOWlOO.005 html



================================================================================

6 Psyche [vo~. 100
Dieropsis femina which are male do not differ in the structure of their genitalia from other males of the species Dieropsis quadripla- giata. I have therefore synonymized Dieropsis femina with Dierop- sis quadriplagiata. However, I have found that a second, undescribed species of the genus Dieropsis exists which differs in the structure of its male genitalia from Dieropsis quadriplagiata. This species is described as Dieropsis ralphi New Species below. BMNH - British Museum of Natural History, London, England (D. Kempster)
FMNH - Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA (A. F. Newton)
INSB
- Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium (M. Cludts)
JRMA - Jonathan R. Mawdsley Collection (private collection) c/o MCZ, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
MRAC - Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium (H. M. Andre)
MCZC - Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, USA (D. G. Furth)
Note:
Terminology in descriptions follows that of Ekis (1977). Complete collecting information is only provided for type specimens; for all other specimens, collecting locality only is provided.
Genus Dieropsis Gahan
Type Species Dieropsis quadriplagiata Gahan (by monotypy)
References: Gahan 1908:95-96; Schenkling 19 1 O:98; Wolcott 193 1 :330; Corporaal 1 95O:244; Crowson l964:303; Winkler 1964:305-329; Winkler 1982:523; Kolibac 1987: 105-1 10; Kolibac 1989a:26-30; Kolibac 1989b:3-25. Description:
Head:
As broad as pronotum, black, coarsely punctate. Eyes emar- ginate in front, divided into two adjacent areas of differently



================================================================================

Mawdsley
sized facets, the facets of the lower part approximately twice as large as the facets of the upper part. Antennae eleven-seg- mented, terminating in a slightly asymmetrical three-seg- mented club; club similar in structure to those of species of the genus Trichodes. Labrum distinct and transverse, with a deep sinuate emargination in front. Terminal segment of maxillary palpi cylindrical; terminal segment of labial palpi triangular.
Thorax:
Pronotum black, coarsely punctured, covered with long dense erect black setae. Subapical depression well developed. Pronotum proper feebly rugulose, more parallel sided than rounded, usually with a longitudinal depression extending medially from the subapical depression to the pronotal collar, bearing laterally a pair of yellow tubercles which are more pronounced in females than in males.
Legs black, heavily sclerotized and coarsely granulate, cov- ered with long dense erect black setae. Metafemora not attaining the apex of the elytra. Tarsi 5-5-5 (not 5-54), con- siderably thickened; segment 1 very small; segment 2 elon- gate and enlarged, as large as segments 3 and 4 together; segments 3 and 4 of equal size; segment 5 elongate, almost square in cross-section. Segments 2, 3, and 4 bearing small truncate brownish-yellow pulvilli ventrally. Segment 5 with a pair of simple, divergent claws at apex separated by a setu- lose onychium.
Elytra with coarse, irregular punctures at base, punctures decreasing in size towards apex with apical third of elytra devoid of punctures. Elytra black, except for two large yel- lowish-orange transverse maculae on each elytron. Epipleural fold concave beneath humeri at base of elytra; otherwise flat. Humeral angle bearing sparse, erect black setae. Elytral mac- ulae with sparse orange-yellow setae; black areas of elytra covered with black pubescence. Apex of elytra feebly and sinuately truncate.
Mesosternum and metasternum black, heavily punctate, cov- ered in thick, black, dense setae, not differing in structure from those of species of the genus Trichodes. Metasternum with a distinct tubercle on either side of discriminal line.



================================================================================

8 Psyche [vo~. 100
Abdomen: Ventrally black, heavily punctate, clothed with thick, black, dense setae. Six sterna visible; as in most Clerinae, fifth visible sternite emarginate at apex in males and rounded at apex in females. Sternal depressions reddish-orange in color.
Key to the Species of the Genus Dieropsis Gahan la.) Length from center of frons to elytral apices greater than 20 ........................ mm; apex of male tegmen as shown in Figure 3 ............................................. Dieropsis quadriplagiata Gahan b.) Length from center of frons to elytral apices 20 mm or less; ................................ apex of male tegmen as shown in Figure 7 ............................................... Dieropsis ralphi NEW SPECIES Dieropsis quadriplagiata Gahan
Type-Locality: Kondowe, Nyasaland (HOLOTYPE male in BMNH).
References: Gahan 1908:96; Schenkling 1908:48 1 ; Schenkling 19 1 O:98; Wolcott 193 1 :330; Corporaal 195O:244; Winkler l964:3 18; Winkler 1982:523.
Synonym: Dieropsis femina Winkler 1964: 3 15-3 18; Winkler 1982: 523; NEW SYNONYMY (HOLOTYPE male supposedly deposited in MRAC; present location unknown). Description:
Length: 21.0 to 36.7 mm; mean about 27.1 mm; 202 specimens measured.
Head:
Frons black, deeply and coarsely punctate, covered with long erect black setae. Eyes large, deeply emarginate, divided as described above. Clypeus transverse, black, glabrous. Labrum deeply emarginate, smooth, bearing small scattered punctures and erect black setae. Mandibles large, black, visi- ble in repose; outer fascies coarsely punctate and bearing long erect black setae. Maxillary palpi cylindrical; labial palpi cylindrical except for triangular apical segment. Maxil- lary and labial palpi black with exception of apices in males which bear a yellow macula. Antennae very similar to those of species of the genus Trichodes. Scape large, triangular in



================================================================================

Mawdsley
cross-section; segments 2-8 subequal in size, more or less cylindrical; segments 9-1 1 broadly expanded, forming a slightly asymmetrical club. Segments 1-8 with sparse punc- tures and scattered black setae; segments 9-1 1 finely, densely punctate, completely covered in short pubescence. Thorax:
Pronotum black, coarsely and densely punctate, completely covered with long black setae. Subapical depression strongly arcuate medially. Pronotum proper not broadly expanded, bearing laterally a yellow-orange tubercle; tubercle larger in females than in males. Prebasal depression concave, glabrous; pronotal collar narrow medially but becoming broader apically, coarsely punctate, with long erect black setae.
Legs black, finely and densely punctate, completely covered in short reclinate black setae. Profemora and protibiae of males greatly elongated and slightly arcuate distally, with setae becoming progressively longer towards distal end. Pro- femora and protibiae of females equal in size to meso- and meta- femora and tibiae. Tarsi as described above; protarsi in males with a lateral fringe of long black setae. Scutellum transverse, concave, finely and densely punctate, evenly covered with short black setae.
Elytra black with two transverse orange-yellow bands. Basal two-thirds of elytra coarsely and irregularly punctate; apical third of elytra devoid of punctures. Humeral angle with long erect black setae; remainder of elytra clothed in short recli- nate pubescence which is yellow above the maculae and black elsewhere.
Mesothoracic wings large, well developed; venation identical to that of Dieropsis ralphi New Species (see below) and simi- lar to that of species of Trichodes such as Trichodes umbel- latarum Olivier and Trichodes bibalteatus LeConte. Mesothorax and metathorax black, densely and coarsely punctate, covered with long erect black setae, not differing in form or structure from those of species of Trichodes. Mesepisternum finely punctate, bearing only short reclinate black setae.




================================================================================

10 Psyche [vo~. 100
Abdomen:
Black, finely and densely punctate, clothed in black reclinate setae. Sternal depressions yellowish-orange in color. Fifth visible ventral abdominal segment deeply emarginate in males, rounded in females. Male external genitalia: tegmen and phallus similar in structure to those of species of Tri- chodes examined by me; structure of apex of tegmen distinc- tive (see Figure 3). Female external genitalia: very similar in form to previously described female clerid genitalia. Illustrations: See Figures 1 and 2 for habitus photographs of a male and female Dieropsis quadriplagiata taken in copula. The dorsal and ventral sides of the apex of the tegmen of Dieropsis quadriplagiata are shown as Figure 3. The head, pronotum, and protibiae of an unusual male specimen (dis- cussed below) are shown in Figure 4.
Discussion of New Synonymy
In the collection of the Institut Royal de Sciences Naturelles de Belgique I discovered a pair of Dieropsis quadriplagiata taken in copula by F. G. Overlaet at Kafakumba, Katanga, Belgian Congo (see Figures 1 and 2). The female is indistinguishable from the "male" holotype of Dieropsis femina as described and illustrated by Winkler (1 964:3 15-3 18). I thus have no difficulty in synonymizing Dieropsis femina with Dieropsis quadriplagiata on the basis of this evidence.
Further evidence for my conclusion is provided by Win- kler himself, when he claims that Dieropsis quadriplagiata (sensu Winkler) is "ninety-nine percent male" while Dierop- sis femina is "ninety-eight to ninety-nine percent female" (Winkler 1982:523). In no other species in the family Cleri- dae are such disproportionate sex ratios known. While a species which was entirely female could reproduce through parthenogenesis, a species which was entirely male would certainly become extinct. It is also extremely unlikely that two species of Cleridae as large as the species of the genus Dieropsis could co-exist in such close ecological association as is indicated by the collection data presented by myself below and by Winkler (1964:312, 315), where individuals of Dieropsis quadriplagiata (sensu Winkler) and Dieropsis fem-



================================================================================

Figure 1: Male Dieropsis quadripl~giata Gahan taken in copula with female shown in Figure 2 by F. G. Overlael at Kafakumba, Katanga, Belgian Congo (ex INSB). Length of specimen 27.6 mm.
Figure 2; Female Dieropsis quadripiagiuta Gahan taken in copula with male shown in Figure 1 (ex INSB). Length of specimen 25.5 mm.



================================================================================

Psyche
[Vol. 100
Figure 3: Apex of tegmen of male Dieropsis quadriplagiata Gahan. Left: ventral view; right: dorsal view.
Figure 4: Head, pronotum, protibiae, and humeri of male Dieropsis quadripla- giata Gahan, collected V-1931, Kafakumba, Belgian Congo by G. F. Overlaet (ex MRAC). Length of left protibia 7.4 mm; length of right protibia 10.3 mm.



================================================================================

19931 Mawdsley 13
ina were consistently collected at the same time in the same locality by the same collector. Furthermore, the characters given by Winkler for separating his two "species" (such as the enlargement of the femora and tibiae and the emarginate versus rounded fifth visible abdominal sternite) are well- known characters of sexual dimorphism in the family Cleri- dae.
With regards to the male genitalia dissected by Winkler from a "short-legged" specimen of the genus Dieropsis (see Winkler 1964:306-307), I must note that I have examined a number of male specimens of this species which possessed slightly (and sometimes significantly) shorter profemora and protibiae but which did not differ in any other characters (including genitalic structure) from males with more elongate profemora and protibiae. These males could be readily distin- guished from males of Dieropsis ralphi New Species by the differences in the structure of the apex of the tegmen. I have provided a line drawing of a particularly unusual male from Kafakumba in the Belgian Congo (ex MRAC; see Figure 4) in which the left protibia measures 7.4 mm in length while the right protibia measures 10.3 mm in length. This specimen clearly illustrates the unreliability of male protibial length for species diagnoses in the genus Dieropsis. Materials:
Males:
HOLOTYPE, Kondowe, June 1896, Nyasaland, A. H. Whyte (ex BMNH); Mbweni, Tanganyika Territory (3 specimens ex BMNH, 1 specimen ex MCZC); Livingstonia, Nyasaland (2 specimens ex BMNH); near Malangali, Tanganyika Territory (3 specimens ex BMNH); "German East Africa" (1 specimen ex BMNH); Kafakumba, Katanga, Belgian Congo (71 speci- mens ex MRAC, 8 specimens ex INSB, 1 specimen ex JRMA); River Luabo, Katanga, Belgian Congo (6 specimens ex MRAC); Kansenia, Katanga, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Kanzenze, Katanga, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Kinda, Katanga, Belgian Congo (2 specimens ex MRAC); Bas Lubudi, Katanga, Belgian Congo (3 specimens ex INSB); Muteba, Lulua, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Kapanga, Lulua, Belgian Congo (2 specimens ex MRAC); Tshala, Lulua, Belgian Congo (3 specimens ex



================================================================================

14 Psyche [vo~. 100
MRAC); Sandoa, Lulua, Belgian Congo (12 specimens ex MRAC); River Luvuleji, Lulua, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Kayombo, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Katentania, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Pweto-Kilwa-Kasenga, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC); Bururi, Urundi, Belgian Congo (1
specimen ex
MRAC); Marungu, Belgian Congo (1 specimen ex INSB); Abercorn, Rhodesia du Nord (2 specimens ex INSB). Females:
ALLOTYPE, Fwambo, East Africa (ex BMNH); Mbweni, Tanganyika Territory (2 specimens ex BMNH, 1 specimen ex MCZC); near Malangali, Tanganyika Territory (1 specimen ex BMNH); Kafakumba, Katanga, Belgian Congo (44 speci- mens ex MRAC, 4 specimens ex INSB, 1 specimen ex JRMA); Muteba, Lulua, Belgian Congo (2 specimens ex MRAC); Sandoa, Lulua, Belgian Congo (8 specimens ex MRAC); Tshala, Lulua, Belgian Congo
(1 specimen ex
MRAC); Kinda, Katanga, Belgian Congo (2 specimens ex MRAC, 1 specimen ex FMNH); River Luabo, Katanga, Bel- gian Congo (5 specimens ex MRAC); Kabwe, Lomami, Bel- gian Congo (1 specimen ex MRAC).
Dieropsis ralphi NEW SPECIES
Description:
Length: 17.3 to 19.5 mm; mean 18.4 mm; 7 specimens measured. Head:
Large, black, coarsely punctate, covered with black setae, eyes divided as described above (see Figure 5 for illustra- tion), with lower part of eye more prominent than upper part. Labial and maxillary palpi subject to same sexual variation as in Dieropsis quadriplagiata.
Thorax:
Pronotum black, coarsely punctate, covered with black setae. pronotal arch well defined. Pronotum proper with a longitu- dinal sulcus running from center of subapical depression to pronotal collar. Lateral tubercles exhibit same sexual varia- tion as in Dieropsis quadriplagiata.
Legs black, finely and densely punctate, clothed in reclinate black setae. Profemora and protibiae equal in length to meso-



================================================================================

Mawdsley
Figure 5: Frons and eyes of Dieropsis ralphi NEW SPECIES. Arrow indicates ocular division.
and meta- femora and tibiae in both sexes. Femora and tibiae with longitudinal carinae. Tarsi as described above; protarsi in males lacking lateral fringe of black setae. ScuteZZum finely and densely punctate, slightly concave, cov- ered in short black setae.
Elytra black with two yellowish-orange transverse maculae which both attain the suture. Humeri coarsely, irregularly, and densely punctate; punctures becoming smaller towards apices; apical third of elytra devoid of punctures. Base of elytra with scattered long black setae; maculae with yellow pubescence; remainder of elytra clothed in black pubescence. Metathoracic wings large, well developed (see Figure 6); venation as described for genus by Winkler (1 9641309-3 10) except that R-M vein crosses the "longitudinal stiffener.'' Anal vein complex (defined to include the four anal veins and corresponding cross-veins) nearly identical to that of species of the genus Trichodes.
Mesosternum and metasternum as described for Dieropsis quadriplagiata.




================================================================================

Psyche
Figure 6: Metathoracic wing of Dieropsis ralphi New Species. Principal folds indicated with dashed lines.




================================================================================

19931 Mawdsley 1 'I
A bdornen:
Black, coarsely and densely punctured, completely clothed in long black reclinate setae. Sternal depressions reddish- orange. Fifth visible sternite emarginate in males, rounded in females. Male external genitalia: Form of apex of tegmen distinctive; see Figure 7. Female external genitalia: Does not differ significantly from that of other described Cleridae. Illustrations: Line drawings of the frons and eyes, metathoracic wing venation? and dorsal and ventral views of the apex of the tegmen are given as Figures 5, 6, and 7? respectively. Fig- ure 8 is a habitus photograph of the male HOLOTYPE. Etymology: This species is named in honor of my father, Ralph Dennis Mawdsley, whose devotion to nature has been a con- stant source of inspiration to me.
Materials:
HOLOTYPE male, Mwengwa, NW Rhodesia, 27 40 E 13 S, 27-IV-1913, in hollyhock flower (deposited in BMNH); ALLOTYPE female Kafakumba, Zaire, V-193 1, G. F. Over- laet (deposited in MRAC); PARATYPE male, Tshimbalanga, Katanga, Zaire, 27-111-1 92 1, F. G. Overlaet (deposited in MRAC); PARATYPE male, Sandoa, Lulua, Zaire, IV-193 1, F. G. Overlaet (deposited in MRAC); PARATYPE female, Muteba, Lulua, Zaire? V-1932, G. F. Overlaet (deposited in MRAC); PARATYPE male, Kafakumba, Zaire, V-193 1, G. F. Overlaet (deposited in JRMA); PARATYPE female, Kafakumba, Zaire, IV-1934, F. G. Overlaet (deposited in MCZC).
Biology of Species of the Genus Dieropsis Gahan Little is known, aside from speculation by Winkler (1964: 318-3241, of the habits of either adults or larvae of the species of the genus Dieropsis. The only biological information accompany- ing any of the specimens I examined was associated with the holo- type of Dieropsis ralphi, which had been collected from a hollyhock flower. It is not surprising that species of the genus Dieropsis frequent flowers, because their closest living relatives (species of the genus Trichodes) are well-known flower visitors. Numerous species of the genus Trichodes are also mimics of flower-visiting beetles of the family Meloidae. Species of the



================================================================================

Psyche
Figure 7: Apex of tegmen of male Dierupsis ralphi New Species. Left: ventral view; right: dorsal view.
Figure 8:
Male HOLOTYPE of Dieropsis ralphi New Species. Collected Mwengwa, NW Rhodesia, 27 40 E 13 S, 27-IV-1913, in hollyhock flower. Length of specimen 19.5 mm. Deposited in BMNH.
genus Dieropsis are similar in size and coloration to poisonous meloid beetles of the genus Mylabris Fabricius, found abundantly at the same time and in the same geographical regions. Dieropsis ralphi bears a remarkable resemblance to these meloids, particu- larly to the common species Mylabris dicincta Bertoloni. Females of Dieropsis quadriplagiata are more similar in appearance to



================================================================================

19931 Mawdsley 19
these meloids than are males of Dieropsis quadriplagiata. The decreased similarity in the males is due to their elongated pro- femora and protibiae, characters which may reduce the survival rate of males but which presumably have some importance in sex- ual selection.