Genus Pseudolepturges Gilmour (1957) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae): a new species from Bolivia, key to the species of the genus and first reports of a possible Pseudomyrmex ant mimic in longhorn beetles

Abstract

A new species of Pseudolepturges from Bolivia is described and illustrated; a key to the species is also provided. Based on the similar body size, orange-yellowish colour, behaviour, and close co-occurrence on a Triplaris americana tree, we suggest that Pseudolepturges triplarinus sp. nov. is a mimic of the ant Pseudomyrmex triplarinus.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DF38C64-6986-4A79-8D9A-645DA89149F2

KEYWORDS:

• Acanthocinini
• ant mimicry
• description
• Neotropical
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Antonio Santos-Silva (MZSP) who took the photographs and to Lidia (Roro) Urquidi and Juan Carlos Espinoza for granting permission to work on their land. Roberto Vaca is thanked for providing access to the study area. We are immensely grateful to Kyle E. Schnepp (Florida State Collection of Arthropods-FSCA) for having photographed and sent the photos of Pseudolepturges rufulus and Larry G. Bezark for sending the photo of Pseudolepturges caesius. The First author thanks the grant 2017/15283-9, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo; [FAPESP-2017/15283-9].