Crioprosopus basileus Bates 1880, comb. nov.

(Figs. 94–113)

Crioprosopus basileus Bates, 1880:75 (Type locality: Mexico, Oaxaca); 1885:320; Lameere, 1883:40 (cat.); Aurivillius, 1912:457 (cat.); Linsley, 1935:97 (dist.); Blackwelder, 1946:588 (cat.).

Crioprosopus basileus var. thoracicus Bates, 1885:320

Callona basilea Linsley, 1962:100; Monné & Giesbert, 1993:140 (cat.); Toledo, 2005:418 (dist.)

Callona basileus Chemsak et al., 1992:79 (cat.); Monné, 1994:36 (cat.); Noguera & Chemsak, 1996:402 (cat.); Monné, 2001:63 (cat. hosts); Monné, 2013:722 (cat.)

Crioprosopus nigricollis Bates, 1892, Syn. nov.

Callona praestans (Casey, 1912), Syn. nov.

Callona thoracica (White, 1853), Syn. nov.

Redescription. Male: Length, 28–39 mm. Form large; integument rufo-castaneous, sternum gray-silken, elytra metallic green, finely, densely punctate from base to apex, transversely wrinkled along suture, frequently wrinkled obliquely around scutellum, femora reddish with duller castaneous hue, tibiae and mesosternum darker reddishbrown. Head with apical segments of labial and maxillary palpi truncate at apices; antennal tubercles moderately elevated, apices acute; antennae length of body or extending about 1–1½ segment beyond elytral apices, scape with basal ½ longitudinally impressed, laterally carinate from segment 3–11, longitudinally impressed on both sides of carina on apical ¼ of 3rd, apical ½ of 4th, and apical 2/3 or the entire length of 5th, dorsal surface impressed longitudinally (or canaliculate) from apical ½ of 3rd and entire length of 4th (frequently also canaliculate on 5th and 6th), 3rd segment longer that 1st, 4th segment subequal to or shorter than 1st, each segment from 5th–7th subequal to or slightly longer than 1st, segments from 8th–10th subequal to 1st or gradually shorter, 11th subequal to or longer than 3rd. Pronotum 1.6–1.7 x as broad as long, laterally with large subconic post-median tubercles, disc coarsely densely punctate, anterior half broadly, shallowly impressed transversely in middle, posterior half with an oblique, crescent-shaped impression on both sides of middle, and another impression on each side between oblique impression and lateral tubercle; dorsal median line glabrate, anterior half of median line dilated abruptly at apex, ante-medially with (or without) rhombiform dilation near middle, post-medially with median line wider than anterior median line, gradually dilated towards base into a smooth, elongate-triangular, sparsely punctate area; prosternum coarsely, densely punctate, anterior margin and around coxae glabrate, clothed with short, white suberect hair; mesosternum with sides densely clothed with short, silvery pubescence. Scutellum black, rufescent medially or all black. Elytra about 2.1–2.4 times longer than broad, sides slightly tapering, finely, densely punctate with two vague costae on each elytron; apices rounded, sinuate externally to obliquely trunctate; Legs reddish, base of femora, tibiae and tarsi with duller castaneous hue. Abdomen finely, densely pubescent; 5th sternite subtruncate, apex slightly emarginate medially.

Female: Length, 33–40 mm. Form robust; integument orange-reddish to black, antennae with segments 1–7 dark castaneous to black, segments 8–11 brownish, prothorax black to dark reddish-black with apex, base and sides frequently with aeneous-metallic luster, disc finely punctate, nearly polished, with or without orange maculation on each side, prosternum (smaller than male) and sternum gray-silken, elytra metallic green or blue, finely, separately punctate with punctures attenuated apically, femora reddish with apices and base darker, tibiae and tarsi dark reddish-brown to black. Head with vertex finely punctate, apical segment of labial and maxillary palpi subtruncate to rounded at apices; antennae short, attaining ¾ length of elytra, scape with basal 1/3–2/3 longitudinally impressed, laterally carinate from segment 3–11, longitudinally impressed on both sides of carina on apical ¼ of 3rd, apical ½ of 4th, and apical 2/3 of 5th, dorsal surface vaguely flattened longitudinally from apical ½ of 3rd, and on segments 4–6, 3rd segment longer than 1st, 4th shorter than 1st, each segment from 5th–7th longer than 4th, 8th–10th gradually shorter than 7th, 11th subequal to 4th. Pronotum nitid, 1.6 x as broad as long, laterally with large subconic median tubercles, another shallow, obtuse tubercle in front, base shallowly, transversely impressed, sides near base of tubercles finely densely punctate; prosternum densely, minutely punctate; metepisternum broad, narrowed apically. Scutellum black. Elytra about 2.3 times longer than broad, apices rounded slightly sinuate externally or obliquely truncate. Legs usually orange to reddish with apices and base of femora, tibiae, tarsi and coxae darker castaneous. Abdomen with 5th sternite subtruncate with apex slightly emarginate.

Distribution. Mexico (Colima, Oaxaca, Yucatán).

Materials examined. MEXICO: Colima: Vulkan Colima, 1918, J. Laue, Tippmann Coll. ’57, 213112 (3 male, USNM); Vulkan Colima, 20 June 1918, J. Laue, Tippmann Coll. ’57, 213112 (1 female, USNM); Colima, Conradt (1 female, USNM); Mexico, Procopp (Eugen Procopp Leg.?), Tippmann Coll. ’57, 213112 (1 male, USNM). Guerrero: Mochtitlan, 25 June 1946, Boliva, Downs, Pina (1 male, EMEC); Mexico: Guerrero, Killeen Collection (1 female, CASC). Oaxaca: Ocotlan, 11 May 1922, D.B. White (1 male, 1 female, EMEC). Other material considered to be basileus: Oaxaca: Mitla, A. Fenyes (1 female, CASC); Mitla, El. 5500 ft, 26 May 0 0, C.C. Deam (1 male, 1 female, USNM); Monte Alban de Oaxaca, 8 July 1956, R.E. Beer (1 male, EMEC); San Martin Tilcajete, ca 5500’ June–July 1992, Fabian & Melchor (1 male, 1 female, ACMT); 12 mi. S Chivela, 19 Aug 1959, Lionel A. Stange (1 female, EMEC). Tex. (Texcoco? Mexico?, 1 male, CASC)(Labelled: Crioprosopus basilea Bates, Mex).

Other females examined likely to be C. basileus: MEXICO: Jalisco: 2 km N Cuitzmala, 10 Oct 1988, F.T. Hovore (1 female, CASC); Estacion Biologia Chamela, 14 Oct 1986, F.A. Noguera (1 female, EMEC); 12 mi SW of Autlan, 15 July 1983, Kovarik, Harrison, Schaffner (1 female, ACMT). Mexico D.F., Tejupilco, July 1932, 3300 ft, H.E. Hinton Col., (1 female, CASC); Morelos: 135 km S Mexico City, 14 July 1956, H.D. Thomas (1 female, EMEC).

Note. In this review, Crioprosopus praestans Casey is conspecific with C. basileus. The differences between C. basileus and C. praestans are the shape and width of the median line on the pronotal disc (Figs. 55–63) and the length of the male antennae according to their descriptions. The median line of C. basileus is as described by Bates as having, “ linea lata dorsali laevi, antice dilatata et post dilatationem iterum angustata, juxta basin dilatata ” or “dorsal line broad and smooth, dilated at anterior margin and with posteror expansion (near middle of the disc) narrowed again (towards base), and near the base dilated”, meaning that there is an ante-medial transverse rhombiform dilation on the anterior ½ of the pronotal disc of C. basileus (Fig. 56). The dorsal median line of C. praestans, according to Casey (1912:320) is narrower, and is “ gradually wider basally and with a short axial carina medially ” (Fig. 63). C. praestans lacks the ante-medial transversely rhombiform dilation of C. basileus. According to Bates (1885:320), the “ antennae are of the length of body ” for C. basileus, whereas C. praestans has “ the antennae a fourth longer than the body ” based on Casey (1912:320). The antennae of the C. praestans holotype male are about a segment longer than apex of elytra, see photo (Bezark, 2014, id: 6091). Examination of additional male specimens from Colima, and Oaxaca showed characteristics of both C. basileus and C. praestans, in the width and shape of the dorsal median line of the pronotal disc, and in the length of the antennae. Some specimens from Oaxaca have a combination of both, i.e., median line with ante-medial dilation on the anterior ½ of the disc (Figs. 104 a, 105a) as in C. basileus as well as the narrower median line on the posterior ½ of the disc (Figs. 104 b, 105b) as found in C. praestans. Some specimen from Colima have the ante-medial dilation found in C. basileus and a short axial carina (Figs. 107 a, 107b) as found in C. praestans. The materials from Colima, and several from Oaxaca also have antennae that are 1–1½ segment longer than the elytra, which is consistent with the description provided for C. praestans.

According to Casey (1912:320), C. semiplicatus (Casey) is a subspecies of C. praestans; however, the descriptions of antennal length and shape of the median line of the pronotal disc suggest that C. semiplicatus is synonymous with C. basileus. The length of the antennae of semiplicatus is the same as in basileus as described by Casey, “ the antennae much shorter barely longer than the body.” Furthermore, the pronotal disc of semiplicatus is described as “ the median line with a transversely rhombiform flat medial dilation ” which is describing the median line characteristic of C. basileus.

The C. basileus females and males listed above have in common the following characteristics: (1) elongated scutellum that is narrowed apically and impressed longitudinally in the middle (Figs. 107 c, 108a); (2) elytra around scutellum inflated (i.e., scutellum that is depressed) (Figs. 106 b, 108b); (3) metallic green elytra that are finely, densely punctate, and usually with two vague costae on each elytron; (4) base of elytra that is longitudinally impressed on humeri (Fig. 107 d, 109a); and (4) shared localities or overlap in geographic distribution, especially west of the Yucatán peninsula. Bates describes the C. basileus female as differing from the male by having thorax sparse and finely punctate, nearly polished, both sides with orange maculation, and the body underneath orangereddish. The prosternum of the female is much smaller than the male, and most of the mesosternum and all coxae are darker.

A single Crioprosopus female (Figs. 112–113) was collected in Jalisco, 12 mi SW of Autlan with elytra almost entirely black with greenish metallic luster, and femora all blackish dark brown (without any orange or reddish color in the middle). The sternum was darker than other C. basileus females, except around the base of the coxae and abdomen was darker reddish-brown. Currently, this female is considered to be a color variation of basileus until additional materials becomes available to show otherwise.

Crioprosopus nigricollis Bates 1892:173 (Type locality: Mexico, Veracruz: Jalapa); Chemsak et al., 1992:80 (cat.); Monné, 1994:39 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1993:141 (cat.); Noguera & Chemsak, 1996:402 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006:140 (cat.); Monné, 2013:731 (cat.). Distribution: Mexico (Veracruz). In this review, C. nigricollis is synonymous with C. basileus. According to Bates, C. nigricollis type appears to be a female closely allied to C. basileus with thorax and sternite entirely black. Bates, 1892, quotes as follows, “ The following seems to be a colour variety of either basileus or gaumeri. The punctation is as in baslieus; the elytra are brilliant golden-green, almost exactly as in gaumeri, the legs black except the red femora, of which the base and apex only are black. C.

nigricollis – C. basileo (Bates) entirely coincides, except thorax and sternite entirely black. – Mexico, Jalapa (Höge). One example, female.”

Callona praestans (Casey, 1912:320) (Type locality: Mexico, Guerrero): Chemsak & Linsley, 1974:181 (syn.); Monné, 1994:36 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1993:140 (cat.); Monné, 2013:723 (cat.). Crioprosopus praestans Casey, 1912:320; Blackwelder, 1946:588 (cat.). Callona praestens: Chemsak et al., 1992:80 (cat.); Noguera & Chemsak, 1996:402 (dist., misspelling). Crioprosopus praestans semiplicatus Casey, 1912:320; Blackwelder, 1946:588 (cat.). The following materials are considered have the characteristics of praestans: Guerrero: Mochtitlan, 25 June 1946, Boliva, Downs, Pina (1 male, EMEC); Mexico: Guerrero, Killeen Collection (1 female, CASC); and Oaxaca, Monte Alban de Oaxaca, 8 July 1956, R.E. Beer (1 male, EMEC). A single female from Guerrero that was available for examination had a black thorax and meso- and metasternum (Figs. 110–111). The pronotum was hexagonal in shape, gradually narrowed apically from the lateral post-median tubercles, and the lateral margins of the anterior half were vaguely carinated. The median line on the anterior ½ of pronotal disc was carinated, which gradually broadens to the base. This female also has the obliquely truncated elytral apices as in the male praestans.

Callona thoracica (White, 1853:78) (Type locality: Honduras): Linsley, 1962:100 (comb. nov.); Chemsak et al., 1992:80 (cat.); Monné, 1994:37 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1993:140 (cat.); Turnbow et al., 2003:17 (dist.); Monné, 2013:723 (cat.). Crioprosopus thoracicus (White, 1853:78) (Type locality: Honduras): Lacordaire, 1869:171; Gemminger & Harold, 1872:2967 (cat.); Bates, 1880:75; Aurivillius, 1912:458 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946:589 (cat.). Stenaspis thoracica White, 1853:78. Distribution: Honduras, Mexico (near Merida). In this review thoracicus (or thoracica) is synonymous with basileus. According to White (1853:78), “ The head has a wide stripe of ferruginous down the middle, the under side of the head is yellowish, the thorax is reddish, the front margin only being narrowly margined with black, the black extending to the under side; the under side rufescent and pubescent, especially on the metathorax, elytra greenish-metallic, shining.” The holotype female is from Honduras, and the male is unknown. The characteristics of this female include: head with wide orange vitta in middle, and pronotum orange with apical margin narrowly black. According to Bates (1885:320) C. thoracicus female is a variation of basileus female with the thorax entirely red. He writes, “ Herr Höge took a series of both sexes of C. basileus (including one example of C. thoracicus, which has been compared with White’s type) near Merida.” Both examples of C. thoracicus (Bates, 1885; and White 1853) are synonymous with basileus.