AnimaliaColeopteraCoccinellidaeNestor-ArriolaJorge IsmaelToledo-HernándezVíctor HugoSolísÁngelGonzálezGuillermoVětrovecJaroslavThe Brachiacantha Dejean, 1837 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Central AmericaZookeys1632021102415719610.3897/zookeys.1024.56927A6CFA797-5944-5522-9BAC-39A208CE4AB4 Brachiacantha cachensis GorhamFigures 8, 65–68 Brachyacantha cachensisGorham, 1894: 190. Leng 1911: 322.Material examined.

71 specimens from Costa Rica and Panamá (FSCA, USNMNH, MNCR, MUCR, MZCR). Costa Rica: Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste and Puntarenas. Panamá • 1♀; Chiriqui Prv., cont’l Divide trail; 04 Jul 1997; Wappes and Morris leg.; Brachiacantha sp. R. Gordon 1998 (USNMNH). 1♀, 1♂; Chiriqui Prv., cont’l Divide trail; 04 Jul 1997; Wappes and Morris leg. (USNMNH). 1♀, 1♂; Chiriqui Prv., cont’l Divide trail; 08 Jul 1997; J. Huether leg. (USNMNH). 1♀; Chiriqui Prv., “Finca La Suiza”; 07 Jul 1997; J. Huether leg. (USNMNH).

Diagnosis.

Dorsal color pale yellow to gray with brown or black spots. Ventrites I-VI depressed and emarginated, ventrites I-III with abundant and longer pubescence in the depressed part. Genitalia with penis guide slightly longer than parameres, symmetrical, basal ⅓ with almost straight sides, abruptly wide at apical 2/3 (Fig. 65); parameres wide basally, narrowed to apex, apex rounded (Fig. 66); penis curved in basal ½, widened at the apical ⅓, narrowed before apex, alae rounded, basal capsule with small crest, inner arm of basal capsule long and slender with parallel sides (Figs 67, 68).

Variation.

The basal macula over pronotum can be disrupted, forming a macula over the posterior margin with a pair of small spots at the center of the pronotum. In some specimens the sub-humeral spot is half-moon shaped.

Distribution.

Costa Rica and Panamá. New record to Panamá.

Discussion.

This species is similar to B. dentata, but the males can be differentiated by the lack of a ventral tooth and having the central part of the ventrites depressed with abundant pubescence. Within the groups defined by Gordon et al. (2014) for the South American species based on the genitalia of the male, this species does not correspond to any of them, due to the emarginated apex of the penis guide. The material was identified following the descriptions of Gorham (1894) and the keys and illustrations of Leng (1911).

10.3897/zookeys.1024.56927.figures5-8EF3B3721-B82B-5536-9FCC-C47B1CF3EA29

Brachiacantha sp. 5Brachiacantha bipartita, female 6Brachiacantha aperta, female 7Brachiacantha isthmena sp. nov. 8Brachiacantha cachensis.

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/520867
10.3897/zookeys.1024.56927.figures65-686E14D411-3FC6-578F-8D05-1AA9FAF64FE5

Brachiacantha cachensis, male genitalia 65 Tegmen 66 Tegmen lateral view 67 Penis 68 Penis apex.

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/520880
LengCW (1911) The species of Brachyacantha of North and South America.Bulletin American Museum of Natural History30: 279333.GordonRDCanepariCHanleyG (2014) South American Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) Part XVI: systematic revision of Brachiacantha Dejean (Coccinellinae: Hyperaspidini).Insecta Mundi390: 176.GorhamHS (1894) Coccinellidae.Biologia Centrali-Americana, Insecta, Coleoptera7: 177208.