False-form beetles.

Stable at the generic level.

According to Ober and Maddison (2008), Pseudomorphini appears as a branch of the higher Carabidae and associated with Graphipterini and Orthogonini; according to Erwin and Geraci (2008), the adelphotaxon is the tribe Orthogonini. All three tribes are associated in some way with ants or termites. Male genitalia of pseudomorphines have a bonnet-shaped phallobase as in the lebiomorphs, yet their accompanying parameres are large and nearly symmetrical (and in some species the parameres are sparsely setiferous), as in some primitive lineages of the family. Many known lineages of Pseudomorphini have been so highly selected for life with ants (and possibly termites) that external structures do not help much in discovering more normal carabid relatives (cf. Erwin and Amundson, in press).

Baehr (1992, 1997); Erwin and Amundson (in press); Erwin and Geraci (2008); Notman (1925), Ogueta (1967).

Erwin (1981); Lenko (1972); Liebherr and Kavanaugh (1985), Moore (1964, 1974, 1983).

Guyanemorpha spectabilis Erwin, sp. n.

Guyane False-form beetles

Probably Notopseudomorpha (Baehr, 1997) (see Erwin and Geraci 2008 for phylogeny).

Head (Fig. 2) without supraorbital setigerous punctures, nor any accessory setae; frontal impressions absent. Labrum barely visible with anterior margin shallowly emarginate, quadrisetose; clypeus markedly wide, nearly obscured in dorsal aspect by protruding frons, with obtuse setiferous lateral corners. Eyes slightly convex; small gena with numerous stout setae. Antenna short, just reaching anterior coxa in repose; antennomeres 3-9 slightly wider than 1-3, and appearing slightly flattened. Mandible markedly flattened with a very short and acute apex; outer margin ventral of the scrobe without short stout setae. Maxillary palpi markedly short, 3-segmented, palpomeres slightly depressed, palpomere 3 truncate apically. Labial palpus with short bisetose palpomere 2; palpomere 3 markedly securiform and robust, its distal margin mostly membranous with sensory organs.

Prothorax. Pronotum (Fig. 1) much wider than head, transverse, with narrowly beaded margins; without a pair of setigerous punctures each side, apical, lateral and posterior margins with fringe of short stout setae; hind angles obtuse, broadly rounded. Prosternal process unisetiferous subapically, intercoxal process feebly beaded.

Pterothorax. Metepisternum elongate and markedly narrowed posteriorly, the outer margin about 2 times greater in length than the anterior margin, posterior margin about 0.2 times anterior margin.

Elytra. Elytron (Fig. 1) tapered, markedly narrower apically, width of elytra about equal to that of pronotum at widest point, apical margin truncate with evenly rounded humerus, interneurs and intervals effaced; parascutellar stria absent, scutellum hidden, parascutellar puncture present, marked; without fixed discal setae, surface glabrous. Lateral marginal (umbilical) series of 10 setae, arrayed throughout and widely spaced; lateral margin with fringe of short stout setae.

Hind wings. Macropterous. Venation (Fig. 3).

Legs. Short and depressed, femur posteriorly channeled for reception of tibia in repose; antennal comb notch very shallow; tibial spurs normal; anterior tarsi of male with tarsomeres 2–4 dilated slightly, ventrally each with two laterally placed rows of adhesive articulo-setae.

Abdomen. Abdominal sterna III–VII with patches of short setae and each of IV–VII with a single row of erect ambulatory setae numbering 2 to 8 setae; V and VI in male each with dense row of yellowish robust setae separated medially.

Male genitalia (Fig. 4). Phallobase hooded with small orifice, dorsum not crested; phalloshaft arched throughout its length, diameter sub-rounded to somewhat depressed dorso-ventrally; phalloapex produced, sharp, rounded, markedly depressed dorso-ventrally; endophallus orifice elongate, endophallus with dense patches of microtrichia. Parameres (C) moderately short compared to those of genus Pseudomorpha, nearly equal in length, left slightly longer and much broader than right, each apically glabrous. Ring sclerite (E) normal for family.

Female ovipositor and genital tract (Fig. 1). Gonocoxite 2 falcate, base about as long as blade, latter relatively short, pointed distally; margins without ensiform setae; with short preapical nematiform seta.

Guyane (French Guiana): Risquetout, PK20, 4.916°N, 52.516°W, 12m, 13 December 2010 (SEAG) (NMNH, held in trust, see below: ADP132101, female). Paratypes are listed below under other specimens examined.

The epithet “spectabilis” is a Latin adjective describing the very large and colorful beetle species.

Spectacular Guyane False-form beetle.

With the attributes of the genus as described above and color black and rufous with elytral spots (Fig. 1), color tone of head and pronotum uniform black; form broad and stout with tapered elytra; head with preapical lobe prominent but hidden in dorsal aspect beneath the frons, about 2/3 the length of the anterior margin of eye; pronotum (Fig. 1) coequal at base to elytra across humeri; elytron markedly tapered from humerus to narrower truncated apex and without interneurs or intervals, surface glabrous except parascutellar seta and 8 ombilicate setae near lateral margin.

(Figs 1, 2, 3, 4; Appendix 3). Size: Very large for a Western Hemisphere species, ABL = 13.18 to 13.51 mm, SBL = 11.05 to 12.18 mm, TW = 6.36 to 6.86 mm. Preocular lobe-eye ratio (L/L): 0.49 to 0.54. Pronotum ratio (L/W): 1.99 to 2.16. Pronotum ratio (W/L): 2.20 to 2.29. As described for genus above and the diagnosis.

These beetles are macropterous and have been recorded from flight intercept traps (FITs), hence fully capable of flight; they are likely swift and agile runners as other species in the Tribe. Accordingly, this species may be expected to be more broadly distributed across a wider geographical range than current records indicate.

Adults of other pseudomorphines in the Western Hemisphere are found in ant nests and the surrounding vicinity and possibly in termite nests (Ogueta 1967); female adults of species of Pseudomorpha are ovoviviparous (Liebherr and Kavanaugh 1985); Pseudomorpha and Notopseudomorpha larvae are ant nest inquilines (Erwin 1981, Lenko 1972). Members of Guyanemorpha spectabilis occur at lowland rainforest sites and most likely live with ants. They have been found in July and December.

Guyane: Réserve Trésor, 4.610°N, 52.279°W, 225m, 11 July 2009 (S. Brule) (BMNH, ADP124772, male paratype); Risquetout, PK20, 4.916°N, 52.516°W, 12m, 13 December 2010 (J.L. Giuglaris) (MNHP: ADP132103); Nouragues, Saut Pararé, 4.02°N, 52.41°W, 51m, 14 July 2010 (SEAG) (MNHP, ADP132105, female paratype).

(Fig. 5). This species is currently known only from Guyane.

The holotype is currently held in trust at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC until the planned Natural History Museum of Guyane is established, and at that time the specimen will be transferred there. See details of SEAG carabid collections in Erwin et al. 2012.