Vesperelater is a genus of click beetle (family Elateridae). They are one of several genera in the tribe Pyrophorini, all of which are bioluminescent.[.] This genus was established by in 1975, with 4 species split from Pyrophorus.[.]
Description
[[File:Male genitalia of Pyrophorini from Arquiv. Zool. 26(2) 143.png|thumb|left|300px|Male genitalia of several species under the tribe Pyrophorini;
top-middle:
Vesperelater sirius (with 2 figures); top-right:
V. ornamentum; bottom-left:
V. occidentalis; bottom-middle:
V. gemmiferus; bottom-right:
V. arizonicus[.]]]
Small, slender. Reddish-brown. short, dense and yellowish. Eyes slightly prominent. Front narrow, not prominent. Antennae reaching the hind angles of the
prothorax; second and third segments subequal, the two together of the same length as the fourth. Prothorax little convex. Luminous spots lateral, slightly convex and also visible beneath in the .
Photophore small and .
Elytron tapering and rounded to apices. Male
genitalia: median lobe abruptly narrowed near the apex; lateral lobes with one or more pairs of long spines. Female genitalia:
and with long spines; median
oviduct with two pair of plates.
Deilelater, another genus of the tribe Pyrophorini occurring in Southeastern United States, Mexico, etc., is distinguished from Vesperelater in male genitalia with well-developed median lobe with numerous Cuticle, minute Insect scale.[.]
Range
Species of this genus occurs in the United States (
Arizona) and
Central America, from
Mexico to
Costa Rica.
[.]
List of species
4 species were transferred from
Pyrophorus by and 5 new species were described by (with type localities given).
-
(Hyslop, 1918) - Patagonia Mountains, Arizona, U.S.A.
-
- Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico
-
- 'Chihualtan', Jalisco, Mexico
-
(Germar, 1841) - Mexico
-
- Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
-
(Champion, 1896) - Islas Marías, Mexico
-
(Germar, 1841) - Mexico
-
- Arteaga, Michoacán, Mexico
-
- Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
-
(syn. Deilelater sirius ) - Costa Rica ...... tentatively treated here by and followed by
Bibliography
External links
