Redefinition of the vittata species group of Epicauta Dejean (1834) (Coleoptera: Meloidae) and taxonomic revision of the species from southern South America

Abstract

The Epicauta vittata group are commonly known as striped blister beetles and was defined by previous authors to include 32 species, 18 from North America, Central America and northern South America, and 14 from southern South America. In the present revision we revised 22 species from South America, excluding the following southern South American species: E. borgmeieri Denier, 1935; E. floydwerneri Martínez, 1955; E. franciscana Denier, 1935; E. fulginosa (Oliver, 1795); E. purpureiceps (Berg, 1889); E. rutilifrons Borchmann, 1930; and E. zebra (Dohrn, 1876) because they do not have the diagnostic characters of the group. The species of the E. vittata group from southern South America are: E. bosqi Denier, 1935; E. clericalis (Berg, 1881); E. grammica (Fischer, 1827); E. leopardina (Haag-Rutemberg, 1880); E. luteolineata Pic, 1933; E. missionum (Berg, 1881); E. monachica (Berg, 1883); E. rutilifrons Borchmann, 1930; plus two more species E. excavata (Klug, 1825); and E. semivittata (Fairmaire, 1875) until now not included in other groups. We provide a complete diagnosis of the E. vittata group from southern South America, redescribing and illustrating all included species. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of female and male genitalia are presented for the first time for these species. Finally, we provide an identification key for the ten species presently included in the E. vittata group, and update the geographic distribution of each species.

Checklist of Epicauta Dejean from America (Meloidae, Meloinae, Epicautini)

“…For identification keys to Macrobasis and the nominotypical subgenus from North and Central America see Pinto (1991). For host plants and identification keys to E.bella group, E.vittata group, and E.maculata group from South America see Campos-Soldini (2011), Campos-Soldini and Roig-Juñent (2011), and Campos-Solidni and Roig-Juñent (2015), respectively. Junior synonyms are provided for each species when applicable.…”

“…Epicautabrunneipennis : Bruch 1914: 403; Borchmann 1917: 72; Denier 1935b: 154, 1940: 419; Blackwelder 1945: 482; Viana and Williner 1974: 14; Di Iorio 2004: 168; Campos-Soldini and Roig-Juñent 2011: 579.…”

“…Epicautaclericalis : Borchmann 1917: 73; Bruch 1914: 404; Denier 1935: 154; Blackwelder 1945: 483; Campos-Soldini and Roig-Juñent 2011: 25.…”

“…Epicautamissionumvarluteolineata: Denier 1935: 157; 1940: 421; Blackwelder 1945: 483; Di Iorio 2004: 169; Campos-Soldini and Roig-Juñent 2011: 38.…”

“…Epicautamonachica : Blanchard 1891: 495; Bruch 1914: 404; Borchmann 1917: 78; Denier 1935b: 157; Bosq 1934: 327; 1943: 11; Hayward 1942: 23; Blackwelder 1945: 483; Viana and Williner 1974: 87; Martinez 1992: 7; Di Iorio 2004: 170; Campos-Soldini et al 2009: 5; Campos-Soldini and Roig-Juñent 2011: 39.…”