Vesperelater

Vesperelater is a genus of click beetle (family Elateridae). They are one of several genera in the tribe Pyrophorini, all of which are bioluminescent.^[2] This genus was established by Cleide Costa [species] in 1975, with 4 species split from Pyrophorus.^[1]

Vesperelater
Vesperelater arizonicus (Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Elateriformia
Family:	Elateridae
Subfamily:	Agrypninae
Tribe:	Pyrophorini
Genus:	Vesperelater Costa, 1975
Type species
Pyrophorus ornamentum[1] Germar, 1841
Species
9(+1); see text

Description

Male genitalia of several species under the tribe Pyrophorini;

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top-middle: Vesperelater sirius (with 2 figures); top-right: V. ornamentum; bottom-left: V. occidentalis; bottom-middle: V. gemmiferus; bottom-right: V. arizonicus^[3]

Small, slender. Reddish-brown. Pubescence 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 proepisternum. Luminous abdominal organ small and lamellate. Elytra 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: bursa copulatrix spiraled and with long spines; median oviduct with two pair of sclerotized plates.^[1]

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 cuticular, minute scales.^[4]

Range

Species of this genus occurs in the United States (Arizona) and Central America, from Mexico to Costa Rica.^[5]

List of species

4 species were transferred from Pyrophorus by Costa (1975) and 5 new species were described by Riese (2012) (with type localities given).

• Vesperelater arizonicus [species] (Hyslop, 1918) - Patagonia Mountains, Arizona, U.S.A.
• Vesperelater chamelai [species] Riese, 2012 - Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico
• Vesperelater davidsoni [species] Riese, 2012 - 'Chihualtan', Jalisco, Mexico
• Vesperelater gemmiferus [species] (Germar, 1841) - Mexico
• Vesperelater guerreroi [species] Riese, 2012 - Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
• Vesperelater occidentalis [species] (Champion, 1896) - Islas Marías, Mexico
• Vesperelater ornamentum [species] (Germar, 1841) - Mexico
• Vesperelater rawlinsi [species] Riese, 2012 - Arteaga, Michoacán, Mexico
• Vesperelater saltinii [species] Riese, 2012 - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
• Vesperelater sirius [species] (Candèze, 1878) (syn. Deilelater sirius (Candèze, 1878)) - Costa Rica ...... tentatively treated here by Rosa (2007) and followed by Riese (2012)