Chalcolepidius Eschscholtz

A Key to the Species of Chalcolepidius of Costa Rica 

1.      Antennomere 3 subequal in length or longer than antennomere 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

         Antennomere 3 distinctly shorter (0.5-0.7X) than antennomere 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2.      Scutellum transversely ovoid posteriorly, with two dimples, steeply declivous anteriorly; scales

         submetallic olivaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oxydatus Candèze

         Scutellum subtriangular, tumid anteriorly then sharply declivous; scales metallic emerald green. . . . . . .

         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."virens Fabricius"

3.      Scutellum subtriangular, rounded anteriorly; parascutellar areas of elytra markedly impressed

         below plane of elytra to form a shelf-like area; hypomeron shallowly impressed anteromedially;

         elytral apices spinose at suture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

         Scutellum subtriangular, dorsally with anteromedial groove, emarginated anteriorly; parascutellar

         areas of elytra gradually declivous; hypomeron with a distinct antennal groove anteromedially;

         elytral apices denticulate at most. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4.      Scutellum gradually declivous anteriorly; dorsal scales light brown, vittate and alternating with

         dark brown vittae on elytra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..desmaresti Chevrolat

         Scutellum tumid anteriorly, then sharply declivous; dorsal scales shining olivaceous thoughout. . . . . . . . .

         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jansoni Candèze

5.      Pronotum and elytra with broad lateral vittae of dense elongate scales contrasting

         with discal scales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

         Pronotum and elytra lacking vittae, scales short, concolorous throughout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

6.      Pronotal disc, elytral intervals, and venter with pallid transluscent scales refracting metallic green

         or blue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bomplandi Guerin-Méneville

         Pronotal disc, elytral intervals, and venter with opaque white to rusty orange colored scales. . . . . . . . .

         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rugatus Candèze

7.      Elytra with all intervals strongly convex; body broadly oval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

         Elytra with alternate intervals depressed or shallowly convex in apical half; body

         moderately-narrowly oval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .silbermanni Chevrolat

8.      Pronotum coarsely rugose; scales dark blue to blue-green. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lacordairei Candèze

         Pronotum with rugae shallow; scales metallic gold-green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . exquisitus Candèze

Chalcolepidius bomplandi Guerin-Meneville          

Mexico; Belize; Guatemala; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Colombia

Chalcolepidius desmaresti Chevrolat          

Mexico; Guatemala; Costa Rica

Chalcolepidius exquisitus Candeze        

Guatemala; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; I.  Taboga

Chalcolepidius jansoni Candeze           

Nicaragua

Chalcolepidius lacordairei Candeze       

Mexico; Belize; Guatemala; Nicaragua; Costa Rica

Chalcolepidius mexicanus Laporte         

Mexico; Nicaragua

Chalcolepidius oxydatus Candeze              

Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Venezuela

Chalcolepidius porcatus Linnaeus         

Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Brazil; Grenada

[Note:  This species is probably misidentified from Mexico and Central America.]

Chalcolepidius silbermanni Chevrolat               

Mexico; Belize; Guatemala; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Colombia; Venezuela; Jamaica

Chalcolepidius virens Fabricius  

Mexico; Panama; Brazil

[Note:  The MX and PN records may be misidentifications of C. exquisitus or C. porcatus, or an undescribed  species.]