Axina trinalis Opitz, new species Figures 55, 67, 72, 118. Type material. Holotype. Female. Type locality: ARGENTINA: La Rioja, Santa Vera Cruz, Humid Ravine, 15-II- 2005, P. Fidalgo & L. Stange; Malaise trap (FSCA). Paratypes. 71 specimens. Bolivia: Departamento de Santa Cruz, 4 km N Bermejo, Refugio Los Volcanes, 7-II-2012, 1,350 m, J. Wappes & A. Bonaso (ACMT, 3); idem, 11-17- XII-2012, Wappes & Skillman (ACMT, 1); Chaco, above Achira, 22-25-I-2007, 1,730 m, Wappes & Lingafelter (ACMT, 1); idem, 22-25-I-2007, 1,350 m, Wappes & Lingafelter (WOPC, 1); Provincia Florida, Samaipata, 7-X- 2006, Fray Andres Langer (ACMT, 1). Brazil: Estado do Goías, Trindade, collection date not noted, Ch. Pujol (MNHN, 1); Estado do São Paulo, Teodoro Sampaio,?- IX-1985, Malaise, F. M. Oliveira (CMNH, 1); Marilia,?- XI-1945, collector not noted (WFBC, 4); Estado do Bahia,?- VI-1972, Moacir Alvarenga (AMNH, 1); Estado do Paraná, Rondon, 9-I-1953, Fritz Plaumann (USNM, 1); idem, 24-XI-1952, Fritz Plaumann (KSUC, 1); idem, 20-XI-1952, Fritz Plaumann (CSCA, 1); idem, 21-I-1952, Fritz Plaumann (OXUM, 1); idem, 19-XII-1952, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 2); idem, 8-I-1953, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 2); idem, 20-XII-1952, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 2); idem, 13-XII-1952, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, 25-XI-1952, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); Estado do Minas Gerais, Sertão de Diamantina, Fazenda das Melancias, 10-XI-1902, E. Gounelle (MNHN, 1); Estado do Mato Grosso, Rio Caraguata 1-X- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, XII-?- 1953, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, XII-?- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, 14-I- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, 8-I- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, 1-?- 1954, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); idem, XII-?- 1953, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 2); idem, XI-?- 1953, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 2); idem, 5-XII- 195, 400 m, Fritz Plaumann (FMNH, 1); Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Cerrito Santa Maria, 11-VI-1995, L. Witeck (MCNZ, 1); Estado do Santa Catarina, Rio Vermelho,?- XII-1945, A. Maller (AMNH, 1); Argentina: Provincia de Misiones, Env. San Ignacio, Villa Lutecia,?- X-1910, E. R. Wagner (MNHN, 1); Provincia de Tucumán, San Pedro de Colalao,?- I-1968, L. Stange (FSCA, 1); idem,?- II-1968, L. Stange (FSCA, 4); idem,?- I-1968, L. Stange (FSCA, 1); idem,?- II-1951, J. M. Arnau (MLPA, 1); Parque Aconquiju, 9-I-1946, R. Golbach (MLPA, 2); San Javier,?- II-1948, R. Golbach (MLPA, 1); Provincia Catamarca, El Rodeo, 1-18-I-1958, R. Golbach (FSCA, 1); Sumalao, 5-II-1958, R. Golbach (MLPA, 1); Provincia La Rioja, Santa Vera Cruz, 1-15-IV-2003, humid ravine, 1,700 m. Malaise trap, P. Fidalgo (WOPC, 1; FSCA); idem, 31-I-2004, Malaise trap, P. Fidalgo & L. A. Stange (FSCA, 1); idem, 31-VIII-2006, Malaise trap, L. A. Stange (FSCA, 1); idem, 31-II-2005, L. A. Stange & C. Porter (FSCA, 1); idem, 15-III-2004, Malaise trap, Patricio (CUIC, 1); idem, 30-II-2005, Malaise trap, Stange & Porter (BMNH, 1; FSCA, 1; MCNZ, 1); idem, Castro, Barros, Casa Rancho, 31-VIII-2006, L.A. Stange (FSCA, 1); Provincia de Jujuy, Calilegua National Park, Aguas Negras, 18-XII- 1987, 500 m, UV in subtropical humid forest, S. J. Peck (CNCI, 1); Cerro Perales, 27-XI-1948, Willink & Monrós (MLPA, 1); Provincia de Salta, Viñaco, 15 km S El Carril, 12-II-1982, H. & A. Howden (CMNC, 1); Paraguay: Departamento de Paraguari, Sapucay, 9-12-VII-2008, U. Drechsel (JNRC, 1); Departamento de Alto Paraná, Estancia Dimas, 4-6-VI-2007, U. Drechsel (JNRC, 1); Paraguay, no other information noted (MNHN, 2); Paraguay, collection date not noted, Drake (SDEI, 2). Diagnosis. Female specimens may be identified by the ornate configuration of the distal margin of the visible abdominal sternite V (Fig. 67). The configuration of the phallus will identify the males of this species (Fig. 55). Description. Size. Length 12.0 mm; width 3.0 mm. Form. As in Fig. 118. Color. Cranium bicolorous, venter castaneous, frons and epicranium testaceous; antenna testaceous; prothorax bicolorous, venter and pronotal sides dark castaneous, center of disc testaceous; pterothorax, legs, and abdomen dark castaneous, except tarsi flavotestaceous; elytra bicolorous, humeral angle and epipleural margin brown, disc with faintly visible marking at middle and transverse fascia before apex. Head. Cranium finely punctate, frons wider than length of antennal pedicel; EW/FW 50/30. Thorax. Pronotum finely punctate, with 2 tumescences, concave at middle; PW/PL 130/165; elytra, asetiferous punctures not striate, punctures extend to elytral apical 4⁄5, interstitial spaces very wide; EL/EW 525/90. Abdomen. Female pygidium trilobed along distal margin, female visible abdominal sternite VI narrows in distal ½, and visible abdominal sternite V emarginated twice (Fig. 67); aedeagus (Fig. 55), phallobasic lobes short and narrow, nearly contiguous; phallic plates serrate subapically; phallobasic apodeme abbreviated. Variation. Size. Length 6.0–9.0 mm; width 1.3–2.0 mm. The brown markings on the elytral disc vary in prominence. Natural history. The Bolivian specimens were collected during January, February, October and December at altitudes that range from 1,350 –1,730 m. Those from Brazil were obtained during January, June, September, November, and December, some at 400 m. Argentinean specimens were captured during January, February, April, August, and October, at altitudes that range from 500–1,700 m, some in a Malaise trap and some with an ultraviolet light set in a subtropical humid forest. From Paraguay specimens were gathered during June and July. Distribution (for map see Fig. 72). This species is known from Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Etymology. The specific epithet, trinalis, is a Latin noun with the meaning of “three”. I refer to the tripartite character of the distal margin of the female pygidium. fortipes species group The members of this group are characterized by having a spine at the base of the phallobasic lobes. The geographic distribution of the six species of this group involves Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Published as part of Opitz, Weston, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the Western Hemisphere checkered beetle genus Axina Kirby (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), pp. 1-70 in Insecta Mundi 2020 (793) on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4564947