Calosoma (Castrida) rufipenne Dejean, 1831

Calosoma rufipenne Dejean 1831: 566 (described from: Pérou, Santo Lorenzo); lectotype ♂ (from Pérou) designated by Deuve (1978: 246) in Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [examined]
Calosoma (Camedula) rufipenne Breuning, 1928: 93
Caminara (Camedula) rufipennis Lapouge, 1932: 419
Castrida (Caludema) rufipenne Jeannel, 1940: 99
Calosoma (Castrida) rufipenne Gidaspow, 1963: 288

Length 16-24 mm. As C. trapezipenne, C. bridgesi and the endemic species of the Galápagos Islands, and unlike other species of the subgenus Castrida, the margin of the elytra of C. rufipenne is even, without trace of serration. Moreover in C. rufipenne, the last segment of maxillary palps is almost as long as, and hardly wider than, the preceding one. The hind angles of its pronotum are very small not extending backward, and the pronotum is lacking the basal seta. The internal side of the of male's mesotibia presents a brush of red hair, prolonged half the length but without apophyses. The upper body is two-tone: head and pronotum are dark green metallic and the elytra are brownish. The metaepisterna are quite smooth with only few inconspicous punctures. Jeannel (1940) created for this species the subgenus Caludema, inside of the genus Castrida, but this subgenus has been considered superfluous by Gidaspow (1963).
It is widespread in Peru and penetrates the north of Chile.

Examined specimens and literature’s data
Chile. Antofagasta: Taltal, La Chimba, Mejillones (www.inaturalist.org); Arica: Alzapa river (Gidaspow, 1963: 289); Atacama: Huasco (www.inaturalist.org); Tarapacá: Iquique, Altos de Chipana, Altos de Patache, Mamiña (IADIZA, www.gbif.org/), Punta Lobos, Pozo Almonte (www.inaturalist.org); Tamarugal: Pintados (Ferrú & Elgueta, 2011: 14).
Peru. Arequipa reg: Camanà (SB) Tanaka 250m. (SB), Arequipa, Mollendo (Gidaspow, 1963: 289), Chiguata (www.inaturalist.org); Caravelí: Atiquipa (www.inaturalist.org); Lambayeque: Chiclayo (www.inaturalist.org); Tacna prov. (EM); San Lorenzo (type, MNHN); Cuzco prov. (Jeannel, 1940: 99); Piura prov: Quiras river (Gidaspow, 1963: 289). Lima reg: Lima env (JM), San Borja (www.inaturalist.org), Huacho (Gidaspow, 1963: 289); Huaura prov: Reserva Nacional de Lachay (http://tarwi.lamolina.edu.pe/); Moquegua: Ilo (www.inaturalist.org).

Notes: Winged, It is often found wandering among the desert vegetation and lives from the coastal edge to average heights of the mountain areas. On the basis of the material examined adults are active at the end of the dry cold season, from August to November, and according to Erwin (2007: 102) also just after the raining season, in March

Calosoma (Castrida) rufipenne
Dejean, 1831
Pérou (holotype)
(coll. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)
Calosoma (Castrida) rufipenne
Dejean, 1831
Peru, 20km S. Camanà, 7.VIII.77, Peña lg.
Calosoma (Castrida) rufipenne
Dejean, 1831
Peru, 250m., 6.VIII.77, S. Tanaka
updated July 24 2024

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