\u3ci\u3eAphelocerus thomasi\u3c/i\u3e, a new species of checkered beetle (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) from Mexico

Aphelocerus thomasi Rifkind, new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), is described from the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. This beetle is named for the late Michael C. Thomas, in recognition of his lifetime of contributions to the study of Coleoptera. Aphelocerus Kirsch (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is a moderately speciose genus (approx. 66 species) of predaceous beetle, broadly distributed across Mexico, Central America, and South America, that was recently revised by Opitz (2005). The Mexican Aphelocerus fauna includes approximately 25 described species (Opitz 2005), and several undescribed species are known. Endemism appears to be common, particularly in the tropical and subtropical highlands. Species in Mexico are adapted to a wide variety of habitats, including tropical deciduous forest, evergreen forest, pine–oak, and pine forest. This paper describes and illustrates a new species of Mexican Aphelocerus