Photinopygus schedonapicalis Chatzimanolis, new species

(Figs. 108, 206–212)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D7831069-2AC3-4DD6-AB3B-06546F970DCF

Type material. Holotype, here designated, male, with labels: “ Brazil: Ro [Rondônia] 150–350 m, vic. Caucalandia 10Deg 32’S 62Deg 48’W [-10.533°, -62.800°] 19 Oct [x] 1991, John R. Macdonald [leg.]” / “Holotype Photinopygus schedonapicalis Chatzimanolis, des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ”. In the collection of MEM.

Paratypes, four, here designated: “ Peru: Huánuco Dept. P. N. Tingo Maria, vic. Cueva d. Lechuzas [-9.33°, - 76.03°], 660 m, trap sites 676–677, 8–16.i.1983, tropical rainforest, A. Newton & M. Thayer [leg.]” / “ window trap ” / “ Xanthopygus det Newton 2000” / “FMNHINS3975564” (1 ♁ FMNH) ; “ Peru: Quincemil [ Quince Mil; -13.23°, -70.77°], 14/31.viii.62 [14–31.viii.1962]” / “coll. L. Peña [leg.]” / “FMNHINS3975502, FMNHINS3975500” (2 ♁ FMNH) ; “ Peru: Avispas [ Avispa; -12.99°, -70.35°] 10/30.ix.62 [10–30.ix.1962]” / “coll. L. Peña [leg.]” / “FMNHINS3975498” (1 ♁ FMNH) . All paratypes with label: “ Paratype Photinopygus schedonapicalis Chatzimanolis, des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ” .

Diagnosis. Photinopygus schedonapicalis belongs in the convex pronotum species group. Among species of that group, P. schedonapicalis can be recognized by the following combination of characters: tergite 5 with curved carina (arch-like) only at lateral margins, paramere in dorsal view almost parallel-sided with rounded apex (Fig. 211–212), median lobe in lateral view with with hook-like subapical tooth (Fig. 210; subapical tooth not hook-like in P. apicalis, P. cyanipennis, P. hilaris, and P. calidus).

Description. Forebody (Fig. 206) length 6.0– 6.5 mm. Color of head, pronotum and mesoscutellum dark brown to black; antennae orange; legs dark brown to black except protarsi dark orange (in some specimens meso-, metatarsi light brown); elytra metallic blue with green or purple overtones; abdomen dark brown to black except segments 7–8 (orange). Antenna (Fig. 209) with antennomere 3 without tomentose pubescence; antennomere 4 with tomentose pubescence; antennomeres 4–7 longer than wide; antennomeres 8–10 subquadrate. Head transverse; HW/HL ratio = 1.33–1.50. Posterior margin of head slightly extended posteriad on each side of neck. Head with medium-sized punctures, distance between punctures as wide as 1–2 punctures but punctures denser posteriorly. Left mandible with bicuspid tooth. Pronotum (fig. 208) subquadrate; PW/PL ratio = 1.09–1.11. Lateral margins of pronotum in dorsal view posteriad of midpoint convex; pronotum with 7–8 sparse rows of punctures on each half beside median impunctate line; distance between punctures as wide as 1–2 punctures but areas of pronotum without punctures. EL/PL ratio = 1.27–1.50. Elytra with dense punctation; distance between punctures as wide as 0–0.5 punctures. Metepisternum covered with punctures (impunctate area less than 1/3). Abdomen with tergite 3 having setose punctures only on posterior margin; tergite 4 setose; tergites 3–4 with curved carina (arch-like); tergite 5 curved carina only at lateral margin. In males, sternite 7 without porose structure, sternite 7 with shallow and broad emargination posteriorly; sternite 8 with medium U-shaped emargination posteriorly, emargination with ‘shaved’ margin (Fig. 207). Aedeagus as in Figs. 210–212; in dorsal view paramere almost parallel-sided with rounded apex; paramere shorter and narrower than median lobe; in lateral view paramere becoming narrower and concave near tip; paramere with lateral rows of peg setae as in Fig. 212. Median lobe in dorsal view converging to narrow pointed tip; in lateral view median lobe becoming much narrower near apex; median lobe with small hook-like subapical tooth.

Distribution. Known from the South Brazilian biogeographic dominion. Distributed in the state of Rondônia in Brazil, and the departments of Huánuco, Cusco and Madre de Dios in Peru. Map is shown in Fig. 108.

Etymology. The specific epithet is composed from the Greek word σχεδόν (almost) and apicalis and refers to the close morphological similarity between this species and P. apicalis .

Habitat. Collected at low elevations (150–660 m) using flight intercept traps.