Photinopygus morosus (Sharp, 1884)

(Figs. 168, 177–183)

Xanthopygus morosus Sharp, 1884: 346 .

Photinopygus morosus (Sharp); Chatzimanolis 2021: 91.

Type material. Lectotype, designated by Navarrete-Heredia (2004), female, with labels: “[on white cardboard] ♀, Xanthopygus morosus Type D. S. Senahu, Verapaz [Alta Verapaz] Champion Guatemala ” / “Type” / “Senahu [Senahú; 15.42°, -89.82°] Verapaz Guatemala ” / “B.C.A Col. I. 2. Xanthopygus morosus, Sharp. ” / “Sharp Coll. 1905-313” / “Lectotipo Xanthopygus morosus Sharp 1884 des. J.L. Navarrete-Heredia”. In the collection of NHMUK. Paralectotype, female, with labels: “[on white cardboard] ♀, Xanthopygus morosus Type D. S. Cordova, Mexico, Sallé” / “Cordova [Córdoba, Veracruz; 18.89°, -96.94°], Mexico, Salle coll.” / “ Staphylinus sapphirinus Erich. apud. Salle” / “ Syntype ” / “Paralectotipo Xanthopygus morosus Sharp 1884 des. J.L. Navarrete-Heredia”. In the collection of NHMUK.

Additional Materials. COLOMBIA: Valle del Cauca: Anchicaya [3.43°, -76.80°], 305 m, 22–27.vii.1970, malaise trap, J.M. Cambell leg. (2 ♀ CNC) ; same locality, 900 m, 1.viii.–10.x.2000, Malaise trap, S. Sarria leg., SM0549112 (1 ♀ SEMC); COSTA RICA: Alajuela: E.B. Sa Ramon, 27 km N & 8 km W San Ramon [10.225°, -84.592°], 850–950 m, 29.vi.–6.vii.1999, in rotting palm trunk, R. Anderson leg., SM0186611, SM0188192, SM0188191, SM0186613, SM0186614, SM0188193, SM0186610 (1 ♁ UTCI; 1 ♁, 5 ♀ SEMC) ; same locality, 810 m, 8.vii.2000, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z.H. Falin, SM0203679, SM0203681, SM0203651, SM0203682, SM0239836 (2 ♁, 3 ♀ SEMC); Peñas Blancas [10.36°, -84.67°], ii.1987, malaise trap, E. Cruz leg. (1 ♁ CNC) ; same locality, 11.iii.1987, FIT, E. Cruz leg. (1 ♁, 1 ♀ CNC); San Carlos [10.62°, -84.51°], Schild-Burgdorf coll. (1 ♁, 1 ♀ USNM) ; same locality, 50–100 m, 23.v.–25.vi.2004, malaise trap, B. Hernández leg., INB0003856157 (1 ♀ NHMD); Volcán Tenorio [10.673°, -85.015°], 1033 m, 26–28.vi.2009, J.A. Azofeifa leg., INB0004218843 (1 ♀ NHMD) ; Cartago: Turrialba [9.88°, -83.68°], 800 m, A. Heyne leg. (2 ♀ MFNB) ; Guanacaste: Heliconias Biological Station [10.715°, -85.039°], 600 m, 20–23.xi.2001, FIT, R. Brooks leg., SM0474694 (1 ♁ SEMC) ; Patilla Biological Station [10.989°, -85.426°], 610 m, 13–15.vii.2000, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z.H. Falin leg., SM0203392, SM0203395 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ SEMC) ; Heredia: Braulio Carrillo N. P. [10.16°, -83.97°], 400–600 m, i.1990, C. Chavez leg., INBIOCRI000201734 (1 ♀ NHMD); Limón: Hamburg Farm, [10.25°, -83.45°], 3.vi.[19]33, F. Nevermann leg., Bierig coll., FMNHINS3989891, FMNHINS3989892 (2 ♀ FMNH) ; same locality, 18.i.[19]36, F. Nevermann leg., Bierig coll., FMNHINS3989890 (1 ♀ FMNH); same locality, 30.iv.[19]35, F. Nevermann leg., Bierig coll., FMNHINS3989893 (1 ♀ FMNH); same locality, 4.i.[19]37, F. Nevermann leg., Bierig coll., FMNHINS3989894 (1 ♀ FMNH); ECUADOR: Pichincha: Maquipucuna Biological Station, Principal Trail [0.123°, -78.650°], 1275 m, 29.x.1999, pyrethrum fogging recently split tree trunk, Z.H. Falin leg., SM0352265, SM0352266 (2 ♁ SEMC) ; 47 km SE Sto Domingo, Rio Palenque Science Center [0.60°, -79.35°], 300 m, 22–28.ii.1976, J.M. Cambell leg. (1 ♁ CNC) ; HONDURAS: Olancho: 14 km N La Unión P. N. La Muralla [15.14°, -86.67°], 1350 m, 17.viii.– 1.ix.1994, Liquidambar forest, FIT, S. & J. Peck leg., FMNHINS3975569 (1 ♀ FMNH) ; MEXICO: Chiapas: Nahá [16.949°, -91.594°], 930 m, 9.vi.2008, mesophyl forest, malaise trap, LLAMA08 team leg., SM0832802 (1 ♀ SEMC) ; Oaxaca: 26km E Valle Nacional [17.75°, -96.57°], 1220 m, 25.vi.–2.viii.1983, montane tropical forest, FIT, S. & J. Peck leg., FMNHINS3989856 (1 ♁ FMNH) ; unknown state: unknown locality, Flohr coll. (1 ♀ MFNB); unknown locality, Bernhauer coll., FMNHINS3989844 (1 ♀ FMNH); NICARAGUA: Matagalpa: 6km N Matagalpa, Selva Negra Hotel [12.999°, -85.909°], 1350 m, 19.v.2002, splintered tree, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, S. Chatzimanolis leg., SM0542313 (1 ♁ SEMC) ; same locality, 1400 m, 19–22.v.2002, FIT, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, S. Chatzimanolis leg., SM0555420 (1 ♀ SEMC); PANAMA: Chiriquí: La Fortuna, Cont. Div. Trail [8.70°, - 82.23°], 1150 m, 9–12.vi.1995, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks leg., SM0003507 (1 ♀ SEMC) ; Darién: Cana ANCON Station [7.75°, –77.68°], 1200 m, 3–9.vi.1998, beaten recent treefall, S. Lingafelter leg., SM0058966, SM0058955, SM0058965 (1 ♁ UTCI; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ SEMC) ; Panamá Oeste: [PN De Cerro Campana] Cerro Campana [8.71°, - 79.95°], 790 m, 1–5.vi.1995, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks leg., SM0080059 (1 ♁ SEMC) .

Diagnosis. Photinopygus morosus belongs in the narrow pronotum species group. Among species of that group which have a black pronotum, with sparse punctation (i.e., with 3–5 loosely organized rows of punctures on each half beside median impunctate line), and antennomeres 4–5 longer than wide, P. morosus can be recognized by the following combination of characters: tip of paramere in dorsal view emarginate (Fig. 182–183), and median lobe in lateral view with strong apical hook-like tooth but no lateral teeth (Fig. 181).

Description. Forebody (Fig. 177) length 5.1–6.6 mm. Color of head, pronotum and mesoscutellum dark brown to black; antennae orange (some specimens with distal antennomeres darker); legs dark brown to black except prolegs dark orange in some specimens; elytra metallic blue with green or purple overtones; abdomen dark brown to black except segments 7–8 (orange). Antenna (Fig. 180) with antennomere 3 without tomentose pubescence; antennomere 4 with tomentose pubescence; antennomeres 4–5 longer than wide; antennomeres 6–7 subquadrate; antennomeres 8–10 transverse. Head transverse; HW/HL ratio = 1.38–1.43. 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. 179) subquadrate; PW/PL ratio = 1–1.05. Lateral margins of pronotum in dorsal view posteriad of midpoint strongly converging; pronotum with 3–4 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 = 1.35–1.53. Elytra with dense punctation; distance between punctures as wide as 0.5–1 punctures. Metepisternum covered with punctures (impunctate area less than 1/3). Abdomen with tergites 3–4 setose; tergites 3–5 with curved carina (arch-like), although on some specimens curved carina not as impressed on tergite 5. In males, sternite 7 without porose structure, sternite 7 with shallow and broad emargination posteriorly; sternite 8 with small V-shaped emargination posteriorly (Fig. 178). Aedeagus as in Figs. 181–183; in dorsal view paramere almost parallel-sided converging to emarginate apex; paramere shorter and as wide as median lobe; in lateral view paramere becoming slightly narrower near tip; paramere with peg setae in median rows as in Fig. 183. Median lobe in dorsal view converging to narrow pointed tip; in lateral view median lobe becoming narrower, with strong apical hook-like tooth but no lateral teeth.

Distribution. Known from the Mesoamerican and Pacific biogeographic dominions. Distributed in the department of Valle del Cauca in Colombia, the provinces of Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia and Limón in Costa Rica, the province of Pichincha in Ecuador, the department of Alta Verapaz in Guatemala, the department of Olancho in Honduras, the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz in Mexico, the department of Matagalpa in Nicaragua, and the provinces of Chiriquí, Darién and Panamá Oeste in Panama. Map is shown in Fig. 168.

Habitat. Collected at low to mid elevations (50–1400 m) in flight intercept and malaise traps, with pyrethrum fogging, in rotting palm trunks and by beating recent treefall.