Hister foveipygus Wenzel & Dybas

Caterino, Michael S., 2004, Taxonomy of the Hister criticus group, with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Histeridae), Zootaxa 601, pp. 1-16 : 14-15

Hister foveipygus Wenzel & Dybas ( Figs. 2 , 4 E, 5D, 6C–D, 7B, 8B)

Hister foveipygus Wenzel & Dybas, 1941: 456 ; holotype probably male (disarticulated and missing genitalia): “Barro Clrdo Is. PANAMA, C.Z., VII:20:38 ­ 652”/ “Coll. by E.C. Williams”/ “Collection R. L. Wenzel”, [FMNH]; examined 1997.

Diagnosis: Hister foveipygus is generally similar to the preceding species, and is only described here to the extent that they differ: Average length: 3.3 mm (range 3.1–3.6); Avg. width: 3.2 mm (range 3.1–3.4); body smaller, more distinctly flattened, with the outline slightly but distinctly interrupted at the pronotal/elytral junction ( Fig. 7 B); mandibles short, convex (rather than flattened) anteriorly; pronotal margin slightly more conspicuously convex; protibia narrower, with its apical tooth less prominent, its apical margin oblique ( Fig. 5 D); elytral stria 3 more nearly and frequently complete (though still interrupted behind the middle in many individuals); striae 4 and 5 represented by deeply impressed apical fragments; propygidium with well defined, shallowly depressed, densely punctate area occupying most of its apical two­thirds, though with elevated impunctate margins on either side; pygidium similarly densely punctate in most of basal two­thirds, impunctate apically ( Fig. 4 E); all ventral tarsal setae fine, characteristically recurved back toward tarsus; male with tegmen of aedeagus smaller and more nearly parallel sided than above, its apical emargination very narrow, acute ( Fig. 6 C); internal structure of median lobe and associated armature ( Fig. 6 D) without obvious differences from that of H. guanacaste ; female with valvifer of ovipositor relatively shorter than above, equal in length to coxite ( Fig. 8 B); six spermathecae present, four approximately equal in length to bursa, two about half as long. (Possible variation in number and degree of development of spermathecae has not been investigated. It seems unlikely that this difference from H. guanacaste will be consistent.)

Records ( Fig. 2 ): COSTA RICA (all INBI, except as noted): Limon, Amubri, A. C. Amistad, 20 m, March; Puntarenas, Res. Biol. Carara, Laguna Meandrica, 100m, June; Puntarenas, Res. Biol. Carara, Est. Quebrada Bonita, 50m, May, June, July, August, September; Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Corcovado, Est. Sirena, 100m, May, June, August (INBI, SEMC); Puntarenas, Peninsula de Osa, Rancho Quemado, May, June, July; Puntarenas, Res. Biol. Carara, Est. Quebrada Bonita, 50m, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct.; Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Corcovado, Est. Sirena, 100m, May, June; Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, 80m, May; July. PANAMA (all SEMC): Barro Colorado Island, Aug.; Colon, P. N. Soberania, June; Colon, 15 km N. Jct. Escobal & Pina Rds., 30m, June.

Remarks: The type specimen was collected from ‘leaf mold’. Unfortunately no subsequently collected specimens have any ecological data. Most other specimens have been collected using flight interception traps. Aside from the unique type, from Barro Colorado Island, Panama, most available specimens are from Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. Some differences between the original description and that given above are due to the type being a badly worn individual (e.g., its lack of protibial dentation and ‘blunt mandibles’; Wenzel & Dybas, 1941). Others, however, such as the type’s complete lack of 4th and 5th dorsal striae, and its possession of abbreviated prosternal striae, seem to be geographically consistent. More material from the intervening areas is needed to assess the significance of these differences.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map of specimen records for Hister guanacaste and H. foveipygus.

FIGURE 4. Photographs of propygidium and pygidium of Hister spp. A. Hister criticus; B. H. laevimargo; C. H. latimargo; D. H. guanacaste; E. H. foveipygus.

FIGURE 5. Posterior view of protibiae of Hister spp. A. Hister criticus; B. H. latimargo; C. H. guanacaste; D. H. foveipygus.

FIGURE 6. Dorsal view of components of aedeagus of Hister spp. A. Tegmen of Hister criticus; B. Tegmen of H. guanacaste; C. Tegmen of H. foveipygus; D. Median lobe of H. foveipygus.

FIGURE 7. Dorsal habitus photographs of Hister spp. A. Hister guanacaste; B. H. foveipygus.

FIGURE 8. Lateral view of valvifer and coxite (ovipositor) of Hister spp. A. Hister guanacaste; B. H. foveipygus.