Conocassis dromedaria, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2014

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2014, New genera and species of Neotropical Exosternini (Coleoptera, Histeridae), ZooKeys 381, pp. 11-78 : 16-18

Conocassis dromedaria sp. n. Figs 1B, 2A, 4 G–H, Map 1

Type locality.

SURINAME: Sipaliwini, upper Palumeu River [2.4770°N, 55.6294°W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "SURINAME:Sipaliwini, CI-RAP Survey camp 1, upper Palumeu, 225m, 2.47700°N, 55.62941°W, Flight intercept. 10-16.iii.2012, A.E.Z. Short, SR12-0310-TN1" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-03047" (NZCS).

Diagnostic description.

Length: 1.9 mm, width: 1.4 mm; as for generic description, with the following specific characters: body rufobrunneus; frontal stria extending only onto base of epistoma; side of pronotal process with two distinct creases, the lowermost narrowly, deeply invaginated; pronotal disk lacking carina extending anterad from basolateral corner; pronotal process rather evenly rounded from base to apex in lateral profile; pronotal disk very finely alutaceous behind median process; median elytral interval strongly depressed in basal half, the 4th dorsal stria strongly elevated and displaced laterad, texture of median interval finely granular throughout; texture of outer intervals finely alutaceous basally, becoming smooth posteriorly; epipleural margin granulate but not strigose; no trace of 5th dorsal stria present; presternal suture deeply impressed, especially at middle; abdominal ventrites 2-4 with sparse, oblique strigae at sides; propygidium strongly convex, about as long as pygidium along midline; propygidial punctures very elongate, coarse and deep, especially at sides, alutaceous within; pygidium strigose in basolateral corners, becoming simply, finely punctate apicomedially; male genitalia (Fig. 4 G–H) as for generic description except tegmen widest just basad midpoint, apices long and narrow, ventral curvature moderate to near apex where it is abruptly bent ventrad.

Remarks.

This species and the following two are very similar, closely related, and difficult to separate. All are larger, darker, and more strongly sculptured than Conocassis minor , and can easily be separated from it. However, differences among them are more subtle. Conocassis dromedaria and Conocassis invaginata appear most similar, with the strong basal depression in the median elytral interval (Fig. 1B, D), and the 4th stria very strongly elevated and displaced laterad. These two can be separated by the narrowly open lower pronotal invagination, and poorly developed upper pronotal invagination of Conocassis dromedaria (Fig. 2A). This species also lacks a basolateral carina on the pronotal disk that the other two share. The more completely granulate elytral intervals of Conocassis invaginata (Fig. 1D) also set it apart from both the others, in which the intervals are distinctly smoother apically. With Conocassis dromedaria and Conocassis trisulcata represented only by single specimens, and only Conocassis dromedaria represented by a male, their status will have to be reassessed later in light of more material.

Etymology.

This species is named for the camel-like hump on the pronotum, from the specific name of the one-humped dromedary.