Pelecium helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989

Orsetti, Artur & Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano, 2024, A contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Pelecium Kirby (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Peleciini), European Journal of Taxonomy 922, pp. 1-61 : 34-36

Pelecium helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989

Figs 9A–H , 15B–D , 21E–G , 26

Specimens examined

BRAZIL • 2 ♂♂; Paraná, Piraquara, Manancial da Serra ; 19 Oct. 2011; P. Grossi and Santos leg.; CERPE • 1 ♂; Paraná, Castro, Estr. Castro-Tibagi km 15 ; 9 Apr. 2006; Grossi and Parizotto leg.; CERPE • 1 ♂; Paraná, Piraquara, Mananciais da Serra ; 30 Nov. 2005; P. Grossi leg.; CERPE • 1 ♀; São Paulo, Mogi das Cruzes, Parque das Neblinas ; 24–28 Feb. 2015; R.V. Nunes leg.; CEMT • 1 ♂; São Paulo, Est. Biologica Paranapiacaba ; Jan. 2007; M. Huhara leg.; “\\ Coleção A. M. BELLO ”; CAMB .

Notes

Most known specimens of P. helenae are from Southeast Brazil, including the holotype and the allotype (both from the state of São Paulo), and eight paratypes (states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo). Only one paratype was collected in the state of Pará, North Brazil. The new records are from the Araucaria Forest province, while the allotype is from the Atlantic province and the paratypes from the state of Minas Gerais are from the Paraná Forest province, but all the three provinces belong to the Paraná dominion. Paratypes from the state of Pará are from the Pará province of the Brazilian boreal dominion. The red label ( Fig. 21E ) of the holotype of P. helenae is wrongly labelled as P. paulae , but following the original description and comparing the locality label we can conclude that it is the holotype of P. helenae .

Complementary description

ABDOMINAL TERGITE IX ( Fig. 9E ). Oval, asymmetrical, sides converging to anterior portion forming a rounded angle; left side more angulate them right side; inner anterior angle rounded; posterior portion rounded.

AEDEAGUS ( Fig. 9C–D, F–G ). With median lobe ( Fig. 9C–D ) cylindrical, slightly asymmetrical, bent to left, slightly broadening apically; ostium short, confined to apical fourth; apical lamella long, not evenly narrowed, apical edges narrow; basal bulb thin. Parameres ( Fig. 9F–G ) asymmetrical; left paramere elongate with posterior angle rounded; right paramere square-shaped with protuberant, rounded lateral angle.

GONOCOXITE 1 ( Fig. 9H ). Outer and inner sides arcuate; inner side forming acute projection on posterior margin; anterior margin dull.

GONOCOXITE 2 ( Fig. 9H ). Elongate; basal lobe bearing ensiform setae on each side; ensiform setae long, with half length of gonocoxite 2; slender setae at apex.

MEASUREMENTS (in mm). Males (n = 4): AL1 0.8–0.9 (0.83 ± 0.05), AL2 0.3–0.5 (0.43 ± 0.1), EL 4.7–6.7 (5.78 ± 0.85), EW 3.2–4.3 (3.98± 0.52), PL 2.7–3.6 (3.28 ± 0.39), PW 2.6–3.6 (2.25 ±0.39), HL 1.3–1.6 (1.53± 0.15), HW 1.7–2.4 (2.15± 0.31), TL 8.7–11.9 (10.58 ± 1.36), TL/EW 2.5–2.8 (2.66 ± 0.11), lp2L 0.5–0.7 (0.6 ±0.08), lp3L 0.6–0.7 (0.68 ± 0.1), lp3 W 0.3 –0.4 (0.35± 0.06), mp3L 0.2–03 (0.28± 0.05), mp4L 0.5–0.7 (0.63 ±0.1), mp4 W 0.3 –0.4 (0.33 ± 0.05). Females (n = 2): AL1 1.1–1.2 (1.15± 0.07), AL2 0.6–0.6 (0.6 ± 0.0), EL 8.95–0.35 (8.95 ± 0.35), EW 5.7–5.9 (5.8 ±0.14), PL 4.8–4.9 (4.85± 0.07), PW 4.3–4.7 (4.5 ± 0.28), HL 2.8–3.0 (2.1 ±0.28), HW 2.8–3.0 (2.9± 0.14), TL 15.5–16.3 (15.9± 0.57), TL/EW 2.7–2.8 (2.74 ± 0.03), lp2L 0.8–0.9 (0.85± 0.07), lp3L 0.8–0.9 (0.85± 0.07), lp3 W 0.3 –0.3 (0.3 ± 0.0), mp3L 0.4–0.5 (0.45± 0.07), mp4L 0.8–0.8 (0.8 ±0.0), mp4 W 0.3 –0.4 (0.35± 0.07).

Figures

Fig. 9. A–H. Pelecium helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989, male from Piraquara, Paraná, Brazil (A–G) (CERPE) and female from Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil (H) (CEMT). A. Dorsal view. B. Detail of head. C–D. Median lobe. E. Tergite IX. F. Left paramere. G. Right paramere. H. Genitalia. – I–P. Pelecium laeve Chaudoir, 1854, male from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (I–O) (FZRBS) and female from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (P) (FZRBS). I. Dorsal view. J. Detail of head. K–L. Median lobe. M. Tergite IX. N. Left paramere. O. Right paramere. P. Genitalia. Scale bars: A–B, I–J = 1 mm; C–H, K–P = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 15. Types of Pelecium Kirby, 1817, dorsal view. A. Pelecium fulgidum Straneo, 1962, allotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. B. Pelecium helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989, holotype (MZSP), photograph by Guilherme Ide. C. Pelecium helenae, paratype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. D. Pelecium helenae, allotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 21.Labels of type specimens of some species of Pelecium Kirby, 1817. A. Pelecium cyanipes Kirby, 1817, holotype (BMNH), photograph by Keita Matsumoto. B. Pelecium drakei Quedenfeldt, 1890, lectotype (MUB), photograph by Bernd Jaeger. C. Pelecium fulgidum Straneo, 1962, holotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. D. Pelecium fulgidum, allotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. E. Pelecium helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989, holotype (MZSP), photograph by Guilherme Ide.F. Pelecium helenae, paratype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. G. Pelecium helenae, allotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. H. Pelecium laeve Chaudoir, 1854, holotype (MNHN), photograph by Azadeh Taghavian. I. Pelecium longicolle Straneo, 1953, allotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli. J. Pelecium negrei Straneo, 1962, holotype (MCSN), photograph by Michele Zilioli.

Fig. 26. Map highlighting part of South America with the known occurrences, including new records, of Pelecium atroviolaceum Straneo & Ball, 1989, P. bolivianum Straneo & Ball, 1989, P. cyanipes Kirby, 1817, P. drakei Quedenfeldt, 1890, P. fulgidum Straneo, 1962, P. helenae Straneo & Ball, 1989 and P. nicki Straneo, 1955.