Perilypus apunctus OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 10, 195, 210, 272)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: 10 mi. NW Eagle Pass, TEXAS, VIII-8-59, R. B. Selander & J. C. Schaffner, light (TAMU).

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Perilypus SPINOLA was revised in 1977 (EKIS 1977). This work included a key to species. The available Perilypus apunctus specimen keys out to P. distinctus EKIS, from which the P. apunctus specimen differs by showing a phallobasic lobe that is not uncinate. The aedeagus of the P. apunctus specimen is also similar to those of P. virgulatus, but the phallobasic lobes are significantly more elongate in the P. apunctus specimen.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 9.0 mm; width 2.5 mm. Form: As in Fig. 272. Color: Cranium, prothorax, and mesosternum yellow; antenna black, except scape yellow; metathorax black; elytra dull violaceous; legs bicolorous, femora yellow, infuscated apically, tibiae and tarsi black. Head: Interocular depression shallow, crescentic; frontal umbo not prominent; cranium minutely punctate; antenna (Fig. 10) serrate, not densely setose, antennomeres gradually increasing in diameter from scape to antennomere 11; eyes finely facetted, eye narrower than frons (EW/FW 30/40). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 95) transverse, very finely punctate; pronotal arch well defined; subapical depression well defined; side margins of pronotum proper strongly arcuate (PW/PL 105/90); elytra oblong rectangulate, pubescence short and profusely distributed throughout disc; disc punctures small and profusely distributed on disc, epipleural fold plane (EL/EW 340/85). Abdomen: Pygidium transverse / scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 210.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimen was collected during August, at light.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from the United States of America, Texas.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, apunctus, is a Latin compound name that stems from the prefix – a (= without) and the noun punctum (= dot); in reference to the lack of a dark spot on the pronotal disc, very characteristic of many males of Perilypus species.