Phlegon chiriquiensis, , Otto, 2017

Otto, Robert L., 2017, A revision of Phlegoninae (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), with descriptions of a new genus and four new species, Insecta Mundi 2017 (569), pp. 1-27 : 5

Phlegon chiriquiensis sp. nov.

Fig. 6–8

Diagnosis. Oblong punctures along elytral suture distinguish this species from P. buqueti , P. herculeanus and P. panamensis . Parallel-sided pronotum distinguishes females of this new species from those of P. giganteus , which exhibit an anteriorly narrowing pronotum. Males of P. chiriquiensis are unknown.

Type Material. Female holotype: “ Chiriqui.” / “Phlegon n. sp., J. Muona det. 2014” / “ HOLOTYPE:, Phlegon , chiriquiensis, Otto , det. R.L. Otto, 2016” (♀ handwritten behind species name on label) [red printed label]. Holotype deposited in MNHN.

Description: Length 34.0 mm, width 10.0 mm. Body stout, oblong, elongate; uniformly dark brownish black; antennae dark brownish black; femora, tibiae and tarsi dark brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, semierect copper-colored setae ( Fig. 6 ).

Head: Subspherical; frons slightly depressed above frontoclypeal region, with small, round median tubercle; surfaces shiny, densely punctate to almost confluently rugose; apical margin of frontoclypeal region rounded, about 2 times wider than base; mandibles slender, without teeth.

Antenna ( Fig. 7 ): About 1/2 of body length; antennomere III longer than IV; antennomeres IV–V slightly longer than wide, subequal; antennomeres VI–VIII quadrate, subequal; antennomeres IX–XI enlarged, tubular, very weakly dentate, each 3 times longer than wide, subequal, each as long as combined length of VI–VIII.

Pronotum: Surfaces shiny, punctures closely spaced; slightly wider than long, with large, sharp hind angles; parallel-sided, slightly constricted basally above hind angles; disc convex with 4 circular foveae, cranial pair much more impressed; base sinuous.

Scutellum: Setose, quadrate, elongate and distally rounded.

Elytra: Striae indicated, formed from oblonged punctures; interstices slightly elevated; surfaces shiny, shallowly punctate to slightly rugose; apices ( Fig. 8 ) with deep V-shaped cavities near elytral suture.

Legs: First tarsomere shorter than combined lengths of remaining four on meso- and metatarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated, bilobed; metatarsomere V elongate; pretarsal claws simple.

Venter: Closely punctate, with short, semierect copper-colored setae; hypomeron simple, without lateral antennal grooves; metepisterna parallel-sided; metacoxal plates medially 3.0–6.0 times wider than laterally.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Panama.

Biology. Larvae and pupae are unknown.

Etymology. Specific epithet is derived from a combination of two words, ‘Chiriqui’, the type locality from which the specimen was taken, and ‘-ensis’, a Latin adjectival suffix meaning “pertaining to”.

Figures

Figures 6–8. Phlegon chiriquiensis sp. nov. 6) Female holotype (MNHN), dorsal habitus. 7) Female holotype (MNHN), antenna, ventral view. 8) Female holotype (MNHN), elytral apices, dorsal view. (Scale: 6 = 10.0 mm; 7–8 = 5.0 mm)