Plectonotum Gorham, 1885

Constantin, Robert, 2020, A contribution to the genera Plectonotum Gorham and Hyponotum Wittmer, with the description of sixteen new species from Peru (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 60 (34), pp. 1-27 : 2

The genus Plectonotum Gorham, 1885

The genus Plectonotum Gorham, 1885 , was erected for P. labiale Gorham, 1885 , based on the singular lateral bead of the pronotum. Among the Neotropical genera of Dysmorphocerinae , this genus is also characterized by: small size, usually under 6.0 mm; elongate and fee- bly convex body shape; slender antennae without deformed antennomeres; elytra without foveate punctations aligned in striae; apical margin of pygidium with two conical lateral tubercles variably developed; peculiar morphology of the male genitalia.

The aedeagus ( Figs. 116-118 ) displays the characters of the Dysmorphocerinae , derived from the trilobed Elateroidea type: tegmen with a distinct phallobase (phb), and with the apical part projecting backwards in two lateral lobes or parameres (llb), lateral lobes ventrally attached to a pair of joined apico-ventral apophysis (ava), median lobe (mlb), basally developed, and sheathed between two thin lateral sclerites (lsc), lamellar, sagittal oriented,tapered,internal sac usually with a sclerotized apical part (msi), sheathed between the lamina of the two lateral sclerites.

The members of the genus Plectonotum are distribut- ed all over the Neotropical region between Panama and Chile with nearly fifty valid species. The first identification key for species was written by Pic (1911). Later, one additional Plectonotum species was described from Brazil ( Wittmer, 1967). Further, a key was given for the species occurring in Bolivia and south Peru ( Wittmer, 1988). The species of Ecuador were keyed in contributions to the Plectonotum of Ecuador ( Constantin, 2008, 2010). From Peru, only six species were previously known ( Constantin & Chaboo, 2016): Plectonotum howdeni Wittmer, 1988 , P. inca Wittmer, 1988 , P. longissimum ( Pic, 1927) , P. martinezi Wittmer, 1988 , P. peruanum Wittmer, 1967 , and P. ruficolle Wittmer, 1988 .

Fourteen new species are described below and a new key is proposed here for separating the twenty species currently known from Peru.

Figures

Figures 116-118.Plectonotumamazonas sp.nov.,aedeagus in dorsal,dorso-lateral and lateralview (transmittedlight).Abbreviations:ava = apico-ventral apoph-