Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula Laporte, 1840

Flores, Gustavo E. & Pizarro-Araya, Jaime, 2022, Revision of the subgenus Mesopraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya of the Neotropical genus Praocis Eschscholtz (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Pimeliinae), ZooKeys 1100, pp. 29-55 : 29

Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula Laporte, 1840

Figs 1A-F , 2A-D , 3E , 4A , 6

Praocis pilula Laporte, 1840: 187; Lacordaire 1859: 214; Gemminger and Harold 1870: 1905 (cat.); Philippi 1887: 732 (cat.); Gebien 1910: 261 (cat.); Gebien 1938: 400 (cat.); Blackwelder 1945: 523 (cat.); Kulzer 1958: 31 (rev.); Peña 1966: 431 (cat.); Vidal and Guerrero 2007: 73, 219; Pizarro-Araya et al. 2008: 273 (list.); Alfaro et al. 2009: 126 (ecol.); Cortés-Contreras et al. 2013: 98, 99 (ecol.); Flores and Pizarro-Araya 2014: 60 (list).

Coelus hirticollis Solier, 1840: 212; Solier 1851: 185 (rev.); Lacordaire 1859: 214. Synonymy by Lacordaire 1859: 214.

Praocis flava Kulzer, 1958: 32 (rev.); Peña 1966: 431 (cat.); Vidal and Guerrero 2007: 73; Pizarro-Araya et al. 2008: 273 (list.); Alfaro et al. 2009: 126 (ecol.); Flores and Pizarro-Araya 2014: 60 (list). New synonymy.

Redescription.

Length 5.00-9.25 mm. Body, antennae, legs black, dark brown to light brown, body widest behind elytral humeri. Head. Clypeus with punctures bearing short setae on centre and long setae at sides, width of anterior margin exceeding half the interocular width; frons with punctures bearing short setae on centre and long setae at sides and posterior half (Fig. 1A ), border of punctures not elevated; frontoclypeal suture with short or long setae; eyes lacking supraocular groove; antennae reaching anterior quarter of lateral margin of pronotum; antennomeres 9 and 11 wider than long (Fig. 1B-C ).

Thorax. Pronotum with anterior angles rounded, not produced, remote from eyes and epicanthus, lateral margins declivous, disc convex reaching lateral margins (Fig. 4A ); posterior margin convex, central area extending beyond posterior angles (Fig. 4A ), posterior angles right with apex rounded, not produced. Hypomeron with a fringe of long golden setae below lateral margin of pronotum (Fig. 1E ). Metaventrite with punctures on lateral thirds separated by one to two puncture diameters.

Elytron. Pseudopleuron with abundant punctures from which emerge long, golden, decumbent setae, punctures equally dense on all surface, separated by two to four puncture diameters (Fig. 1F ); epipleuron with a fringe of long golden setae along the edge, texture different than that of elytron, shiny, almost smooth, with sparse punctures and setae.

Legs. Ventral surface of protrochanters with hair brush. Apical process of distal margin of protibiae equal to length of protarsomeres 1-3 combined; protibial length twice the width of distal margin. First metatarsomere 1.4-1.6 times longer than metatarsomeres 2-3 combined (Fig. 4A ).

Abdomen. Ventrites 1-3 with sparse punctures separated by two to four puncture diameters; ventrite 4 with sparse punctures separated by one to two puncture diameters; ventrite 5 with punctures on central area separated by two to four puncture diameters, on lateral thirds separated by one to two puncture diameters.

Male genitalia. Basal lamina of tegmen equal width throughout, with base concave. Lateral styles of tegmen with proximal margin straight, slightly bisinuate at sides, with setae on distal 1/5 of ventral surface. Median lobe proximally narrow, half the width of tegmen, with apical aperture small.

Intraspecific variation. Antennae can exhibit 9, 10 or 11 antennomeres, the same individual can bear both antennae with different number of antennomeres (Fig. 1B-D ). If it has 11 or 10 antennomeres due to the fusion or lack of intermediate segments, antennomere 9 is equal length to 10 and 11 and antennomere 9 is equal width to 10 and wider than 11 (Fig. 1B-C ); if the antenna has 9 antennomeres due to the fusion or lack of intermediate segments, antennomere 9 is equal length to 10 but shorter than 11 and antennomere 9 is equal width to 10 and 11 (Fig. 1D ).

Notes on synonymy.

Kulzer (1958) described Praocis flava based upon six specimens that were probably tenerals (he stated light yellow colour), and pointed out that the antenna is shorter than the width of frons to separate this species from the other two known of the subgenus at this time: P. pilula and P. calderana . We examined the allotype of P. flava (NHMB) which has 11 antennomeres on the right antenna and 10 antennomeres on the left antenna. We studied hundreds of specimens of P. pilula and observed that antennae can bear 9, 10 or 11 antennomeres (Fig. 1B-D ), with variation in the number of antennomeres in the same individual (right/left): 11/11, 11/10, 10/11, 10/10, 10/9, 9/10, 9/9 and this variation makes the antenna shorter than or equal to the width of frons. We conclude that Praocis flava is a synonym with P. pilula based on the characters shared by both nominal species stated in the identification key.

Type specimens.

Allotype of Praocis (Mesopraocis) flava : [Coquimbo] [Alotypus/ Praocis / Praocis flava m./ det. H. Kulzer 1957] (NHMB).

Other material examined.

Chile. Atacama Region: Copiapo Province: E. Rodillo sand dunes 476 m, 27°1'5.3"S, 70°40'36."W, 30.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 9 (IADIZA), Rodillo sand dunes 14 m, 27°00'6.1"S, 70°47.4'10."W, 30.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 1 (IADIZA), Punta Frodden, 20 km N. Caldera, 26.iv.1956, L.E. Peña, 30 (FMNH), S. Caldera, 23-VI-1968, L.E. Peña, 5 (FMNH), Caldera, 30-XI-1980, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 4.x.1981, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC), Boca Río Copiapó, 13.vi.1968, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH), 70 km S. Copiapó, 27°22'S, 70°20'W, 18.viii.1966, E.I. Schlinger, M.E. Irwin, dune assoc, 4 (AMNH), E. Cerro Negro 1296 m, 27°7'8.6"S, 70°14.4'43."W, 30.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 10 (IADIZA), Puerto Viejo, 10.x.1980, L.E. Peña, 24 (FMNH), ix.1982, L.E. Peña, 3 (FMNH), Bahia Salada 2 m, 27°38'24.3"S, 70°54'38."W, 29.xi.2012, M. Elgueta, 1 (IADIZA), N Caleta Angosta sand dunes 11 m, 28°11'48"S, 71°09'22."W, 29.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 3 (IADIZA), Travesía, 20.viii.1978, Leg. J. Solervicens, 2 (MNNC), Punta Cachos, 01-04.xi.2012, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (LEULS). Huasco Province : Quebrada Carrizalillo, N. Huasco, 12.x.1980, L.E. Peña, 24 (FMNH), Cuesta Carrizalillo, 30.x.1980, L.E. Peña, 9 (FMNH), Carrizal Bajo, 8.xi.1965, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), between Carrizal y Los Pozos, 8 m, 28°7'38"S, 71°9'53."W, 23.i.2010, E. Ruiz-Manzanos, F.M. Alfaro, J. Mondaca, 3 (LEULS), 20 (IADIZA), Los Pozos, 19.viii.2008, F.M. Alfaro, 6 (LEULS), Agua de Luna, 18.viii.2009, F.M. Alfaro, 2 (LEULS), 01-04.ii.2007, F.M. Alfaro, 12 (LEULS), Huasco bajo, 8.viii.1976, 2 (UCCC), Huasco, viii.1953, L.E. Peña, 16 (MNNC), viii.1957, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 22.x.1957, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH), 23.x.1980, L.E. Peña, 29 (FMNH), Huasco beach sand dunes 5 m, 28°27'24.5"S, 71°12'27."W, 28.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC), 5 (IADIZA), 29.ix.1981, M. Elgueta, 4 (MNNC), Playa Tontando, 22.xi.2008, F.M. Alfaro, 4 (LEULS), Chanaral de Aceituno , 14.vi.1968, L.E. Peña, 11 (FMNH). Coquimbo Region: Elqui Province : Isla Gaviota, Los Choros, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (IADIZA), 8 (LEULS) , Isla Damas, Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt, Los Choros , 3-6.viii.2006, D. Valdivia & F.M. Alfaro, 1 (IADIZA), 4 (LEULS), 3-6.viii.2006, P. Agusto & F.M. Alfaro, 7 (LEULS), 22-25.ix.2006, P. Gachón & C. Romero, 3 (LEULS), Punta de Choros , 3.vi.2005, D. Valdivia, 1 (IADIZA), 4.vi.2005, D. Valdivia, 1 (IADIZA), 11 (LEULS), 26.viii.2005, P. Agusto, 10 (LEULS), 27.viii.2005, R. Villalón, 13 (LEULS), 25.viii.2005, R. Villalón, 3 (LEULS), 21.xi.2005, J. Pizarro-Araya, 8 (LEULS), i.2007, J. Pizarro-Araya & F.M. Alfaro, 2 (LEULS), 31.x.2011, J. Pizarro-Araya & F.M. Alfaro, 4 (LEULS), Choros Bajos (NW El Tofo), 31.x.1961, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 15.vi.1968, L.E. Peña, 24 (FMNH), El Apolillado, Los Choros, 04.xi.2014, 2 (LEULS), Chungungo, Playa Blanca, 27.ii.2005, J. Pizarro-Araya, 6 (LEULS), Quebrada Porotitos, 16.ix.2005, R, Villalón, 1 (LEULS), Los Hornos, 29.58825°S, 71.29457°W, iii.2017, A. Zúñiga, M. Bläser, R. Predel, L. Ragionieri, 6 (IADIZA), Punta Teatinos, 7.i.1966, L.E. Peña, 31 (FMNH), 24.x.1992, P. Plandiura, 1 (IADIZA), 1 (LEULS), Caleta San Pedro, sand dunes 5 m, 29°52'54.3"S, 71°16'26."W, 7.xii.2012, M. Elgueta, 4 (IADIZA), Coquimbo, La Serena, ix.1947, L.E. Peña, 6 (MNNC), 1 (IADIZA), 28-31.viii.1947, L.E. Peña, 16 (MNNC), 10 (FMNH), 18 (IADIZA), 13.x.1957, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Coquimbo, 13.xi.1964, L.E. Peña, 7 (FMNH), 16.iii.1971, L. Álvarez, 1 (FMNH), 20.xii.1967, Valencia Leg., 21 (LEULS), La Herradura, 2.i.1969, L. Álvarez, 34 (FMNH), Guayacán, 20.ix.1969, G. Monsalve, 30 (FMNH), Totoralillo, 2-3.ix.1947, L.E. Peña, 13 (MNNC), 19 (FMNH), Totoralillo sand dunes, 11 m, 29°29'21.1"S, 71°19'2."W, 27.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 5 (IADIZA), Lagunillas, 4.ix.1947, L.E. Peña, 10 (MNNC), 13 (IADIZA), Morrillos, sand dunes 41 m, 30°8'56.4"S, 71°22'13."W, 27.x.2012, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC), 15 (IADIZA), Guanaqueros, 21.v. 1955, 3 (MNNC), 24.xi.1967, L.E. Peña, 18 (FMNH), N. Guanaqueros, sand dunes 4 m, 30°11'28"S, 71°24'22."W, 24.x.2010, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC), Tongoy, 28.x.1961, L.E. Peña, 9 (FMNH), 10.iii. 1967, L.E. Peña, 26 (FMNH), N. Tongoy sand dunes, 24 m, 30°15'15.5"S, 71°28'45."W, 25.x.2010, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC), 18.viii.1971, L. Alfaro, 10 (MNNC), 4.ii.1975, J. Solervicens, 2 (MNNC), 18.viii.1996, F. Ramírez, 1 (MNNC). Limari Province : Caleta Limarí, 22.ix.2004, A. Levicán, 1 (IADIZA), 1 (LEULS), 22.ix.2004, J. Pizarro-Araya, 2 (IADIZA), 15 (LEULS), 22.ix.2004, 5 (LEULS), Los Loros, Desembocadura Rio Limari , 18.ix.1969, L.E. Peña, 10 (FMNH), Socos, 22.ix.2004, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (IADIZA), 8 (LEULS), Punta Talca, 21xi.1967, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Quebrada El Teniente, 24-31.vii. 1960, L.E. Peña, 3 (FMNH), 26.x. 1961, L.E. Peña, 9 (FMNH), 13.i.1966, L.E. Peña, 8 (FMNH), 21.xii.1969, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH), 28.ix.1980, L.E. Peña, 69 (FMNH), 4 km N., Quebrada El Teniente, 15.xii.1967, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), S. Puerto Manso, 18.ix.1967, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH), Huentelauquén, 6.ii.1969, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH), La Cebada, 10 m, 30°58'30.1"S, 71°38'38."W, 31.x.2010, M. Elgueta, 1 (MNNC) .

Figures

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrographs of body details of Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula A head in dorsal view, 45 x B antenna with 11 antennomeres, dorsal view, 70 x C antenna with 10 antennomeres, ventral view, 100 x D antenna with 9 antennomeres, dorsal view, 160 x E prosternum and hypomeron, 25 x F meso, metaventrite, abdomen, and pseudopleuron, 17 x.

Figure 2. Scanning electron micrographs of body details of Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula A protibia, posterior face, 37 x B protibia, anterior face, 65 x C conical pegs sensilla type 1 (CP 1) (on outer margin of tibia), 700 x D conical pegs sensilla type 2 (CP 2) (on antero-distal margin of protibia), 750 x. Arrows indicate conical pegs sensilla type 1.

Figure 3. Male and female genitalia of Praocis (Mesopraocis) species A-D male A, B Praocis (Mesopraocis) calderana, dorsal and ventral views C, D Praocis (Mesopraocis) nitens, dorsal and ventral views. Abbreviations: bl, basal lamina of tegmen, ls, lateral styles of tegmen, ml, median lobe E ovipositor (ventral view), spiculum ventrale and internal female reproductive tract of Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula. Abbreviations: bc, baculi of coxite, bp, baculi of paraproct, c, coxite, g, gonostyli, m, midventral sclerite, o, oviduct, p, paraproct, r, rectum, s, spermatheca, sag, spermathecal accessory gland, sp, spiculum ventrale, v, vagina, 1, 2, 3, 4, coxite lobes. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 4. Habitus in dorsal view A Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula B Praocis (Mesopraocis) calderana C Praocis (Mesopraocis) nitens D Praocis (Mesopraocis) arenicola sp. nov. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 6. Geographical distribution of Praocis (Mesopraocis) pilula and Praocis (Mesopraocis) arenicola sp. nov.