Operclipygus punctiventer, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 85-86

Operclipygus punctiventer sp. n. Figs 6C20IMap 7

Type locality.

COSTA RICA: Heredia: LaSelva Biological Station [10°26'N, 84°01'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "COSTA RICA: Heredia, Est. Biol. LaSelva. 10.26'[sic]N 84.01'W. F.I.T.22June 1998 C.Carlton & A. Tishechkin" / "LSAM 0046242" (FMNH). Paratypes (21): 2: same data as type (FMNH, LSAM, MSCC, AKTC);same as type, except as noted: 1: 23.vi.1998 (LSAM), 2: 21.vi.1998 (LSAM), 1: 80m, 8.-11.vi.2001, FIT, S. Chatzimanolis (SEMC), 1: 10.vi.2012, OTS Beetle Course, DNA Extract MSC-2305 (SBMNH); Limón: 1: Area Cons. Tortuguero, Sector Cerro Cocori, Fca. de E. Rojas, 150m, v.1993, E. Rojas, (INBIO); Puntarenas: 1: Rancho Quemado, Peninsula de Osa, 200m, iv.1992, D. Brenes (INBIO), 1: xii.1992, F. Quesada, (INBIO); 1: Est. Biol. Las Cruces, San Vito, 1200m, viii.1982, B.D. Gill (CHSM); 1: Est. Agujas, Sendero Zamia, Rio Agujas, 300m, 2-15.i.1996, FIT, A. Azofeifa, (INBIO). BELIZE: Cayo: 2: Las Cuevas Research Station, 5.viii.1994, FIT (BMNH), 1: 16.ix.1994, FIT (BMNH). ECUADOR: Pichincha: 1: Rio Palenque Sta., 47km S Santo Domingo, 29.v.1975, fruit litter (FMNH). HONDURAS: Cortés: 2: Yojoa Lake, Deer Island, 14°55'N, 87°58'W, 670m, 22-26.vi.1994, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks (SEMC); PANAMA: Colón: 1: San Lorenzo Forest, 9°17'N, 79°58'W, 4-6.x.2003, FIT, A.K. Tishechkin (GBFM), 1: 8-9.x.2003 (LSAM), 1: 21-22.x.2003 (GBFM), 1: 24-25.x.2003 (LSAM).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to Operclipygus sejunctus , differing only in a few characters as follows: length: 1.93-2.40 mm, width: 1.75-2.06 mm; body rufo-piceous; generally smooth, ground punctation inconspicuous; central portion of anterior pronotal margin more subacute than simply outwardly arcuate; elytra with 4th stria generally interrupted, occasionally absent from much of basal half; 5th stria present in about apical fourth; coarse apical elytral punctures generally restricted to a single series along the margin; prosternal keel truncate to weakly emarginate posteriorly, with mesoventrite truncate or very weakly projecting; mesoventral marginal stria complete; mesometaventral stria subangulate rather than rounded anteriorly; ground punctation of meso- and metaventral disks relatively fine and inconspicuous, the coarser punctures of metaventral disk present in a discrete area in posterior two-thirds; secondary lateral metaventral stria long, paralleling metaventral stria for about two-thirds its length; first abdominal ventrite with few or no coarse punctures; propygidium and pygidium as in Operclipygus sejunctus .Male genitalia (Fig. 20I): S8 with halves approximate but separate throughout their length; S9 strongly narrowed at midpoint, weakly widened to base and apex, with entire apex broadly arcuate, but apical emargination very small, lateral flanges narrow, barely recurved at inner corners; tegmen approximately parallel-sided in basal three-fourths, apical division very short, visible in apical one-eighth or less, medioventral process narrow, acute, weakly projecting beneath; median lobe slightly about half tegmen length.

Remarks.

In addition to being the only species of the Operclipygus sejunctus group occurring principally outside of South America, this species can be separated from the others by its more or less truncate anterior mesoventral margin (and correspondingly weakly projecting prosternal keel; Fig. 19H). Also, the simple series of apical elytral punctures is distinct from others in this group (though not unique in the genus.) The range of this species extends from northern Central America through western Ecuador. Although the latter record appears somewhat surprising, a number of largely Central American Exosternini have shown up in western Ecuador.

Etymology.

The name of this species refers to the punctures on the metaventrite, unusual to members of the Operclipygus sejunctus group.