Operclipygus lunulus, 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 : 116-117

Operclipygus lunulus sp. n. Figs 30G32 H–KMap 11

Type locality.

PANAMA: Colón: San Lorenzo National Park, Achiote [9°12'N, 79°59'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "PANAMA: Prov. Colón, Achiote - P. N. San Lorenzo N09°12', W79°59' Cafetal B Dist. 50m Tr. Intercepción, A. Mercado 8 –22.V.2007” / " Operclipygus sp. # 12 San Lorenzo Inventory A.K. Tishechkin det. 2010" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00282" (FMNH). Paratype (1): same data as type (GBFM).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to Operclipygus dubius , differing mainly in the following characters: length: 1.59-1.62 mm, width: 1.22-1.28 mm; central portion of frontal stria present, detached from sides; supraorbital and frontal striae united in a broad, continuous arch; recurved arms of anterior submarginal stria ending near median pronotal gland openings, about 8 puncture widths from anterior margin; short fragment of lateral submarginal pronotal stria present in anterior corner; prescutellar impression slightly shorter than scutellum; prosternal striae divergent posteriorly, not connected at base; mesometaventral stria arching narrowly forward at middle; propygidium with moderate, round, shallow punctures separated by about their widths or slightly less basally, less dense posterad; pygidium with coarser punctures sparsely scattered in basal third of disk; pygidial sulcus complete, deep, strongly crenulate along outer edge. Male genitalia (Figs 32 H–K) as for group description, with the apices of S8 bluntly subtruncate, dorsal edge oblique to apex, bearing about 5 long apical setae, with distinct submarginal sclerotization along upper margins; T9 with apices obliquely subquadrate, expanded to inner edges; T10 not divided; S9 desclerotized along midline, strongly expanded to base, shallowly but acutely emarginate at apex; tegmen more or less parallel-sided, rounded to apex, very similar to that of Operclipygus andinus , but distinctly more elongate.

Remarks.

The short recurved arms of the anterior submarginal stria (Fig. 30G) combined with the presence of a frontal stria and strongly reduced lateral submarginal pronotal striae distinguish this species from several close relatives.

Etymology.

The name of this species refers to the continuous, crescent-like arch formed by the frontal and supraorbital striae.