Operclipygus parensis, 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 : 45-46

Operclipygus parensis sp. n. Fig. 8DMap 2

Type locality.

BRAZIL: Pará: Monte Alegre [1°43'S, 54°20'W].

Type material.

Holotype of undetermined sex (probably male but genitalia missing): "BRASIL: Pará, Monte Alegre 1°43'S, 54°20'W Piège d’interception 10 –27.ix.1992” / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00351" (UFPR). Paratype (1): same data as type (CHND).

Diagnostic description.

Length: 1.37-1.40 mm, width: 1.09-1.10 mm; Very small species, frons markedly convex, frontal stria complete or barely interrupted, supraorbital stria absent; pronotal disk with short basal plicae, extending forward no more than one-fourth pronotal length; lateral submarginal pronotal stria close to marginal, ending just short of anterolateral corner; anterior submarginal pronotal stria close to margin, obliquely divergent at sides, displacing marginal stria for entire width of anterior emargination; elytra with two complete epipleural striae, outer subhumeral stria complete, not interrupted, inner subhumeral stria absent, striae 1-5 complete, 5th stria subacutely hooked anteriorly, not meeting sutural stria, which is obsolete in basal third; prosternal keel truncate at base, striae extending entire length of keel, connected by anterior arch, secondary lateral strioles absent; anterior mesoventral margin shallowly arcuate, marginal stria complete; 1st abdominal ventrite with only a single lateral stria; propygidium and pygidium with only very fine, sparse ground punctures, lacking coarser punctures; propygidium with conspicuous transverse waves of microsculpture; pygidium lacking apical marginal stria. Male not known.

Remarks.

Although males are most highly distinctive in this group, these specimens are adequately distinguishable to justify recognition as a distinct species. The specimens were poorly preserved, losing their genitalia prior to mounting. However, both have very weak tubercles on each side of the anterior submarginal pronotal stria, which would appear to represent the median pronotal gland openings of the male. The discovery of definite males would permit a more confident characterization of the species. In any case, Operclipygus parensis can be recognized by the combination of small size, weak pronotal plicae, absence of inner subhumeral stria, absence of a marginal pygidial sulcus, and presence of very weak tubercles on the anterolateral pronotal corners.

Etymology.

This species is named for the Brazilian state where it is found.