Operclipygus confluens, 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 : 149-150

Operclipygus confluens sp. n. Figs 39 C–D 40JMap 15

Type locality.

BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: 117 km E Yungas on Cochabamba - Villa Tunari Road [17°6.5'S, 65°41.2'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "BOLIVIA: Cochabamba, Cochabamba, 117km E Yungas, (Cochabamba - Villa Tunari Rd.), 1040m 17°6'32"S, 65°41'12"W, 1-6 FEB 1999; R.Hanley BOL1H99 028, ex: flight intercept trap"/ "SM0160002 KUNHM-ENT" (SEMC). Paratypes (18): 3: same data as type (FMNH, SEMC); same data as type, except as noted: 3: 6-8.ii.1999, FIT, montane evergreen forest, F. Genier (CMNC, MSCC), 1: 8-12.ii.1999, FIT, montane evergreen forest, F. Genier (CMNC); BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: 2: Est. Biol. Valle Sajta, Univ. San Simon, 67.5km E Villa Tunari, 17°06'19"S, 64°46'57"W, 300m, 7-9.ii.1999, FIT, lowland rain forest, F. Genier (CMNC), 7: 9-13.ii.1999, FIT, lowland rain forest, F. Genier (CMNC, MSCC, AKTC); 2: 117km E Cochabamba, Yungas, Cochabamba-Villa Tunari Rd., 17°6'32"S, 65°41'12"W, 1040m, 1-6.ii.1999, FIT, yungas forest, R. Hanley (SEMC).

Other material.

ECUADOR: Orellana: 1:Tiputini Biodiversity Station, 0.6376°S, 76.1499°W, 4-9.vi.2011, FIT, M.S. Caterino & A.K. Tishechkin, DNA Extract MSC-2182 (SBMNH). FRENCH GUIANA: 1: Mont Tabulaire, Itoupé, 3°1.32'N, 53°5.05'W, 800m, 17.iii.2010, FIT, SEAG (CHND). 3: PERU: Cusco: Cock of the Rock Lodge, NE Paucartambo, 13°03.3'S, 71°32.7'W, 1120m, 4-9.xi.2007, FIT, D. Brzoska (SEMC).

Diagnostic description.

This species is very similar to the preceding, differing as follows: length: 1.68-1.97 mm, width: 1.37-1.62 mm; body larger, broader; 5th and sutural elytral striae slightly longer and more broadly impressed; elytral striae 3-5 expanded at apex, striae 4-5 usually joined in apical arch; mesoventrite less deeply emarginate at middle; lateral metaventral stria extended more posteriorly; lateral striae of 1st abdominal ventrite closer to each other, subparallel; pygidial disk with coarser punctures sparser though slightly larger at middle; marginal pygidial sulcus deeper and coarser. Male: basal genitalic segments identical to those of Operclipygus diffluens (see Figs 40 A–D); tegmen (Fig. 40J) shorter, sides subparallel in basal three-fourths, rounded to wider apex; basal piece shorter, less than one-third tegmen length.

Remarks.

This species is very similar to several other Operclipygus hospes group species, especially Operclipygus diffluens and Operclipygus ibiscus . However, it may be distinguished by its much deeper and more strongly crenulate pygidial sulcus (Fig. 39D). In most individuals the expansions of the apices of elytral striae 4 and 5 merge (Figs 39 C–D), forming a distinctive apical arch joining them. We restrict the type series to specimens from Cochabamba, as there is some variation in propygidial sculpturing among localities.

Etymology.

The name of this species refers to the unusual tendency for the apices of the 4th and 5th elytral striae to merge.