Operclipygus itoupe, 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 : 84-85

Operclipygus itoupe sp. n. Figs 19H20HMap 7

Type locality.

FRENCH GUIANA: Itoupé Table Mountain [3°1.38'N, 53°5.73'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "GUYANE FR., Mont Tabulaire, Itoupé. 3°1.38'N, 53°5.73'W. 570m. Piège d’interception 17 Mar 2010. SEAG leg." / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00273" (MNHN). Paratypes (12): 8: same data as type (FMNH, MSCC, AKTC, CHND); 1: Montagne des Chevaux, 4°43'N, 52°24'W, 23.ii.2009, FIT, SEAG (MNHN), 2: 16.xii.2008 (MNHN); 1: Rés. Natur. des Nouragues, Camp Inselberg, 4°05'N, 52°41'W, 25.i.2011, Window trap, SEAG (MNHN).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to Operclipygus sejunctus , differing especially in a few characters as follows: length: 2.15-2.56 mm, width: 1.90-2.31 mm; body rufopiceous, diffusely rufescent toward elytral sides, more broadly rounded and more strongly convex than Operclipygus sejunctus , though distinctly flattened to subplicate across base of pronotum; sutural area of elytra depressed; elytral disk with few or no coarse apical punctures; elytral stria 4 fragmented to absent in basal half; venter lacking microsculpture; mesoventral marginal stria complete, mesoventral disk with a few small lateral punctures; metaventral punctures restricted to discrete grouping in posterior one-fourth of disk; secondary lateral metaventral stria present along basal half of inner metaventral stria; propygidium with coarse punctures becoming very sparse toward sides; pygidium with coarse punctures very small, about 2 × the size of ground punctures, uniformly scattered about 4-5 puncture widths apart. Male genitalia (Fig. 20H): T8 relatively short, with basal membrane attachment line just intersecting basal emargination; S8 with halves separate throughout their lengths; S9 relatively broad, narrowest just distad middle, weakly widened to subtruncate base, apex broadly arcuate, without discrete median apical emargination, apical flanges more or less continuous across apex, with secondary sclerotizations along edges rather than along midline; tegmen widest about three-fourths from base, narrowing gradually to base, abruptly to apex, with apex narrowly rounded, medioventral process weakly sclerotized, narrowly ‘V’ -shaped, not projecting ventrally; median lobe about one-third tegmen length.

Remarks.

The abbreviated 4th dorsal elytral stria, lack of apical elytral punctures, and discrete posterolateral patch of metaventral punctures (Fig. 19H) will generally separate this species from all others of the Operclipygus sejunctus group.

Etymology.

This species is named for its type locality, the table mountain Itoupé, as a noun in apposition.