Operclipygus assimilis, 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 : 163

Operclipygus assimilis sp. n. Figs 42 F–G 43MMap 16

Type locality.

COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Las Cruces Biological Station [8°17'N, 82°57'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "COSTA RICA: Puntarenas, Coto Brus, Estac. Biol. Las Cruces. 8°17'N, 82°57'W 1100m. Flight intercept # 2, 18-20 June 2005. M.Ferro" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00293" (FMNH).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to Operclipygus gratus , differing as follows: length: 1.97 mm, width: 1.47 mm; anterior half of frons and epistoma depressed at middle; frontal stria fine, transverse; apical margin of epistoma convex, but not subcarinate; prescutellar impression elongate, about twice length of scutellum, acute anteriorly; pronotal disk with ground punctation conspicuous, with numerous (~40) punctures at sides; lateral submarginal pronotal stria complete, curved inward, nearly meeting anterior submarginal stria; anterior submarginal stria strongly recurved, extending posterad about one-fourth pronotal length; median pronotal gland openings laterad recurved arms of anterior submarginal stria, about 8 puncture widths from anterior margin; propygidium with uniform, shallow, round punctures separated by about half their diameters; pygidium with ground punctation moderately dense, with much coarser punctures irregularly but rather densely interspersed; marginal pygidial sulcus complete, deep, crenulate on inner and outer edges. Male genitalia: indistinguishable from those of Operclipygus gratus (see Figs 43 A–C), except for S9 (Fig. 43M) rounded at base, and its lateral flanges less strongly differentiated from apical sides.

Remarks.

This species may be separated from similar species by the less strongly impressed epistoma, large prescutellar impression (Fig. 42F), numerous lateral pronotal punctures, complete lateral submarginal pronotal stria, and deep, complete marginal pygidial sulcus (Fig. 42G).

Etymology.

This species’ name underscores the general similarity of Operclipygus hospes group species to each other.