Operclipygus ecitonis, 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 : 89-91

Operclipygus ecitonis sp. n. Figs 22 B–C23A–DMap 8

Type locality.

ECUADOR: Orellana: Yasuní Research Station [0°40.5'S, 76°24'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "ECUADOR: Napo, Yasuní Res. Stn. on mid.Rio Tiputini. 0°40.5'S, 76°24'W. 29 Jul 1999" / " Eciton burchelli Colony EC#27, refuse deposit statary phase. AKT#109, A. Tishechkin leg." / "LSAM 0045442" (FMNH); Paratypes (3): ECUADOR: Orellana: 1: Yasuní Res. Stn., on mid.Rio Tiputini, 0°40.5'S, 76°24'W, 17-18.vii.1999, Eciton burchelli colony, at statary bivouac during emigration, A.K. Tishechkin (LSAM). BOLIVIA: Cochabamba: 1: Est. Biol. Valle Sajta, Univ. San Simon, 67.5km E Villa Tunari, 17°06'19"S, 64°46'57"W, 300m, 9-13.ii.1999, FIT, lowland rain forest, F. Genier (CMNC). PERU: Loreto: 1: Iquitos - Nauta rd., km 58, Rio Itaya, 4°15.738'S, 73°28.052'W, 120m, 5-9.v.2009, Window trap, next to entrance to Eciton burchelli statary bivouac in hollow treee, A.V. Petrov (AKTC).

Other material.

FRENCH GUIANA: 1: Montagne des Chevaux, 4°43'N, 52°24'W, 16.xi.2009, FIT, SEAG (CHND); 1: Mont Tabulaire, Itoupé, 3°1.32'N, 53°5.05'W, 800m, 17.iii.2010, FIT, SEAG (MSCC); 1: Rés. Natur. des Nouragues, Camp Inselberg, 4°05'N, 52°41'W, 30.ix.2010, Window trap, SEAG (MNHN).

Diagnostic description.

This species is very similar to the preceding, differing as follows: length: 2.40-2.65 mm, width: 2.25-2.50 mm; body rufopiceous; head with fragments of supraorbital stria present; pronotal plicae with concentration of coarse punctures along its length; lateral submarginal pronotal striae deeply impressed; coarse punctures of pronotal disk occurring in lateral one-third of each side; elytra with two or three complete epipleural striae, outer subhumeral stria interrupted or not, stria 5 fragmented to obsolete in basal half, usually with a distinct basal point; striae 2-5 obliterated apically in coarse apical punctures of elytral disk; mesometaventral stria arched far forward, nearly contacting marginal mesoventral (which remains complete); 1st abdominal ventrite with complete anterior stria uniting inner lateral striae; punctures of propygidium and pygidium denser; marginal pygidial stria less deeply impressed, particularly near bases. Male genitalia (Figs 23 A–D): accessory sclerites present; T8 elongate, parallel-sided, basal apodemes only slightly divergent, basal emargination narrow, deep, with basal membrane attachment line distad by about one-half basal emargination depth, apical emargination narrow, shallow; ventrolateral apodemes evenly rounded, nearly meeting be neath; S8 with apical guides narrow, evenly expanded to apex, halves approximate in basal half, diverging to apex; T9 with apices curving, subacute, nearly meeting; T10 with halves separate; S9 slightly curved to base, with base narrowly emarginate, apex shallowly arcuate, without distinct median emargination, but with apical flanges separated at middle; tegmen elongate, slender, slightly narrowing to base, narrowing in apical third to subacute apices, apex strongly curved ventrally; medioventral process small but well sclerotized, ‘U’ -shaped, projecting weakly beneath; basal piece about one-third tegmen length; median lobe about one-third tegmen length, slender.

Remarks.

The complete stria across the anterior margin of abdominal ventrite 1 separates this species from the others in this group (and from many other Operclipygus as well; Fig. 22C.) We limit the type series to those specimens from western Amazonia. Specimens from the disjunct Guianan localities show very minor differences in sculpturing that may reflect significant differentiation.

Etymology.

The name of this species refers to its apparent association with army ants of the genus Eciton .