Falsocis opacus Pic, 1916

Lopes-Andrade, Cristiano, 2007, Notes on Falsocis Pic (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae), with the description of an endangered Brazilian species, Zootaxa 1544, pp. 41-58 : 45-47

Falsocis opacus Pic, 1916 ( Figs 1–6 , 24 )

Diagnosis and Comments

The species may be distinguished from F. brasiliensis sp. nov. by the dense pronotal punctation, elytral apices explanate and epipleura expanded from basal third to apex. All known F. brasiliensis sp. nov. are smaller than the single F. opacus available for comparison. In the original description of F. opacus, Pic (1916) mentioned a length of 3mm, but without specifying how many specimens were examined. In the male F. opacus , the produced anterior edge of pronotum completely conceals the head from above and the frontoclypeal ridge corners are angulate.

In the male genitalia, the eighth sternite ( Fig. 5 ) has angulate and slightly produced corners. The basal piece ( Fig. 6 ) is conspicuous, U-shaped, and half the length of aedeagus. The aedeagus ( Fig. 6 ) is four times as long as wide, tegmen twice as wide as median lobe, and median lobe almost as long as tegmen.

The species is known only from the Amazon Forest ( Fig. 24 ), and is one of the largest Neotropical Ciidae .

Variation

Just one specimen was examined, with measurements (in mm) and ratios as follows: TL 3.15; PL 1.25; PW 1.55; El 1.80; EW 1.60; GD 1.25; PL/PW 0.81; EL/EW 1.13; EL/PL 1.44; GD/EW 0.78; TL/EW 1.97.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Distribution map of Falsocis Pic. The circle and question mark represent the known localities of Falsocis opacus Pic. Triangles represent the known localities of Falsocis brasiliensis sp. nov

FIGURES 1 – 2. Falsocis opacus Pic, male. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Lateral view.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Falsocis opacus Pic, male. 3. Ventral view. 4. Frontal view. 5. Eighth sternite. 6. Aedeagus showing the basal piece (bp), tegmen (teg) and median lobe (ml).