Phelister sonorae, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2019

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2019, A revision of the Phelisterhaemorrhous species group (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 854, pp. 41-88 : 57-59

Phelister sonorae sp. nov. Figs 2, 4; Map 2

Type material.

Holotype male: "MEX., Sonora Don [sp?], 14 Aug, 1957, David Lauck, small mud pond ”/” Phelister affinis det S. Mazur ”/” Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini voucher EXO-03591"; deposited in USNM.

Diagnostic description.

Length: 1.97 mm; width: 1.58 mm. This species is externally very difficult to distinguish from P. brevistriatus , especially given the variability and wide geographic distribution of that species (within which P. sonorae occurs). With only a single specimen of this species, we can confidently cite only: male protarsal claws strongly bent at base, straight in apical three-fourths; frons narrower, with frontal stria less strongly impressed, weakly interrupted in denser frontal punctation; ground punctation of pronotal disk coarser and deeper; 5th dorsal elytral stria nearly complete, continued between stria and basal puncture by a weak crease; male prosternal keel striae not as widely separated, and surface between striae not very conspicuously punctate; aedeagus lacking distinct ventral process, tegmen narrow, only slightly widened at middle, apices acute, separated, apical emargination incised to middle of tegmen; median lobe with short, basal apodemes distinctly thicker toward gonopore, only ca. one-third as long as tegmen.

Remarks.

As mentioned in the description, externally this species mostly falls within the range of variation for most characters of P. brevistriatus . Aside from the very distinctive aedeagus, and unusual, probably sex-limited, bent protarsal claw, the only distinguishing feature is the longer 5th dorsal elytral stria. More material of this species will be necessary to confirm these differences, and hopefully to support the consistency of some other minor characters.

Etymology.

We name the species for the state and region of its origin.

Biology.

Nothing is known of the biology of this species.

Distribution.

This species is only known from Sonora, Mexico.