Physodactylus besckei Mannerheim, 1842

Rosa, Simone Policena, 2014, Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of Physodactylinae (Coleoptera, Elateridae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 54 (18), pp. 217-292 : 256-257

Physodactylus besckei Mannerheim, 1842

( Figs. 16 E-I, 34R)

Physodactylus besckei Mannerheim, 1842: 93 ; Lacordaire, 1857: 237; Fleutiaux, 1892: 406, 407; Schwarz, 1906: 311; Schenkling, 1927: 508; Fleutiaux, 1940c: 168; Blackwelder, 1944: 292.

Physodactylus besckii Mannerheim, 1842: 93 (misspelling).

Redescription (male, Fig. 34R ): Integument light yellowish-brown except for head and antennae dark brown, metaventrite darker on lateral borders, abdominal ventrites 1-4 partly black; pilosity yellow. Total length 11.0-13.0 mm; elytral base 1.0-1.1x as wide as prothorax, elytra 3.0-3.1x longer than pronotum. Frons concave along the anterior border with a transverse weak protuberance between antennal insertions, frontal carina produced; antenna ( Fig. 16E ) reaching the base of pronotal posterior angles; antennomere IV-VIII as long as wide; IX and X 1.25 and 1.12x longer than wide, XI oval 1.75x longer than wide. Pronotum ( Fig. 16F ) convex, 1.12-1.18x wider than long, lateral sides subparallel on posterior 1/3 then abruptly convergent anteriad, posterior angles short, non-carinate; lateral carina complete, dorsally visible only on posterior third; pronotal disc with punctures umbilicate, 1-2 diameters apart, larger and denser on lateral and anterior borders; prosternal process ( Fig. 16G ) without subapical tooth. Metatibia with dorsal apical angle not produced to weakly produced; lamellae of pro- and mesotarsomeres I a little smaller than the others, present on metatarsomere I. Elytra subparallel on anterior 2/3 then tapering to apex; punctures of apical striae as large as those of lateral pronotum; elytral interstices weakly convex, smooth, impunctate or scarcely punctate. Abdomen with ventrites 2-3 strongly concave laterally with long decumbent setae on ventrites 2-4, a little shorter on ventrite 1. Pregenitalic segments and aedeagus covered with yellow setae. Sternite VIII with posteromedian margin emarginate, anterior sclerotization inverted V-shaped 0.27x the total width of sternite; sternite IX with apex rounded.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 16H, I ): Phallobase 0.43x the total length of aedeagus, 1.09x longer than wide, ratio between lateroposterior and median parts 6.12; paramere with ventral surface predominantly membranous except for the lateral border and an anteromedian submarginal band weakly sclerotized; penis with basal strut 0.34x its total length, articulated to the parameres by a sclerotized process; ventral sclerite tapering to apex.

Holotype: Not examined.

Material examined: BRAZIL. 2 exs. ( MNHN); São Paulo, 4 males ( MNHN).

Distribution: BRAZIL. São Paulo.

Remarks: Holotype of Physodactylus besckei was not examined, therefore the redescription, based on specimens identified by E. Fleutiaux, requires confirmation. This species is most similar to P. brasiliensis in the coloration of the dorsal surface, abdominal pilosity, shape and relative length of the antenna. It differs from this species in its frons concave along anterior border, less shiny integument, shape of prothorax, more convex pronotum, which is more produced anteriorly over head, sternite IX with rounded apex, dorsal articulation of penis with process less sclerotized, shape of ventral sclerite and the sclerotization of the anteromedian border of parameres.

Figures

FIGURE 16: Physodactylus asper sp. nov. A, antenna; B, pronotum; C, D, aedeagus (dorsal, ventral). Physodactylus besckei. E, antenna; F, G, prothorax (dorsal, lateral); H, I, aedeagus (dorsal, ventral).

FIGURE 34: Habitus. A, Margogastrius schneideri (13.0 mm); B, Teslasena femoralis (9.0 mm); C, T. foucarti (9.5 mm); D, Idiotropia henoni (4.5 mm); E, Oligostethius capensis (10 mm); F,Toxognathus bakeri (6.0 mm); G, T. beauchenei (9.0 mm); H, T. coomani (6.5 mm); I, T. costulatus (11.0 mm); J, T. doherty (8.0 mm); K, T. fairmairei (7.5 mm); L, T. mouhoti (5.0 mm); M, Dactylophysus hirtus sp. nov. (10.5 mm); N, D. capixabensis nom. nov. (9.0 mm); O, D. tibialis (12.0 mm); P,Heterocrepidius mendax (9.0 mm); Q, Physodactylus asper sp. nov. (9.5 mm); R, P. besckei (11.0 mm). A, D = lectotypes; E-G, I, J, L, M, P, Q = holotypes.