Phausis dorothae Fender, 1962

Hodson, Alicia M. & Branham, Marc A., 2024, Revision and Phylogeny of the Genus Phausis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) with the Description of Three New Species, Zootaxa 5458 (1), pp. 1-52 : 17-19

Phausis dorothae Fender in Hatch, 1962

( Figs 7 ; 17C ; 22G–I ; 23B ; 24C )

Phausis dorothae Fender 1962: 42

Diagnosis. Male. Phausis dorothae differs from its congeners by the following characters: short, simple, plumose setae covering base of mandibles; anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) are absent on the pronotum ( Fig. 17C ); central pronotal disc absent; vertex of head not concave as in other species of Phausis . Labial palps long; Metathorax without posterior apex notched; medial line absent; surface sparsely punctate.

Redescription. Male ( Figs. 17C ; 22G–I ; 23B ). Length 5.5–6.0 mm. Width 2.0– 2.5 mm. Color. Body dark brown to chestnut brown; eyes black; mouthparts flavus to brown; antennae brown; pronotum generally ochre-yellow with a dark brown central spot(brown central spot sometimes absent); scutellum pale brown to flavus; thorax overall brunneous; legs brownish-yellow to brunneous depending on specimen examined; lateral margins of elytra paler than elytral disc; photic organs absent on abdominal segments VI VII and VIII; abdominal segment VI flavus along lateral and posterior margin, brunneous medially; pubescence cinereous. Anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) absent.

Head small and transverse (frontal view); vertex not concave, with fine close punctures dorsally. Eyes small and separated, not partially obstructing labium postventrally. Mandibles short (apices of mandibles not crossing frontally), robust, tapering abruptly, beginning at base; incisor region elongate (greater than half of total length of mandible); outer margin convex versus straight as in other taxa ( P. marina , P. nigra , P. skelleyi , and P. milleri ); basal angle approximately less than 90 degrees dorsally. Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, last palpomere securiform; Labial palps long, with three palpomeres.

Antennae filiform, long, extending to middle of metathorax ( Fig. 17C ). Scape as long as pedicel. Pedicel approximately 1/2 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 as long as antennomere 4. Antennomeres 5 to 10 shorter than 3. Antennomere 11 slightly longer, rounded at apex. Flagellomeres feebly compressed, but not as compressed as in Lucidota or Ellychnia . When viewed laterally, flagellomeres are wider than in ventral view. Sensorium present on the distal end of antennomere 11, semi-transparent, small, and truncate-subulate.

Pronotum subquadrate (almost as long as wide), subelliptical, and coarsely punctate ( Fig. 17C ); median carina absent; all margins strongly reflexed, except less so along anterior and posterior margins, becoming explanate toward the hind angles; basal margin undulate; hind angles rounded. Central pronotal disc present; quadrate; shiny and finely punctate medially, becoming dull and coarsely punctate basally. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) absent ( Fig. 17C ).

Scutellum spatulate, sides curving sinuate apex truncate ( Fig. 17C ); surface dull and finely reticulate.

Elytra well developed; moderately punctate to reticulate, punctate apically, becoming more finely reticulate basally ( Fig. 17C ). Elytral costae absent on each elytron. Longitudinal elevated lines weakly present and transverse lines present, transverse lines somewhat irregular in the interstitial spaces giving elytra a reticulated appearance.

Venter. Thorax elongate, narrowly rhombus. Metathorax without posterior apex notched; medial line absent; surface finely sparsely punctate. Tergal apicolateral angles strongly lobed. Abdominal segments VI and VII without photic organs. Photic organ absent on abdominal segment VIII. Abdominal segment VII elongate (longer than wide), apical margin emarginated. Abdominal segment VIII elongate, ovate, rounded at apex.

Male Genitalia. Basal piece (dorsal view) wider than long, quadrate, segments approximate (almost touching), and moderately sclerotized (light brown) ( Fig. 22G ). Median lobe (dorsal view) does not exceed tips of parameres, elongate and acutely rounded (less than 45 degrees) at apex; extending forward ventrally with respect to parameres ( Fig. 22H ); sensilla absent on apex; dorsal inner-basal margins truncate; dorsal opening present, triangular with acuminate apices; longitudinal dorsal carina absent; lateral line absent (lateral view); ventral opening absent. Parameres (dorsal view; Fig. 22G ) elongate, slender, sub-parallel; inner lateral margins concave; outer lateral margins broadly convex; apex roundly acute (lateral view; Fig. 22H )); proximal flanges (extensions of parameres that curve or extend outward from inner margin) absent (dorsal view). Sensilla present, sparse to abundant along proximal apical margins (dorsal view). Number of sensilla vary from 1 to greater than 10, if absent then a pore can be seen ( Figs. 22G–I ; 23B ).

Female. Unknown.

Larva. Unknown.

Eggs. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after K.M. Fender’s wife Dorothy ( Fender 1962).

Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype ( Figs. 17C ; 24C ). USA: OREGON: “Reuben Cr., Ore, VI.18.37, HOLOTYPE Phausis dorothae Fender , Type No 9789,” [more detailed locality information: JOSEPHINE Co., Reuben Creek, 18.VI.1937], 1 ♂ ( CAS). Paratypes. CALIFORNIA: “MARION Co., Cal. Mill Valley , 29. VI.1949, H.B. Leech Collector, Kenneth M. Fender Collection 1988 and 1992, Gifts to the California Academy of Sciences ,” 1 ♂ ( CAS); same except Upland, 529 Apr., A. Fenyes Collection,” 1 ♂ ( CAS) .

Other material. USA: CALIFORNIA: EL DORADO Co., 0.7mi E. Pacific House, VI . 18.1989, screening fume, Coll. A. Hardy and D. Carlton, Det. A.M. Hodson 2 ♂ ( CSCA); MONTEREY Co., Andrew Molera St. Park , 36°17’00” N, 121°50’04” W, 24. V . –27. VI .2006, malaise trap, Coll. A. R . Cline and M. Hauser, 1 ♂ ( CSCA) .

Distribution. Found primarily within northern California and parts of Oregon, United States of America ( Fig. 7 ).

Phenology. Occurs in late April to June.

Remarks. Some characters described above are not congruent with Fender’s description of the species ( Fender 1966). The characters are as follows: vertex head is not shallowly longitudinally concave; not all specimens examined have flavus palpi, legs, and last four abdominal segments, some are brunneous with abdominal segment VI lateral and posterior margins flavus.

Variation. Identified. In some specimens, the mouthparts and legs are either flavus or brunneous. The abdominal segments on the holotype are paler along the lateral margins, but this is not present in the paratypes. Abdominal segment VI in some specimens appearing entirely yellow, except for the presence of an anterior-medially small dark brown spot. Tergal apicolateral angles on Abdominal segment VI entirely yellow to brown. The pronotum is entirely yellow in some specimens. This was also noted by Fender (1961).

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Detail of North American distribution of Phausis dorothae.

FIGURE 17. Dorsal habitus of male Phausis (A–F). (A) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (B). Phausis californica; (C) Phausis dorothae; (D) Phausis inaccensa; (E) Phausis luminosa; (F) Phausis marina.

FIGURE 22. Phausis aedeagi (A–Jj) (from left to right: dorsal, lateral, ventral view). (A–C) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (D–F) Phausis californica; (G–I) Phausis dorothae; (J–L) Phausis inaccensa; (M–O) Phausis luminosa; (P–R) Phausis marina; (S–U) Phausis milleri sp. nov.; (V–X) Phausis nigra; (Y–Aa) Phausis reticulata; (Bb–Dd) Phausis rhombica; (Ee–Gg) Phausis riversi; (Hh–Jj) Phausis skelleyi.

FIGURE 23. Sensilla of Phausis aedeagi (A–D). (A) Phausis luminosa (medial lobe, ventral view); (B) Phausis dorothae (paramere, dorsal view); (C) Phausis riversi (paramere, dorsal view); (D) Phausis marina (paramere, lateral view). Not pictured is Phausis californica which also has sensilla on the apical tip of the parameres (holotype, dorsal view).

FIGURE 24. Type labels of Phausis (A–L). (A) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (B). Phausis californica; (C) Phausis dorothae; (D) Phausis inaccensa; (E) Phausis luminosa; (F) Phausis marina; (G) Phausis milleri sp. nov.; (H) Phausis nigra; (I) Phausis reticulata; (J) Phausis rhombica; (K) Phausis riversi; (L) Phausis skelleyi.