Praocis (Praocis) medvedevi, Flores, Gustavo E. & Pizarro-Araya, Jaime, 2012

Flores, Gustavo E. & Pizarro-Araya, Jaime, 2012, Systematic revision of the South American genus Praocis Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Part 1: Introduction and subgenus Praocis s. str., Zootaxa 3336, pp. 1-35 : 26

Praocis (Praocis) medvedevi sp. nov.

( Figs. 23 , 29 )

Diagnosis. Praocis (Praocis) medvedevi sp. nov. is the only species of the subgenus with elytral punctures twice the size of pronotal punctures ( Fig. 23 ); the remaining species of the subgenus have elytral punctures the same size as pronotal punctures. In addition, Praocis medvedevi may be identified by the elytron with a carina more approximate to lateral margin than suture ( Fig. 23 ), ventral surface of meso– and metafemora lacking a row of setae on posterior edge and inner surface of meso– and metatibiae with short, stout setae. It differs from P. c u r t a Solier which has elytron without carinae, ventral surface of meso– and metafemora with a row of setae on posterior edge and inner surface of meso– and metatibiae with long, fine setae.

Description. Length 7.0–9.0 mm. Body black, antennae and legs dark brown. Head. Clypeus and frons with round punctures each with a central seta; antennae reaching 3/4 along lateral margin of pronotum; antennomere 9 longer than wide, with apical tomentose sensory patches arranged in two areas separated dorsally; antennomere 10 as wide as antennomere 11. Thorax. Pronotum widest behind midpoint; disc glabrous, lateral quarters with fine golden setae; punctures of disc half the size of punctures of elytron; width of anterior margin exceeding half the width of posterior margin; lateral quarters convex, dorsal surface of lateral margin bearing a row of short golden setae; posterior angles acute, apex pointed ( Fig. 23 ); prosternum horizontal, with edge on anterior margin broadened below gula; prosternal process produced backwards, not reaching the midpoint of the space between pro– and mesocoxae (as in Fig. 13 ); prosternum and mesosternum with punctures. Elytron with a carina weakly defined, more approximate to lateral margin than suture, lacking grooves; dorsal surface glabrous; pseudopleuron with long setae arising on punctures; epipleuron glabrous, lacking a row of setae on the edge of anterior quarter. Legs. Ventral surface of meso– and metafemora lacking a row of setae on posterior edge. Inner surface of meso– and metatibiae with short, stout setae. Metatibiae straight. Female genitalia. Paraprocts moderate (1.2 ≤ P/C ≤ 2.0); baculi of coxite inclined 45°; proctigeral baculus extending proximad much beyond paraproct baculus; apicodorsal lobe of proctiger extending about ¼ length of coxite. Male: unknown.

Etymology. Named in honour of the late colleague Prof. Gleb S. Medvedev, outstanding specialist in Tenebrionidae from Russia.

Type material. Holotype, female, length 9 mm (dissected): [ Ag. El Leon / Caldera (N) / Atac . 4-6-x-1980 / Coll: L.E. Peña] [ Praocis (Praocis) / medvedevi sp. nov. / HOLOTYPUS female/ Det. G. Flores-J. Pizarro-A. 2011] ( FMNH) . One paratype female, lacking the rigth median leg, length 7 mm: [ Prov. Atacama/ Qda. El Leon/ N. Caldera ] [22-xi-1972 / Coll : L.E. Peña] ( MNNC) .

Other material examined. CHILE. Atacama Region: Chañaral Province: Quebrada El León , Caldera , 1.ix.2007, J. Pizarro-Araya 3 ( LEULS), 1 ( IADIZA) . These specimens were found in poor conditions. Further attempts (collecting trips) by the junior author to find male specimens of this new species in the area brought no results up to this date.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Geographical distribution of four species of Praocis (Praocis): P. (P.) bicentenario, P. (P.) elliptica, P. (P.) medvedevi, and P. (P.) sulcata.

FIGURES 21 − 26. Habitus in dorsal view. 21. Praocis (Praocis) elliptica; 22. P. (P.) spinolai; 23. P. (P.) medvedevi sp. nov., holotype; 24. P. (P.) aenea; 25. P. (P.) tibialis; 26. P. (P.) parva.

FIGURES 5 − 14. Male and female genitalia and body details of Praocis (Praocis) species. 5. Fore tibia and tarsus in anterior view of Praocis (P.) sanquinolenta. 6 − 9: Male: 6, 7. P. (P.) rufipes, dorsal and ventral views; 8, 9. P. (P.) elliptica, dorsal and ventral views. Abbreviations: bl, basal lamina of tegmen, ls, lateral styles of tegmen, ml, median lobe. 10. Ovipositor (ventral view), spiculum and internal female reproductive tract of P. (P.) hirtella. Abbreviations: c, coxite, o, oviduct, p, paraproct, s, spermatheca, sag, spermathecal accessory gland, sp, spiculum, v, vagina. 11 – 14. Prosternum and mesosternun, lateral aspect. 11. P. (P.) costata; 12. P. (P.) quadrisulcata; 13. P. (P.) elliptica; 14. P. (P.) marginata. Abbreviations: p, prosternum, m, mesosternum. Scale bars: 1 mm.