Operclipygus crenatus (Lewis, 1888)

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 71-73

Operclipygus crenatus (Lewis, 1888) Figs 17 C–D 18E, GMap 6

Phelister crenatus Lewis, 1888: 192; Wenzel (1976: 257); Operclipygus crenatus : Wenzel (1976: 257).

Phelisteroides miladae Wenzel & Dybas, 1941: 450; Operclipygus miladae : Wenzel (1976: 257). syn. n.

Pseudister propygidialis Hinton, 1935e: 12; Phelisteroides propygidialis : Wenzel and Dybas (1941: 454). Operclipygus propygidialis : Wenzel (1976: 257). syn. n.

Type locality.

PANAMA: Chiriquí: Barú Volcano [8°48'N, 82°32.5'W].

Type material.

Phelister crenatus : Lectotype, here designated, probably male: "Sp. figured ”/” V. de Chiriquí, 3-4000 ft. Champion" / "LECTOTYPE Phelister crenatus Lewis 1864, M.S.Caterino & A.K.Tishechkin des. 2010" (BMNH). This species was described from an unspecified number of specimens, and the lectotype designation fixes primary type status on the only known original specimen. Phelisteroides miladae : Holotype female (FMNH): "Villavicencio, Meta, Colomb. VII:25:38 ”/” under rotten bark ”/” Coll. by H. Dybas ”/” Type Phelisteroides miladae Wenz. & Dybas"; examined 2006. Pseudister propygidialis : Type repository unknown; published type locality: Morelos, Cuernevaca, Mexico.

Other material.

ARGENTINA: Jujuy: 1: Parque Nac. Calilegua, Aguas Negras, 440m, 18-28.xii.1987, malaise/FIT, S. & J. Peck (CHSM); 2: Parque Nac. Calilegua, El Cortaderal, km6, 800m, 18-28.xii.1987, malaise/FIT, forest, S. & J. Peck (CHSM). COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 1: Parque Nac. Corcovado, Sirena Stn. Corcovado Trail, 8°29'7"N, 83°34'39"W, 150m, 28. vi– 1.vii.2000, FIT, Z. Falin (SEMC); 1: Rancho Quemado, Peninsula de Osa, 200m, v.1992, F. Quesada y G. Varela, (INBIO), 1: xii.1991, F. Quesada, (INBIO); 1: Est. Agujas, Sendero Ajo, 300m, 24-26.ix.1996, in fruit, A. Azofeifa, (INBIO). Cartago: 1: Ref. Nac. Fauna Silv. Tapanti, Quebrada Segunda, 1250m, iii.1992, G. Mora, (INBIO); same data except as noted: 1: ix.1992, (INBIO); 5: v.1992 (INBIO), 1: v.1993, (INBIO), 1: 1250m, vi.1992, (INBIO), 20: 1250m, vii.1992, (INBIO), 2: 1250m, x.1992, (INBIO), 5: 1300m, vi.1992, (INBIO), 1: Grano de Oro, Chirripo, Turrialba, 1120m, iii.1993, P. Campos, (INBIO). FRENCH GUIANA: 1: Montagne des Chevaux, 4°43'N, 52°24'W, 11.x.2009, FIT, SEAG (CHND). PERU: Cusco: 1: Consuelo, Manu rd. km 165, 11.x.1982, palm litter, L. Watrous & G. Mazurek (FMNH); same data except as noted: 5: 3.x.1982 (FMNH), 1: 5.x.1982 (FMNH), 2: 8.x.1982 (FMNH). Huanuco: 1:Tingo Maria region, 6-14.vi.1987, F. Woytkowski (SEMC). Junín: 3: La Merced, 9.5km NE La Merced-Villa Rica Rd., 10°58'42"S, 75°18'18"W, 880m, 15-21.x.1999, FIT, R. Brooks (SEMC); 1: 7.5km NE Puerto Ocopa, Cananeden, 11°4.9'S, 74°16.1'W, 1180m, 5-9.i.2007, A.V. Petrov (AKTC). Madre de Dios: 1:Manu National Park, Rio Alto Madre de Dios, Pantiacolla Lodge, 12°39.3'S, 71°13.9'W, 14-19.xi.2007, FIT, D. Brzoska (SEMC). VENEZUELA: Monagas: 3: Caripe, Cueva Guácharo, 700m, 20-30.vii.1987, malaise/FIT, forest over coffee, S. & J. Peck (FMNH).

Diagnosis.

Length: 2.25-2.62 mm, width: 1.93-2.28 mm; body piceous; median portion of frontal stria weaker, occasionally absent across middle; supraorbital stria complete across vertex; anterior submarginal pronotal stria generally attached to lateral submarginal stria (angulate behind median pronotal gland opening); anterior emargination of pronotum barely or not outwardly angulate, with a complete marginal stria; elytra with a few fragments of inner subhumeral stria generally present, sutural stria from two-thirds to three-quarters complete; pygidium with fine, dense ground punctation and with coarser secondary punctures uniformly interspersed, apical sulcus complete, crenulate, shallower than in Operclipygus panamensis . Male genitalia (Figs 18E, G): T8 lacking unique secondary sclerotization along edge of apical emargination; S9 slightly broader, abruptly expanded near apex, with midline sclerotization vague; tegmen evenly rounded, narrowing toward apex, narrowed but more or less straight to near apex in lateral aspect.

Remarks.

See above for characters distinguishing Operclipygus crenatus from Operclipygus panamensis . While their distributions overlap, and Operclipygus crenatus is very widespread, it is curious that, in Panama, Operclipygus crenatus is only known from the type locality.

Wenzel and Dybas's (1941) Operclipygus miladae was not compared with other species in the original description, and at the time Operclipygus crenatus was still included in the genus Phelister . However, in Wenzel's (1976) key, the characters presented do not allow their consistent separation, and the variation seen in Operclipygus crenatus fully encompasses the states found in Operclipygus miladae . The proposed synonymy of Pseudister propygidialis here is admittedly more tentative, in the absence of a type specimen. However, Hinton's description and figure suggest a close match, and specimens identified as Operclipygus propygidialis in various collections are clearly Operclipygus crenatus . Hopefully the type specimen will eventually surface and this can be confirmed.