Charisius punctatus, Campbell, J. M., 2014

Campbell, J. M., 2014, New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae), ZooKeys 415, pp. 269-293 : 286-287

10. Charisius punctatus sp. n. Figs 12, 24, 28

Description.

Body reddish-brown; elytra testaceus with each elytron having piceous markings as follows (Fig. 12): a small circle near middle, a narrow, crescent-shaped band at apical fourth and extreme apex piceous to black (Fig. 12). Length 7.0-10.9 mm.

Head moderately coarsely punctate on vertex; punctures separated by distance subequal to diameter of a puncture. Eyes moderately small, mean OI of 5 males 32.7 (range 30-35) and of five females 38.6 (range 37-40). Pronotum distinctly wider than long, mean PI of 11 specimens 84.6 (range 83 to 88); surface smooth, shining; punctures coarse, moderately densely, evenly distributed, separated by average distance distinctly greater than diameter of a puncture; sides sinuate near base, widest near middle than evenly convex to just before apex; disc evenly convex in cross section. Prosternum and hypomeron coarsely, densely punctate; punctures separated by distance less than diameter of a puncture. Metaventrite finely, sparsely punctate medially, punctures becoming coarser and denser approaching sides. Ventrites with punctures moderately fine, sparsely distributed; last two visible ventrites more coarsely and densely punctate. Elytra with striae moderately deeply, evenly impressed throughout; strial interstices moderately convex.

Male. Anterior tibia triangularly widened on inner side near middle. Fifth ventrite broadly, deeply, triangularly impressed medially. Lobes of eighth sternum (Fig. 24) broad, with apical third broadly expanded, apices obliquely truncate; viewed laterally, distinctly deflexed apically. Lobes of ninth sternum short, moderately broad, with apices evenly convex. Aedeagus with apicale (Fig. 28) short, moderately narrow; sides narrowed from base to narrowly, evenly convex apex, slightly constricted medially; viewed laterally, apicale strongly curved dorsally; basale 7.1-7.9 times longer than apicale.

Female. Elytra with sutural margin and apex entire.

Type.

Holotype, male, with labels as follows: GUAT. Depto. Zacapa, San Lorenzo, 1740 m, Sierra de las Minas, 18.VII.1986, J.M.Campbell/ beating mixed vegetation in pine-oak forest/ HOLOTYPE _, Charisius punctatus, desig. 2013, JM Campbell. The specimen is deposited in the CNCI.

Paratypes, 44 in the CNCI, CMNC, JMCC, and the JEWC.

Distribution and records.

This species is known only from Guatemala between 1400 and 1740 meters in elevation.

GUATEMALA: Alta Verapaz: Jnct. Rds. Coban & Purulhá, 5500 ft, 24.VI.1966, JMC (JMCC) 1. Baja Verapaz: Pantin Rd., 9 km N Salamá, 20-21.VI.1993, JMC (JMCC) 1; 6-9 km E Purulhá, 5000 ft, 15-24.IV.1990, E Geisbert (JEWC) 1. Chimaltenango: Yepocapa, 4600 ft, 10.V.1966, JMC (JMCC) 1. Zacapa: San Lorenzo, Sierra de las Minas, 1740 m, 8-11.1986, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 10; same locality, 11.VII. and 17.VII.1986, L LeSage (CNCI) 2; same locality, 5200 ft, 17-19.VI.1986, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 11; nr. San Lorenzo, 13.IV.1990, JE.Wappes (JEWC) 1; vic. San Lorenzo, 5800 ft, 10-15.VI.1991, E Geisbert (JEWC) 1; 13 km N Hwy, San Lorenzo Rd., 3000 ft, 17.VI.1993, JMC (CNCI) 1.

Etymology.

The species name punctatus refers to the coarse punctation of the pronotum.

Remarks.

Adults of Charisius punctatus are very similar to those of Charisius salvini , but may be easily distinguished by the additional piceous markings on the elytra (Fig. 9). Males may also be distinguished by having the basal four segments of the anterior tarsi lobed ventrally, by having a triangular expansion on the inner margin of the anterior tibia; by the broader and deeper median impression of the fifth abdominal ventrite, and by the more broadly expanded apical portion of the eighth sternal lobes (Fig. 24) which are obliquely truncate.

The species has been collected beating mixed dead and herbaceous vegetation in a pine-oak forest.