Plochionocerus impressipennis ( Sharp, 1891 )

Asiain, Julieta, Márquez, Juan & Morrone, Juan J., 2007, Phylogenetic systematics of the genera Plochionocerus Dejean and Agrodes Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Xantholinini), Zootaxa 1584, pp. 1-53 : 20-22

Plochionocerus impressipennis ( Sharp, 1891)

Sterculia impressipennis Sharp, 1891: 41 ; Herman, 2001: 3745 ( Plochionocerus ).

Sterculia punctipennis Bernhauer, 1916: 186 ; Herman, 2001: 3746 ( Plochionocerus ), syn. nov.

Type material (3 specimens). Lectotype of Sterculia impressipennis by present designation, male: “ Type / Ecuador / Sharp Coll. 1905–303. / Syntype / Sterculia impressipennis . Type D. S. Nanegal. 3–4000 ft, Ecuador: Whymper / Lectotype Plochionocerus impressipennis Asiain, Márquez & Morrone des. 2007” ( BMNH). Paralectotype, male: “Nanegal, Ecuador 3–4000 feet. Ed. Whymper. / Sterculia impressipennis . var.? Nanegal 3–4000 ft. Ecuador. Whymper. 192–24. / Syntype / Paralectotype Sterculia impressipennis Asiain, Márquez & Morrone des. 2007” ( BMNH). Holotype of Sterculia punctipennis , female: “Monte Tolima 1700 m / Columbia occ. Cali Fassl / punctipennis Bernh. Typus unic. / Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection” ( FMNH)

Additional material (77 specimens). COLOMBIA: Santa Fe de Bogota ( FMNH, Ψ; IRSNB, 2?); no locality data ( AMNH, 1?; BMNH, 2ɗɗ, 2ΨΨ; IRSNB, ɗ, 3?; FMNH, ɗ); Cali, Fassl, Cañon del Monte, Tolima, 1700 m ( FMNH, Ψ). ECUADOR: Guayaquil ( FMNH, 1?); Cotopaxi, SF de las Pampas, 3.I.1988, M. Huybensz ( FMNH, 2ΨΨ); Tungurjhua, XI.1964, L. Baños ( FMNH, Ψ); Macas ( FMNH, 1?); Quito (CC- UAEH, ɗ); no locality data, Buckley ( FMNH, Ψ); Chonana, Wolbb ( FMNH, Ψ); Mirador, Chonana, Wolbb ( FMNH, Ψ); Napo, Sumaco, 1900 m, 13–15.II.1996, J. Guayasamín ( QCAZ, 2ɗɗ); Napo-Pano, 3.X.1991, M. C. Erazo ( QCAZ, 2ΨΨ); Napo, Río Hollin, 1100 m, 4.XI.1994, J. Iturralde ( QCAZ, ɗ); idem, except: P. Ordóñez ( QCAZ, ɗ); Napo, Los Guacamayos, 1800 m, 29.XII.1995, D. Prado ( QCAZ, ɗ); Cotopaxi, Los Libres, 2000 m, 5.XI.1994, E. Baus ( QCAZ, ɗ); Cotopaxi, Otonga, 1800 m, VI.1994, G. Onore ( QCAZ, 1?); Cotopaxi, X.1981, Cutzualo, G. Onore ( QCAZ, ɗ); Cotopaxi, s. f. de Pampas, 7.XI.1992, E. Pichilingue ( QCAZ, ɗ); Pichincha, San Miguel De Los Bancos, San Jose de Milpe, 1500 m, 27.XII.1995, G. Gallardo ( QCAZ, 1?); Pichincha, Sto. Domingo, IV.1973, N. Venedicto ( QCAZ, 1?); Pichincha, Mindo, 19.XI.1995, A. Muñoz, ex: flying ( QCAZ, ɗ); Sucumbios, Reventador, 1500 m, 6.XII.1992, M. Delpozo ( QCAZ, ɗ); Pichincha, Mindo, 4 km E, Mindo Gardens, 29.XI.1995, D. Brzoska ( SEMC, ɗ); Pichincha, Maquipucuna For. Res., 50 km NW Quito, 1300–1700 m, 18.XII.1991, C. Carlton & R. Leschen, ex: along Irail ( SEMC, ɗ); idem, except: 1300–1440 m, 22.XII.1991, ex: beating at large ( SEMC, Ψ); Pichincha, Maquipucuna Biological Station, Principal Trail, 1275 m, 0°7’22”N, 78°39’0”W, 27.X.1999, Z. H. Falin, misc. collecting ( SEMC, Ψ); Yunguilla, 1800 m, 5.IX.1936 ( BMNH, ɗ, Ψ); Yunguilla, Rio Pastaza, watershed, 1600 m, 5.X.1936 ( BMNH, ɗ); Rio Blanco, 1800 m, VIII.1936 ( BMNH, ɗ, 1?); idem, except: VII.1936 ( BMNH, Ψ); idem, except: 1700 m, V.1937 ( BMNH, 3ΨΨ, ɗ); idem, except: 1600 m ( BMNH, Ψ); Sarayacu, 1879, Buckley ( BMNH, 1?); no locality data, 1879, Buckley ( BMNH, 2ɗɗ); Nanegal, 5000 ft, Dolby-Tyler ( BMNH, 1?); Loja ( IRSNB, 3?, 3ΨΨ); no locality data ( IRSNB, ɗ); Nanegal, Rio Guallabamba ( IRSNB, ɗ); Morona Prov., Santiago La Esperanza, 1900 m, 16.V.1976, G. Armstrong ( USNM, ɗ); Napo, Lago Agrio, 27.VII.1978, J. J. Anderson ( USNM, 1?); Cotopaxi, Las Damas, X.1988, G. Onore ( AMNH, ɗ); Banos Tungurahua, 2.V.1937, W. MacIntyre ( AMNH, Ψ); Rio Blanco, 5700’, VIII.1938, W. C. Macintyre ( AMNH, ɗ, Ψ); Yunguilla, 4500 ft, VI.1938, W. C. Macintyre ( AMNH, ɗ, Ψ, 1?); idem, except: 5400 ft, IX.1938 ( AMNH, Ψ); idem, except: 5100 ft, IV.1939 ( AMNH, 2ΨΨ). PERU: Marcapata ( IRSNB, 1?). No locality data ( BMNH, Ψ).

Diagnosis. Total length 18.7–26.3 mm; usually metallic violet-blue, some specimens green or a combination of both colors; head varied in shape (rectangular, rounded or ovate), 1.24–1.50 times as long as wide, wider than pronotum (1.20–1.48 times), dorsally and ventrally varied in convexity (convex, moderately convex or flat), ventral surface with moderately dense, expanded, umbilicate punctures (10–19 in each half of head), arranged in “v” (similar to Fig. 50 ); apical antennomere in males moderately longer than wide (1.26– 1.50 times) and shorter than antennomeres 9+10 combined (0.75–0.89 times their length); mandibles with basal external channel ( Fig. 63 ); pronotum long (length/width: 1.41–1.82), but shorter than elytra (0.72–0.86 times), with two clearly visible, depressed areas in posterior third ( Fig. 56 ); prosternum moderately transverse (length/width: 0.77–0.97); aedeagus ovate, length 2.5–3.4 mm, with parameres moderately long (0.38–0.45 times as long as the median lobe), apical area of median lobe 0.30–0.40 times as long as the total length of median lobe, and internal sac conspicuously visible ( Fig. 83 ).

Variation. Two specimens from Colombia are similar to P. puncticeps because the head is wider posteriorly, the labial apical palpomere is not obliquely truncate, and the central surface of the head has dense umbilicate punctures. They are assigned to P. impressipennis based on the aedeagal shape. Ten specimens from Ecuador are similar to P. fulgens , their body is long and the head is dorsally and ventrally convex; five of them also have scarce umbilicate punctures on the dorsal surface of the head.

Comparative notes. Based on the revision of the types, P. punctipennis ( Bernhauer, 1916) is a junior synonym of P. impressipennis ( Sharp, 1891) . This species is similar to P. puncticeps , and some specimens resemble P. violaceus . It is distinguished from P. puncticeps as follows: the labial apical palpomere is obliquely truncate apically and the internal margin is almost 0.5 times as long as the external margin, the head is oblong (length/width: 1.24–1.50; compare Figs. 43 b, 47b), the ventral surface of the head has moderately dense, expanded, umbilicate punctures (10–19 in each half of head), the aedeagus is slightly longer, and the internal sac more visible and “j” shaped. It is distinguished from P. violaceus in that the apical antennomere in males is shorter than antennomeres 9+10 combined and the aedeagus shorter and ovate.

Geographical distribution. Peru (first national record), Colombia, and Ecuador ( Herman 2001).

Figures

FIGURES 48 – 53. Cephalic ventral view: 48, Renda flagellicornis; 49, Philonthus testaceipennis; 50, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 51, P. gracilis; 52, P. h e r m a n i; 53, P. puncticeps.

FIGURES 63 – 66. Lateral view of pronotal hypomeron: 63, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 64, Renda spp.; 65, Agrodes conicicollis; 66, A. elegans.

FIGURES 54 – 62. Pronotum: 54, Philonthus testaceipennis; 55, Renda flagellicornis; 56, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 57, P. reticularis. Elytra: 58, Agrodes spp.; 59, Plochionocerus spp. Midleg: 60, Philonthus testaceipennis; 61, Agrodes spp.; 62, Plochionocerus spp.

FIGURES 79 – 87. Ventral (left) and lateral (right) view of aedeagus: 79, Plochionocerus fulgens; 80, P. h e r m a n i; 81, P. humeralis; 82, P. ig neu s; 83, P. impressipennis; 84, P. janthinus; 85, P. marquezi; 86, P. modestus; 87, P. newtonorum. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 40 – 47. Maxillary (a) and labial (b) palpi: 40, Philonthus testaceipennis; 41, Renda flagellicornis; 42, Agrodes elegans; 43, Plochionocerus impressipennis; 44, P. gracilis; 45, P. m a rq u e z i; 46, P. simplicicollis; 47, P. puncticeps.