Charisius granulatus, 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 : 275-276

4. Charisius granulatus sp. n. Figs 6, 15

Description.

Dark reddish-brown; elytra yellow with broad basal, large medial, and smaller V-shaped piceous markings (Fig. 6). Length 9.9-10.9 mm.

Head coarsely, densely, evenly punctate; punctures separated by average distance less than diameter of a puncture. Eyes moderate in size, mean ocular index of 5 specimens 35.4 (30-40).

Pronotum distinctly wider than long, mean pronotal index of 5 specimens 82.6, ranging from 81 to 84; surface microsculpture densely, coarsely granulate, opaque; punctures coarse (Fig. 15), moderately dense, separated on center of disc by average distance equal to or slightly greater than diameter of a puncture, punctures becoming finer and distinctly more widely separated on sides of disc; sides straight, subparallel from base to apical fourth then convexly narrowed to apex; transverse groove broad, moderately deeply impressed, disc shallowly, but distinctly impressed along midline. Prosternum and hypomeron with a few widely scattered, moderately coarse punctures. Metaventrite normally elongate, length between meso- and metacoxae distinctly longer than length of mesocoxal cavity; surface finely, moderately sparsely punctate medially, punctures becoming coarser approaching sides. Ventrites with punctures fine; last two ventrites slightly more coarsely and densely punctate. Elytra with striae moderately impressed basally, becoming deeply impressed towards apex; strial interstices convex.

Male. Anterior tibiae not sexually modified; anterior tarsal claws each with 7-9 teeth. Ventrite five not impressed medially. Lobes of eighth sternum (Fig. 21) broad, slightly curved medially, apices broadly, evenly rounded; apical and inner margins with row of very fine, short, dentiform setae; viewed laterally, lobes only slightly deflexed. Lobes of ninth sternum short, moderately broad, with apices evenly convex. Aedeagus with apicale (Fig. 25) narrow, with sides narrowed from base to narrowly rounded apex; sides moderately strongly sinuate just before apex.

Female. Anterior tarsal claws each with 7 teeth. Elytra with sutural margin and apex entire.

Types.

Holotype, male, with labels as follows: GUAT., Zac., 8 km N San Lorenzo, 10.VI.1993, 6700', J. M.Campbell/ HOLOTYPE _ Charisius granulatus, desig. 2013, J.M.Campbell. The specimen is deposited in the CNCI.

Paratypes: two males and two females deposited in the collections of JEWC and JMCC.

Distribution and records.

This species is known only from the Departamentos of El Progresso and Zacapa in Guatemala.

GUATEMALA: El Progresso: above Los Albores, 8000 ft, 7-8.V.1991, E Giesbert (JMCC, JEWC) 2; 28-29 km N San Augustin, 7-8500 ft, 19-21.IV.1990, J. E. Wappes (JMCC, JEWC) 2. Zacapa: 8 km N San Lorenzo, 10.VI.1993, 6700 ft, JMC (CNCI) 1.

Etymology.

The species name granulatus is derived from the unique granulate microsculpture on the pronotal disc.

Remarks.

Adults of the species Charisius granulatus may be easily distinguished from those of all other species of Charisius in having the pronotum moderately densely, coarsely punctate with the surface between the punctures coarsely, densely granulate, opaque. The color pattern of the elytra (Fig. 6) will readily distinguish adults of Charisius granulatus from those of Charisius mexicanus and the Chiapas population of Charisius fasciatus . Males differ from those of all other species of the fasciatus group in lacking any trace of an expansion on the inner surface of the anterior tibiae.