Phanocerus congener Grouvelle, 1898

Maier, Crystal A., 2013, A revision of the Larainae (Coleoptera, Elmidae) of Venezuela, with description of nine new species, ZooKeys 329, pp. 33-91 : 68-71

Phanocerus congener Grouvelle, 1898 Figs 7, 69, 70, 71

For complete redescription and genitalia illustrations, see Spangler and Santiago-Fragoso 1992.

Material examined.

VENEZUELA: Aragua State: "Venezuela: Aragua; near coast; 1 II 06 226 m; Rio Grande del Mérida; 10°27'N, 67°36'W " "A.E.Z. Short & P.J. Torres legs." "Phanocerus congener; W.D. Shepard" (6 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State; 10.37319°N, 67.74250°W, 295m; Henri Pittier N.P.: Rio La Trilla; 4.i.2009; leg. A. Short; VZ09-0104-01B; kick netting" (12 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State; 10.39376°N, 67.79597°W, 130m; Henri Pittier N.P.: Rio Cumboto; 4.i.2009; leg. Short; leaf packs; & kick netting; VZ09-0104-02A" (35 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State; 10.48189°N, 67.60880'W, 152m; Rio Choroni; ca. 4km S. coast; 6.i.2009; leg. A. Short; VZ09-0106-03A: leaf packs" (34 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State: 10.37068°N, 67.59683°W, 1039m; H. Pittier N.P.: road to Choroni; 6.i.2009; Short, Miller, Camacho; Garcia; VZ09-0106-02X; stream" (1 specimen SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State; 10.48189°N, 67.60880°W, 152m; Rio Choroni; ca. 4 km S. coast; 6.i.2009; Short, Miller, Camacho; Garcia; VZ09-0106-03X" (1 specimen SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua State; 10.39376°N, 67.79597°W, 130m; Henri Pittier N.P.: Rio Cumboto; 4.i.2009; leg. K.B. Miller; VZ09-0104-02A; river backwaters" (1 specimen SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Aragua; Par. Nac. Henri Pittier; Rancho Grande -Ocamure; 790 m, 20JUN1987, M.A. Ivie; leaf packs in waterfall" (4 specimens MAIC). Barinas State: "VENEZUELA: Barinas State; 8°49.334'N, 70°11.993'W, 203m; nr. Santa Barbara; 15.vii.2009; leg. W. Shepard; gross sample; VZ09-0715-04Z" (2 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Barinas State; 8°18.033'N, 70°45.201'W, 216m; River nr. Bum Bum; 15.vii.2009; leg. Short et al.; river margins; VZ09-0715-02A" (2 specimens SEMC). Falcón State: "VENEZUELA: Falcón State; 11°10.667'N, 69°33.695'W, 593 m; Cataratas del Hueque; 9.vii.2009; leg. Shepard; mud puddles/pools; gross sample; VZ09-0709-01Z" (1 specimen SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Falcón State; 11°10.667'N, 69°33.695'W, 593 m; Cataratas del Hueque; 9.vii.2009; Short & Gustafson; leafpacks/roots; at river margin; VZ09-0709-01Z" (4 specimens SEMC). Trujillo State: "VENEZUELA: Trujillo State; 9°11.840'N, 70°47.545'W, 1131m; ca. 2.5 km E. Monte Carmelo; 22.vii.2009; leg. W. Shepard; rocky stream after flooding; VZ09-0722-04Z; gross sample" (2 specimens SEMC). Zulia State: "VENEZUELA: Zulia; P.N. Perija: Tukuko; Rio Manantial; 16.VII.2008; A.E.Z. Short, leg." "Phanocerus congener W.D. Shepard" (7 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Zulia State; 9°50.490'N, 72°49.310'W; Perija N.P. Tukuko: Rio Mantantial; 29.i.2009; Short, Garcia, Camacho; VZ09-0129-01A: gravel margin" (5 specimens SEMC). "VENEZUELA: Zulia, El; Tucuco (51 km S.O. de; Machiques). Trampa Ma-; laise. 01/03-II-1982" "Colectores; E. Inciarte; E. Rubio" (1 specimen MALUZ). "VENEZUELA: Zulia, El; Tucuco (51 km S.O. de; Machiques). 13.14-VIII-1982" "E. Rubio; colector" (1 specimen MALUZ). "Venezuela Zulia; Dtto. Maracaibo; San Jose de los; Altos 35 km N.; O. de Laberinto; 1400m. 16-vi-1989" "Colector; J. Camacho" (12 Specimens MALUZ). "VENEZUELA, Zulia, Mcpio. Rosario de; Perija, Rio Seco, 525; msnm. 16 –18/II/1996” "Colectores; M. Garcia; D. Ascanio" (1 specimen MALUZ). "VENEZUELA: Zulia State; 9°50.513'N, 72°48.334'W, 252m; Perija N.P. Tukuko: Rio Tukuko; 29.i.2009; leg. Short, Garcia &; Camacho; VZ09-0129-02X" (1 specimen SEMC).

Diagnosis.

Phanocerus congener can be separated from all other species of Phanocerus by the following combination of characters: pronotum wide, 1.4x as wide as long, with wide anterolateral angles which are explanate (Fig. 71). Additionally, the setose patch at the base of the mesotibia of the male is long (Fig. 69).

Intraspecific variation.

Slight variations in size (2.1-2.5 mm) and color (light to dark brown) are common in Phanocerus congener .

Distribution and habitat.

This species has previously only been known from the Lesser Antilles, but is actually widespread in Venezuela, found throughout Western Venezuela in the Mérida Andes and the coastal ranges (Fig. 7). The habitat of Phanocerus congener is similar to that of other Phanocerus species, in partially submerged leaf packs and woody debris.

Associated species.

Hexanchorus falconensis sp. n. was collected at Cataratas del Hueque along with Phanocerus congener , in addition to Heterelmis spp., and Microcylloepus spp., Lutrochus acuminatus ( Lutrochidae ) ( Maier and Short 2013), and larvae of Psephenidae .