Phelister praesignis, Caterino & Tishechkin, 2020

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2020, Recognition and revision of the Phelister blairi group (Histeridae, Histerinae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 1001, pp. 1-154 : 1

42. Phelister praesignis sp. nov. Figs 25E, F , 26E, F , Map 15

Type material.

Holotype male: " Peru: Junín, 11 km NE Puerto Ocopa, Los Olivos, 11°3.00'S, 74°15.52'W [-11.05, -74.2587],1200 m, Flight intercept. 25-26.iii.2009, A.K.Tishechkin. AT1075" / "Caterino DNA Voucher, Extraction: MSC-2284, Species: Phelister ~ completus, Extraction Date: i.27.2012" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00940" (FMNH). Paratypes (3): Peru: Junín, 11 km NE Puerto Ocopa, Los Olivos (-11.05, -74.2587), 1200, 3/27/09-3/28/09, FIT, A. Tishechkin (AKTC, 1ex.); Junín, ~ 16 km NW Satipo, Rio Venado (-11.1989, -74.7705), 1110 m, 2/19/10-2/20/10, A.V. Petrov, EXO-02418 (AKTC, 1ex.); Junín, ~ 15 km NW Satipo, Rio Venado (-11.1979, -74.77), 1100 m, 2/14/13, window trap, A.V. Petrov (AKTC, 1ex.).

Other material.

Brazil: Pará, Carajás (Serra Norte) (-6.0667, -50.2), October 1986, FIT (CHND, 2ex.).

Diagnostic description.

Length: 1.97-2.25 mm (avg. 2.14 mm); width: 1.73-1.97 mm (avg. 1.88 mm). This species is very similar to the preceding ( P. congruens ) in most characters, differing consistently in the following: body larger, more elongate, darker; dorsal punctation denser, particularly pronotum, where slightly larger secondary punctures are intermingled with dense ground punctation; prescutellar impression smaller, more elongate, ~ 1.5 × scutellum size; anterolateral pronotal corners unusually convex, appearing ‘inflated’; outer subhumeral stria weak and short, at most in apical 1/4; prosternal keel not appreciably narrowed anteriorly; male metaventrite weakly impressed and bearing minute setae; meso- and metatibiae slender, edges straight, with only few weak apical spines; male protarsal spines flattened and expanded. Male: basal piece narrow, elongate, slightly> 1/3 length of tegmen; tegmen narrow with sides weakly widened to middle, then abruptly narrowed to weakly hooked apices; medioventral process present, projecting at basal fourth of tegmen, divided at middle; median lobe ~ 1/3 tegmen length, basal apodemes abruptly narrowed

Etymology.

The name praesignis refers to the ‘outstanding’ appearance of this unusual species.

Distribution.

This species is known from two rather widely separated localities, in Amazonian Peru as well as southern Pará (Brazil).

Remarks.

This species is quite similar to the preceding two ( P. incongruens and P. congruens ), with strong dorsal punctation especially on the pronotum. These also share the distinctive non-spinose metatibia. Phelister praesignis is narrower in overall body form than these, and has the secondary pronotal punctation denser, though the individual secondary punctures are not as large as those of P. incongruens . In P. congruens , the pronotal punctation, while dense, is entirely composed of finer ground punctures. The slightly swollen anterior pronotal corners of P. praesignis are also unique.

Figures

Map 15. Collecting records for Phelister congruens (white circles), P. praesignis (square), P. umens (stars), and P. almeidae (black circles).

Figure 25. A, B Phelister incongruens: A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C, D P. congruens: C dorsal habitus D ventral habitus E, F P. praesignis: E dorsal habitus F ventral habitus.

Figure 26. Male genitalia A, B Phelister incongruens: A aedeagus, dorsal B aedeagus, lateral C, D P. congruens: C aedeagus, dorsal D aedeagus, lateral E, F P. praesignis: E aedeagus, dorsal F aedeagus, lateral.