Charisius howdenorum, 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 : 283-284

8. Charisius howdenorum sp. n. Figs 10, 19, 23, 27

Description.

Dark reddish-brown to dark brown (Fig. 10); antennae and legs slightly paler than body; elytra without markings. Length 6.5-8.6 mm.

Head moderately coarsely, densely, evenly punctate on vertex; punctures separated by average distance less than diameter of a puncture. Eyes moderate in size, mean OI of 10 specimens 43.9 (range 41-47). Pronotum distinctly wider than long, mean PI of 10 specimens 82.6, ranging from 77 to 86; surface with microsculpture moderately coarse, granulate, only slightly shining; punctures moderately coarse, moderately dense, separated on center of disc by average distance equal to or slightly greater than diameter of a puncture, punctures finer, distinctly sparser on sides; sides straight or slightly sinuate on basal two-thirds, then evenly, convexly narrowed to apex; con vex, widest near middle then evenly narrowed to base and apex; disc often faintly impressed along midline. Prosternum and hypomeron moderately sparsely, coarsely, irregularly punctate; punctures separated by distance greater than diameter of a puncture. Metaventrite finely, moderately densely punctate medially in male; punctures becoming coarser approaching sides; finely and sparsely punctate medially in female. Abdomen with fine, scattered punctures on basal three ventrites, last two visible ventrites more coarsely and slightly more densely punctate. Elytra (Fig. 19) with striae unimpressed; strial interstices flat.

Male. Anterior tibia not widened on inner side. Fifth ventrite unimpressed medially. Lobes of eighth sternum (Fig. 23) broad, straight, apices evenly convex; viewed laterally, lobes slightly deflexed apically. Lobes of ninth sternum short, moderately broad, with apices broadly convex. Aedeagus with apicale (Fig. 27) moderately narrow; sides narrowed from base to near middle then subparallel to evenly convex apex; viewed laterally, apicale straight, basale 3.2-3.3 times longer than apicale.

Female. Elytra with sutural margin and apex entire.

Types.

Holotype, male, with labels as follows: MEX., Tinijapa, 8 km NE San Cristobal, Chis., V.26.1969, J. M. Campbell/ HOLOTYPE _, Charisius howdenorum, desig. 2013, J.M.Campbell. The specimen is deposited in the CNCI.

Paratypes, 23 in the CNCI the CMNC and JMCC.

MEXICO: Chiapas: 5 mi W San Cristobal de las Casas, 19.V.1969, JMC (CNCI) 1; 8 mi NE San Cristobal, 26-28.VI.1969, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 5; 11 mi NE San Cristobal, 18.V.1969, HF Howden (CMNC) 1; Tinijapa, 8 mi NE San Cristobal, 26.V.1969 JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 11; nr. Tinijapa, 8 km NE San Cristobal, 18.V.1969, JMC (CMNC, JMCC) 6.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of Dr. Henry and Anne Howden, Canadian Museum of Nature, Alymer, Quebec, Canada who have facilitated several of my trips to Mexico and Guatemala; and have collected many of the specimens described in this paper.

Remarks.

Adults of Charisius howdenorum are similar to those of Charisius zunilensis , but differ most noticeably in having the elytral striae unimpressed between the strial punctures (Fig. 19). They also differ in being somewhat darker in color, in having the pronotum less shining with the microsculpture distinctly more coarsely and densely granulate, and, in the males, the metaventrite is finely, but distinctly more densely punctate medially. There is little difference between the male terminalia of the two species.