Praocis (Praocis) curta Solier, 1840

(Fig. 30)

Praocis curta Solier, 1840: 226 (rev.); Gemminger & Harold, 1870: 1905 (cat.); Philippi, 1887: 731 (cat.); Gebien, 1910: 260 (cat.); Gebien, 1938: 398 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1945: 522 (cat.); Kulzer, 1958: 17 (rev.); Peña, 1966: 429 (cat.); Vidal & Guerrero, 2007: 73, 212; Flores, 2007: 417 (lectot.).

Praocis nigroaenea Solier, 1840: 226 (rev.); Solier, 1851: 191 (rev.); Lacordaire, 1859: 213; Gemminger & Harold, 1870: 1905 (cat.); Philippi, 1887: 732 (cat.); Gebien, 1910: 261 (cat.); Gebien, 1938: 398 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1945: 523 (cat.); Kulzer, 1958: 17 (syn.); Peña, 1966: 429 (cat.). Synonymy by Kulzer, 1958: 17.

Praocis rugipennis Germain, 1855: 400; Philippi, 1887: 733 (cat.); Gebien, 1910: 261 (cat.); Gebien, 1938: 398 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1945: 523 (cat.); Kulzer, 1958: 17 (syn.); Peña, 1966: 429 (cat.). Synonymy by Kulzer, 1958: 17.

Redescription. Length 7.0–12.0 mm. Body black to dark brown, antennae and legs dark brown. Head. Clypeus and frons with round punctures each with a central seta; antennae reaching midpoint of lateral margin of pronotum; antennomere 9 longer than wide, with apical tomentose sensory patches arranged in two areas separated dorsally; antennomere 10 as wide as antennomere 11. Thorax. Pronotum widest behind midpoint; disc glabrous or with setae, lateral quarters with fine, golden setae; punctures of disc same size as punctures of elytron; width of anterior margin not exceeding half the width of posterior margin; lateral quarters convex, dorsal surface of lateral margin bearing a row of short golden setae; posterior angles acute, apex pointed; prosternum horizontal, with edge on anterior margin broadened below gula; prosternal process produced backwards, not reaching the midpoint of the space between pro– and mesocoxae (as in Fig. 13); prosternum and mesosternum with punctures. Elytron lacking carinae and grooves; dorsal surface with short, golden setae; pseudopleuron with long setae arising on punctures; epipleuron with short setae arising on protuberances, with a row of setae on the edge of anterior quarter. Legs. Ventral surface of meso– and metafemora with a row of setae on posterior edge. Inner surface of meso– and metatibiae with long, fine setae. Metatibiae straight. Female genitalia. Paraprocts moderate (1.2 ≤ P/C ≤ 2.0); baculi of coxite inclined 45°; proctigeral baculus extending proximad much beyond paraproct baculus; apicodorsal lobe of proctiger extending about ¼ length of coxite. Male: unknown.

Type material. Lectotype of Praocis curta: [ curta] [ Praocis / curta / Sol./ Chili] [ P. curta / Sol.] [Chili M.B. Tournade] [Type] [ Praocis / curta Sol. / Type de Solier/ Col. Marseul/ C. Girard det. 1975] [Lectotypus/ Praocis curta / Solier, 1840 / Des. G. Flores 2005] (MNHN) .

Note: Flores (2007: 417) designated lectotype.

Other material examined. CHILE. Coquimbo Region: Elqui Province: Vicuña, F. Ruiz, 12.xi.1969, 12 (UCCC), El Molle, La Serena, x.1958, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Huanta, 27.ii.2004, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (LEULS), Colina El Pino, 23.i.1996, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (LEULS), La Serena, 25.ix.1992, N. Tobar, 1 (LEULS), Coquimbo, La Pampilla, 16.vi.1968, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), La Caldera, Andacollo, 27.ix.2001, P. Augusto, 3 (IADIZA), Guanaqueros, 9.i.1984, A. Roig, 2 (IADIZA), Terrazas de Guanaqueros, 22.ix.2004, L.S. Espinoza 1 (LEULS). Limarí Province: Socos, 16.ix.1963, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 8.x.1974, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 27.ix.2003, J. PizarroAraya, 4 (IADIZA), 15.xi.2003, J. Pizarro-Araya, 5 (IADIZA), 28.x.1965, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 27.ix.2003, J. Pizarro-Araya, 1 (LEULS), Guatulame, Ovalle, 13.xi.1961, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Ovalle, Barraza, 6.viii.1972, (1 FMNH), Guayanay, 20.ix.1965, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), Valle del Encanto, 26.ix.2005, L.S. Espinoza 1 (LEULS), Talinay . 24.ix.2004, L.S. Espinoza 1 (LEULS), Quebrada Amolanas, 28.xi.1944, 1 (FMNH). Barraza, Dualle, 6.viii.1972, 1 (FMNH). Choapa Province: Samo Alto, Hurtado, 2.xii.1980, L.E. Peña, 1 (IADIZA), Punitaqui, 20.ix.2004, L.S. Espinoza 1 (LEULS), 9.x.2005, L.S. Espinoza 2 (LEULS), Mincha Norte, 20.viii.2009, J. PizarroAraya 1 (LEULS), Huilmo, 22.ix.1982, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Puerto Oscuro, 18–28.ix.1947, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 23.ix.2004, J. Pizarro-Araya 1 (LEULS), Illapel a Los Vilos, Río Choapa, 27.x.1965, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 1.xi.2008, F. Alfaro 2 (LEULS), Los Vilos, 18.ix.1964, H. Moyano, 1 (UCCC), 7.x.1947, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 27.x.1965, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 5.i.1966, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 13.x.1974, L.E. Peña, 2 (FMNH), 40 km N Los Vilos, 1.ix.1983, A. Roig, 2 (IADIZA), Los Molles, 22.x.1961, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH). Valparaíso Region: Quillota Province: Quillota, 4.xii.1965, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Cuesta El Melon, 20.xi.2004, M. Guerrero, 1 (IADIZA). Valparaíso Province: El Salto, 9.xii.1968, M. Pino, 1 (UCCC), Valparaíso, on beach 14 hs, 9.xi.1994, G. Flores, 1 (IADIZA), Laguna Verde, 11.viii.1968, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), El Reloj, 16.x.1944, 1 (FMNH), Quintero, 5.ii.1960, J. Valencia, 1 (UCCC), i.1982, C. Passera, 1 (IADIZA), 7.xii.1963, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), 12.xii.1980, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Viña del Mar, 28.x.1967, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH), Marga Marga, Paso del Agua, 11.x.1980, P. Cerda B., 1 (PVGH). San Antonio Province: Algarrobo, 27.xi.1950, L.E. Peña, 3 (IADIZA), xi.1970, Ramírez, 1 (FMNH), 22.xi.1969, L.E. Peña, 3 (FMNH), El Quisco, 14.xi.1983, L.E. Peña, 8 (FMNH), Sto. Domingo, 24.xi.1967, Ramírez, 2 (FMNH). Petorca Province: Cachagua, ii.1970, L.E. Peña, 4 (FMNH). Metropolitana Region: Santiago Province, Santiago, xii.1963, L.E. Peña, 1 (FMNH). El Volcán, 9.xi.1969, 2 (FMNH), El Manzano, 43 km Stgo, 4.xi.1970, M. Díaz, 1 (MNNC), without more precise data, 2 (RBINS).

Geographic distribution. Chile (Coquimbo Region: Elqui Province to Metropolitana Region: Santiago Province), in the Coquimbo and Santiago biogeographic provinces.