Cleicosta, Vega-Badillo & Zaragoza-Caballero & Ivie, 2020

Vega-Badillo, Viridiana, Zaragoza-Caballero, Santiago & Ivie, Michael A., 2020, A new genus of Phengodidae (Coleoptera) from the Neotropical Region, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 60 (6), pp. 1-7 : 2

Cleicosta gen. nov.

Type species: Cenophengus breviplumatus Wittmer, 1976 .

Diagnosis: Cleicosta gen. nov., is morphologically similar to Cenophengus LeConte, 1881 : both genera exhibit clearly separated tentorial pits, vertical frons and simple tarsomeres. Cleicosta gen. nov., differs from Cenophengus in the arrangement of the gular sutures: parallel anteriorly in the new genus and divergent anteriorly in Cenophengus . Additionally, in Cleicosta gen. nov., pronotum is subquadrate in shape and elytra are short (reaching only first or second abdominal segment). In Cenophengus the pronotum is rectangular, and elytra long, last 3 tergites exposed. Other important characteristics in Cleicosta gen. nov., are: aedeagus with lateral lobes parallel, elongate, narrowed medially to toothless apex; in Cenophengus with lateral lobes parallel,with apical teeth.

Head: Wider than long ( Fig. 1A ), fully exposed; integument smooth, glossy, coarsely punctuate: antennae 12-articulated serrated, extending slightly beyond pronotal posterior margin; antennomeres 4 th to 11 th with lanceolate rami,1.5 to twice times longer than respective antennomere; frons vertically produced; interantennal distance nearly equal to first antennomere length; eyes finely facetted, hemispherical, variable in length; labrum 3 times wider than long; mandibles simple, thin, falcate; maxillary palpi 4-segmented; terminal palpomere bullet-shaped with apex acute, longer than preceding 3; 3 rd palpomere shorter than 2 nd; labial palpi 2-segmented; terminal palpomere fusiform, 5 times longer than preceding one; tentorium with 2 distinctly separated pits; gular sutures parallel anteriorly ( Fig. 1B ).

Thorax: Pronotum subquadrate ( Fig. 1C ); anterior angles rounded, posterior angles acute, lateral margins rounded; integument smooth, glossy, densely punctured ( Fig. 1D ); prosternal anterior margin almost straight; sternal suture complete. Elytra short, reaching 1 st or 2 nd abdominal segment, 3 to 4 times longer than wide, subparallel, apex rounded. Posterior wings with posterior medium vein (MP 1 + 2) always present; posterior radial vein (RP) absent; radial cell open; venation otherwise variable. Length of legs gradually increasing from pro- to metathoracic legs; tarsi simple; in all pairs of legs, length of 4 th tarsomere equal to half the length of 5 th; claws simple.

Abdomen: Integument shiny, punctured, densely setose; penultimate sternite with posterior margin sinuate; last sternite deeply notched.Aedeagus with median lobe cylindrical, with apex rounded; lateral lobes elongate, parallel externally, narrowed medially to toothless apex ( Figs. 1 E-G).

Etymology: The new genus is named Cleicosta in recognition of the outstanding work of Dr. Cleide Costa, on her eightieth birthday. Her first name was abbreviated as “Clei” in order to avoid homonymy with the elaterid genus Cleidecosta Johnson, 2002 . Gender feminine.

Figures

Figure 1. Cleicosta monaguense sp.nov.,SEM images:(A) head dorsal;(B) head ventral;(C,D) pronotum.Aedeagus:(E)dorsal;(F) lateral;(G) ventral.