Scissicauda balena Silveira, Mermudes & Bocakova

Silveira, Luiz Felipe Lima Da, Mermudes, Jose Ricardo M. & Bocakova, Milada, 2016, Systematic review of the firefly genus Scissicauda (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Amydetinae) from Brazil, ZooKeys 558, pp. 55-75 : 66-68

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Lampyridae

Scissicauda balena Silveira, Mermudes & Bocakova sp. n. Figs 51-56, 57-66, 67-70, 71-72

Type material.

Holotype (Figs 51-66, 71) male, Brazil: Espírito Santo, [n] 6521, Descourtils [leg.], coll. Fry 1905-100 (BMNH). Paratype (Figs 67-70, 72) female, Brazil, the same data (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Males with antennal lamellae absent (Fig. 54) (present in Scissicauda disjuncta , Fig. 10), anterior pro and mesoclaws entire (bifid in Scissicauda disjuncta ), phallus dorsal plate subtruncate basally, phallic groove at half of its length, moderately curved (strongly rounded basally, phallic groove at apical one third, strongly curved in Scissicauda disjuncta ); ventral plate at least 2 × phallobase length (slightly shorter than phallobase in Scissicauda disjuncta ); parameres ventrobasal process digitiform, extending slightly beyond ventral plate, shorter than paramere itself (Figs 63-66) (process rudimentary in Scissicauda disjuncta , Figs 36-41). Females with sternum VIII rounded (Fig. 68) (constricted at posterior one third, indented medially in Scissicauda disjuncta , Fig. 43).

Etymology.

The specific name balena is a Latin expression for whale, whose tail resembles the pygidium of this species. The name is formed as a noun in apposition.

Description.

Colour pattern. Integument overall blackish-brown, with scape brownish (Fig. 54); antennomeres VIII–XI and sternum VIII entirely yellowish (Figs 52, 68). Pronotum largely yellowish at sides and slenderly anterior at the disc, with paired yellow parasagittal vittae (Figs 55, 70); hypomeron translucent, with antero-dorsal margin yellowish (Fig. 56). Elytron with pale yellow lateral-longitudinal and sutural vittae (Fig. 51, 67). Sternites, trochanters and femorae yellowish, tibiae and tarsi dark-brown (Fig. 52, 68). Abdominal sternites yellowish posteriad (Fig. 52, 68). Pygidium laterally and medially dark-brownish (Fig. 52).

Male. (Figs 51-56, 57-66). Scape constricted basally, pedicel almost as long as wide and constricted medially, antennomeres III–X cylindrical, impressed and not-flabellate (Fig. 54). Pronotum 1.5 × wider than long (Fig. 55). Elytra with epipleural maximal width as wide as disc width (Fig. 51). Sternum VIII with posterior margin emarginate (Fig. 60). Sternum IX gradually convergent anteriad, almost 2 × longer than aedeagus (Figs 61-62). Phallus dorsal plate subtruncate basally, phallic groove at half of its length, moderately curved; ventral plate at least 2 × of phallobase length; parameres ventrobasal process digitiform, extending slightly beyond ventral plate, shorter than paramere itself (Figs 63-66).

Female. Sternum VIII rounded, indented medially (Fig. 68).