Operclipygus troglodytes, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 228-229

Operclipygus troglodytes sp. n. Fig. 59AMap 21

Type locality.

VENEZUELA: Falcón: San Luis Mountains [11°13'N, 69°38.5'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "VENEZUELA Falcon State, San Luis Mts. in cave, 1973, P.R.F.Chapman, C.I.E. A7179 CC27" (BMNH). Paratypes (22): 19: same data as type (BMNH, FMNH, AKTC, MSCC); VENEZUELA: Lara, 1: Yacumbu Nat. Park, Sanare, 17.4km SE Yacambu N.P., 9°42'26"N, 69°34'34"W, 1510m, 16-18.v.1998, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley (SEMC); 2: 18. v– 1.vi.1998, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley (SEMC).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to the preceding, differing significantly only in the following characters: length: 1.78-2.22 mm, width: 1.47-1.87 mm; frontal stria usually present at middle, interrupted only over anten nal bases; labrum broader and more distinctly emarginate; marginal pronotal stria not descending onto hypomeron; lateral submarginal pronotal stria obsolete along most of lateral margin, present only in anterior corners; anterior submarginal stria broadly arched across anterior margin, recurved posterad one-fifth to one-fourth pronotal length; prosternum and mesoventrite not as distinctly depressed, posterior half of metaventrite only weakly convex; propygidium with vestigial fragments of microsculpture; pygidium lacking microsculpture, with relatively conspiuous fine ground punctation and coarser punctures rather dense in basal corners, smaller and sparser toward apex; marginal pygidial stria fine, present on apical half to two-thirds of margin. Male genitalia very similar to those of Operclipygus hamistrius (see Figs 57 A–D), differing as follows: T8 with sides subparallel; S8 shorter, with apices bluntly subacuminate, ventral creases conspicuous; tegmen shorter, widest distinctly basad middle, with sides rounded, not as strongly narrowed to apex; tegmen like that of Operclipygus arquus (see Fig. 57K).

Remarks.

This species represents one of the most geographically distant extensions of the Operclipygus hamistrius group. However, it is very similar to the preceding species, most readily distinguished by the more strongly abbreviated lateral submarginal pronotal stria (Fig. 59H), which is shorter than the recurved arms of the anterior submarginal stria. Its frontal stria is also more strongly and completely impressed.

Etymology.

This species’ name refers to the fact that most specimens were collected in a cave.