Operclipygus nitidus, 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 : 288-289

Operclipygus nitidus sp. n. Figs 76 F–G 77FMap 27

Type locality.

PANAMA: Colón:San Lorenzo Forest [9°17'N, 79°58'W].

Type material. Holotype male: "PANAMA: Colón Pr., San Lorenzo Forest. 9°17'N, 79°58'W. Flight intercept FIT-C1-13. 13-14 May 2004, A.Tishechkin. IBISCA’04” / “LSAM0111145” (FMNH). Paratypes (16): 7: same data as type, except as noted: 1: 12-13.v.2004 (GBFM), 1: 14-15.v.2004 (GBFM), 1: 15-17.v.2004 (LSAM), 1: 19-20.v.1994 (AKTC), 1: 6-8.x.2003 (MSCC), 2: 24-25.x.2003 (LSAM, FMNH); Panamá: 1: Chepo-Carti Rd., 400m, vi.1982, FIT, B.D. Gill (BDGC); 1: Barro Colorado Isl., 9°11'N, 79°51'W, 10-17.vii.2000, FIT, S. Chatzimanolis (SEMC), 1: 3.vii.1994, FIT, D. Banks, 3: 8.vii.1994, FIT, D. Banks (SEMC), 1: 15.vii.1994, FIT, D. Banks; 1: Cerro Campana, Capira, 8°44'N, 79°57'W, 790m, 5.vi.1995, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks (SEMC).

Other material.

COSTA RICA: Limón: 1: Area Cons. Tortuguero, Sector Cerro Cocori, Fca. De E. Rojas, 150m, x.1993, E. Rojas (INBIO); Puntarenas: 1: Res. Biol. Carara, Est. Quebrada Bonita, 100m, i.1995, R. Guzman (INBIO), 2: 50m, ix.1994, J.C. Saborio (INBIO), 1: vii.1994, R. Guzman (INBIO), 1: x.1994, J.C. Saborio, (INBIO), 1: xi.1994, R. Guzman, (INBIO), 1: 4-26.i.1993, R. Guzman, (INBIO); 4: Rancho Quemado, Peninsula de Osa, 200m, v.1991, J.C. Saborio (INBIO), 1: vi.1992, F. Quesada y M. Segura (INBIO), 1: viii.1991, F. Quesada (INBIO), 1: xii.1991, F. Quesada, (INBIO); 1: Est. Esquinas, Peninsula de Osa, 301400, 542200, x.1993, M. Segura, (INBIO); 1: Peninsula de Osa, 12-15.vii.1966, S. Peck (FMNH); 1: Parque Nac. Corcovado, Est Agujas, Golfito, C. Rincon, 745m, 13.ii.2000, FIT, A. Azofeifa (INBIO); 1: Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, Est. Agujas, Golfito, 250-350m, 16.v.2000, FIT, A. Azofeifa (INBIO); 1: Est. Biol. Las Cruces, Coto Brus, 8°47'N, 82°57'W, 100m, 8-10.iv.2002, FIT, A.K. Tishechkin (LSAM), 1: 2-8.iii.2002, FIT, A. Cline & A. Tishechkin (LSAM); 2: Est. Biol. Las Cruces, San Vito, 17.viii-12.ix.1982, FIT, B.D. Gill (BDGC); 1: Est. Biol. Las Alturas, Coto Brus, 8°57'N, 82°52'W, 1550m, 30.iii-3.iv.2002, FIT, A. Cline & A. Tishechkin (LSAM). GUATEMALA: Zacapa: 1: 3.5km SE La Union, 1500m, 25-27.vi.1993, FIT, J. Ashe & R. Brooks (SEMC). PANAMA: Darién: 1: Cana Biological Station, Serrania de Pirre, 7°45'18"N, 77°41'6"W, 1200m, 7-9.vi.1996, FIT, J. Ashe, R. Brooks (SEMC).

Diagnostic description.

This species is extremely similar to the preceding, Operclipygus pacificus , differing only in the following characters: length: 2.12-2.56 mm, width: 1.87-2.28 mm; frons more strongly depressed, with central portion of frontal stria present as small median arc; submarginal pronotal stria obsolete in basal half of lateral margin; elytra nearly always with short apical marginal stria or apical series of punctures; prosternum narrower, with carinal striae more clearly convergent anteriorly; 1st abdominal ventrite with single lateral stria ending in small but distinct fovea behind inner corner of metacoxa, rarely continuing laterad behind coxa for short distance; pygidium with small punctures uniformly interspersed with fine, dense ground punctation. Male genitalia more or less indistinguishable from that of Operclipygus pacificus (see Figs 77A, C, H), except with S9 (Fig. 77F) more clearly desclerotized along midline, widened basally, with distinct, narrow basal emargination; tegmen widest just basad middle, weakly narrowing to apex, slightly thicker dorsoventrally; basal piece short, about one-fourth tegmen length.

Remarks.

This species and Operclipygus pacificus are very closely related, but differ consistently in several characters. This species always has the frons more deeply impressed (Fig. 76F) and has a small median piece of the frontal stria present. It also has very small punctures on the pygidium interspersed with the dense ground punctation (Fig. 76G), and has the prosternum less broad, with the carinal striae more distinctly converging to the front. The two species co-occur at Rancho Quemado (Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica), where they remain diagnosable. We restrict the type series to those specimens from Central Panama, due to evident variation in some superficial characters among localities.

Etymology.

This species’ name refers to its shining integument.