Cordielytrum pulchrum Whorrall & Philips, 2020

Philips, T. Keith, Whorrall, Kyle A., Gearner, Olivia M. & Huchet, Jean-Bernard, 2020, A new genus of spider beetle (Coleoptera, Ptinidae) from western Peru, ZooKeys 934, pp. 81-91 : 81

Cordielytrum pulchrum Whorrall & Philips sp. nov. Figures 2 , 5

Type material.

Holotype. Peru: Trujillo, Huaca de la Luna, Plateforme Uhle, J. B. Huchet lgt.; Piège à "Chicha, ( bière de maïs), (J6)13/05/2009). Holotype deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France. Paratypes (18), same data as the holotype (13); Peru- Trujillo, Huaca de la Luna, 6. V-1.VII. 2009, J.B Huchet / A. Chauchat (5). Paratypes have been deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Museo de Historia Natural, Lima, and the collections of the authors (TKPC, JBHC, KAWC).

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished from C. peruvianum by its slightly more elongate shape, the vestiture of broad, ovate tan and dark brown scales on its elytra. Currently this species is only known from the type locality in Northern Peru.

Description.

Body small, compact, subovate, convex; head and pronotum tan, elytra mottled tan and dark brown. Length (anterior of pronotum to posterior of elytra) 1.84- 2.44 (μ = 2.13 ± 0.22) mm (N = 15).

Head densely covered in light tan, depressed, ovoid scales completely covering surface, less dense laterally, with subtle superantennal carina; antennomeres 1-9 densely squamous, ultimate and penultimate antennomeres with simple setae; antennomeres 1-3 and 11 ca. twice as long as wide, others subequal.

Pronotum setose with scales anteriorly and longer densely matted setae posteriorly; short, erect setae sparsely placed throughout, longer at posterio-lateral edge, arising from cavities formed within matted setae, cavities distinctly larger laterally; medial cavity with poorly defined border, moderate in depth, when viewed from above, extending nearly one third of total length; two posterio-lateral cavities on each side, somewhat more distinct than medial cavity.

Elytra surface densely covered by broad, ovate scales, giving a coarsely rugose appearance; lateral edge at anterior ⅓ of each elytron with row of long densely placed bristly very long setae; four low longitudinal carinae extending length of each elytron, including one at suture; deep depressions in ~2 rows between carinae; background cuticle color dark reddish brown.

Ventral surface: Pro-, meso-, and metaventrites and abdominal ventrites with scales similar to elytra. Femora increasing in width from base to apex, girth reaching maximum around midpoint; tibiae increasing in width from base to apex, girth increasing throughout basal third then remaining equal thereafter; tarsomere 1 ca. twice as long as 2-4, ⅓ longer than 5, 2-4 sub-equal in length.

Etymology. The name derives from the attractive variegated pattern of dark and light-colored setae on the elytral surface.

Remarks. Many well-preserved, partial remains of this new species were initially recovered within organic material from pre-Columbian Mochica graves at the emblematic archaeological site of Huacas de Moche, located along the pacific coastal desert, in the vicinity of Trujillo, 550 km north of Lima, Peru. This archaeological complex includes two monumental pyramids built as a series of platforms: Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and Huaca de la Luna (Temple of the Moon), separated by a vast urban centre (Chauchat et al. 2009) (Fig. 6 ). The archaeological remains were directly associated with human skeletons or from inside ceramic vessels placed as offerings. In order to collect specimens of this “subfossil” species, pitfall traps were placed on site by one of the authors (JBH) baited with meat, rotten fruits or with a local corn beer called chicha. This fluid may have been attractive as a food and/or moisture source since this permitted collection of all specimens of the type-series.

Figures

Figure 2. Cordielytrum pulchrum sp. nov. A Dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C lateral view D frontal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, B), 0.5 mm (D).

Figure 5. Distribution of Cordielytrum peruvianum (circle) and C. pulchrum (triangle). The position of the city of Lima is also indicated (star).

Figure 6. The archaeological site of Huacas de Moche, located along the pacific coastal desert, in the vicinity of Trujillo, 550 km north of Lima, Peru. This is the type locality of Cordielytrum pulchrum sp. nov.