Operclipygus carinisternus, 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 : 93-94

Operclipygus carinisternus sp. n. Fig. 24DMap 8

Type locality.

GUYANA: Region 8: Iwokrama Forest Reserve [4°40.3'N, 58°41.1'W].

Type material.

Holotype female: "GUYANA: Region 8 Iwokrama Forest Res. 4°40'19"N, 58°41'04"W 100-200m V–VI.2001, R. Brooks & Z. Falin, FIT" / "Caterino/Tishechkin Exosternini Voucher EXO-00184" (SEMC). Paratypes (3): FRENCH GUIANA: 1: Belvèdére de Saül, point de vue, 3°1'22"N, 53°12'34"W, 20.xii.2010, Window trap, SEAG (MNHN), 2: 24.i.2011 (CHND, FMNH).

Other material.

BRAZIL: Pará: 1: Tucuruí, 3°45'S, 49°40'W, 27. x– 9.xi.1985, FIT (CHND).

Diagnostic description.

This species is similar in most characters to the proceeding, differing as follows: length: 1.59-1.75 mm, width: 1.47-1.65 mm; body rufo-brunneus, more nearly rectangular, sides of elytra less strongly rounded, basal two-thirds of pronotal sides only barely convergent to front, abruptly narrowed but not sinuate to anterior corners; surfaces generally more densely punctate, especially pronotum, with large punctures becoming subconfluent posterolaterally; elytra similar to above, but with inner subhumeral stria merging with outer stria one-third from apex, each elytron with apical marginal stria running from apex of outer subhumeral stria to sutural; prosternal keel with carinal striae present, meeting anteriorly near midpoint of keel; prosternal lobe with marginal stria present or absent; mesoventral disk with mesometaventral stria composed of arched series of large punctures, barely connected to each other; metaventral disk with larger punctures, narrowly separated by half their diameters, lateral metaventral stria not or barely separated from recurrent stria in front of the metacoxa; pygidium with fine punctures more densely scattered, marginal stria complete, fine. Male not known.

Remarks.

Operclipygus carinisternus and Operclipygus quadratus are the most strongly punctate species in the group, and have a generally more quadrate body form. Together their complete apical elytral stria distinguishes them from the others in the group. Operclipygus carinisternus can be separated by the smoothly continuous anterior and lateral submarginal pronotal striae (Fig. 24D). In Operclipygus quadratus these meet at a postocular angulations (Figs 24 E–F). One specimen from Brazil: Pará is excluded from the type series, differing in many fine details of puncture and sculpture. It may represent a distinct species, but given the limited material available at present we consider it to represent a distinct population of the present species.

Etymology.

This species’ name refers to the elevated ridge of the prosternal lobe.