Geocharidius comayaguanus, Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014

Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014, The integripennis species group of Geocharidius Jeannel, 1963 (Carabidae, Bembidiini, Anillina) from Nuclear Central America: a taxonomic review with notes about biogeography and speciation, ZooKeys 443, pp. 61-118 : 82

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Geocharidius comayaguanus sp. n. Figs 2C, 3C, 3F, 6H, 7D, H, 18C, 19 K–P, 20D, 21D, 22, 23

Type material.

HOLOTYPE, a male, in CMNC, point-mounted, dissected, labeled: \ HONDURAS: Comayagua, 18km ENE Comayagua, 1950m, 20.VIII.1994, S. & J. Peck, wet oak-pine forest litter, S&JPeck 1994-52 \ CMNC \ HOLOTYPE Geocharidius comayaguanus Sokolov and Kavanaugh 2014 [red label] \. PARATYPES: A total of 23 specimens (6 males and 2 females were dissected), deposited in CAS, CMNC and KUNHM; 4 specimens labeled same as holotype; 5 specimens labeled: \ HONDURAS: Comayagua, Comayagua (18km E.N.E.), 1950m, 20.VIII.1994, S. Peck wet oak-pine forest litter, SBP 94-52 \ CMNC \; 8 specimens labeled: HONDURAS: La Paz Dept. Tutule, Res. Biol. Guajiquiro, 14°10'N, 87°50'W, 2130m, 7-V-2002, R.Anderson, cloud forest litter, RSA2002-010 \ SM0 … KUNHM-ENT \; 1 specimen labeled: HONDURAS: LA PAZ: Tutule, Res. Biol. Guajiquiro, 14°10'N, 87°50'W, 2130m, 7.V.2002, R.Anderson, cloud forest litter, 2002-010H \ CMNC \; 1 specimen labeled: \ HONDURAS: LA PAZ: Tutule, Res. Biol. Guajiquiro, 14°10'N, 87°50'W, 2130m, 7.V.2002, R.Anderson, cloud forest litter, 2002-010D \ CMNC \; 1 specimen labeled: \ HONDURAS: LA PAZ: Tutule, Res. Biol. Guajiquiro, 14°10'N, 87°50'W, 2130m, 7.V.2002, R.Anderson, cloud forest litter, 2002-010E \ CMNC \; 2 specimens labeled: \ HONDURAS: LA PAZ: Tutule, Res. Biol. Guajiquiro, 14°10', N 87°50'W, 2130m, 7.V.2002, R.Anderson, cloud forest litter, 2002-010I \ CMNC \; 1 specimen labeled: \ HONDURAS: Yoro Dept., P.N. Pico Pijol, 1300m, 15°09.4', N 87°37.6'W, 11.V.2002, R. Anderson, upper montane forest litter, 2002-017A\ CMNC.

Type locality.

Honduras, Comayagua Department, 18 km ENE of Comayagua.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective in the masculine form based on the name of the city of Comayagua, from the vicinity of which the new species is described.

Recognition.

Adults of this species are practically indistinguishable externally from those of Geocharidius disjunctus , described below, and are distinguished from the latter, as from those of the other members of the integripennis species group, by the structure of the male median lobe and the shape of spermatheca in females.

Description.

Size. Small to medium for genus (SBL range 1.19-1.34 mm, mean 1.28 ± 0.072mm, n=20).

Habitus. Body form (Fig. 18C) moderately convex, ovoid, general proportions (WE/SBL 0.40 ± 0.011), proportions of head (WH/WPm 0.74 ± 0.017) and pronotum (WPm/WE 0.78 ± 0.018) moderately wide.

Color. Body brunneorufous, appendages testaceous.

Microsculpture. Mesh pattern of irregularly isodiametric sculpticells present over all dorsal surfaces of head and elytra. Pronotum and proepisternum smooth (without evident microsculpture).

Prothorax. Pronotum moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.29 ± 0.024), with lateral margins markedly constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.35 ± 0.027). Posterior angles obtuse (110-120°). Width between posterior angles equal to the width between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 1.02 ± 0.026). Ventral aspect (Fig. 3C).

Pterothorax (Fig. 3F).

Elytra (Fig. 2C). Moderately convex, slightly depressed along suture, moderately wide (WE/LE 0.68 ± 0.022), without traces of striae. Humeri rounded, in outline forming right angle with longitudinal axis of body. Lateral margins convex, evenly divergent at basal third, evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Legs. Protibia (Fig. 6H). Mesotibia (Fig. 7D). Metatibia (Fig. 7H).

Male genitalia. Median lobe (Fig. 19K) with shaft long and dorsally convex, apex small and narrowly rounded. Ventral margin straight. Dorsal sclerites of internal sac small, in form of a short hook-like fig, slightly varied among different populations (Fig. 19 K–L, O–P). Right paramere with long apical constriction (Fig. 19N). Left paramere with long and narrow apical constriction (Fig. 19M). Ring sclerite with handle triangular, pointed at apex (Fig. 20D).

Female internal genitalia. Spermatheca sclerotized, fusiform, slightly tapered apically, straight, with cornu and nodulus of equal length (Fig. 21D). Length of spermathecal gland less than length of spermatheca. Spermathecal duct not coiled.

Geographical distribution.

This species is known from La Paz, Comayagua and Yoro Departments, thus having a range that crosses nearly the entire Honduran Interior Highlands from the Pacific to the Antlantic slope (Fig. 22, yellow circles).

Way of life.

Specimens were collected in litter samples from cloud, upper montane and wet oak-pine forests at middle and high elevations of 1300 and 2130 m, respectively.

Relationships.

This species is unique within the integripennis species group in the shape of dorsal sclerites of the internal sac (Fig. 19K) of males and of the spermatheca (Fig. 21D) of females. Hence, Geocharidius comayaguanus appears to be only remotely related to the other members of the species group.