Phausis skelleyi Fender

Hodson, Alicia M. & Branham, Marc A., 2024, Revision and Phylogeny of the Genus Phausis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) with the Description of Three New Species, Zootaxa 5458 (1), pp. 1-52 : 41-48

Phausis skelleyi Fender in Hatch, 1962

( Figs 16 ; 18F ; 22 Hh–Jj; 24L)

Phausis skelleyi Fender 1962: 42

Diagnosis. Male. Phausis skelleyi can be differentiated from congeners by the following characters: eyes are small and separated, not obstructing labium postventrally; basal piece (dorsal view) wider than long, v-shaped, segments contiguous (segments touching), and deeply sclerotized (brown to dark brown); dorsal opening present on median lobe ( Fig. 22 Hh). Phausis skelleyi is one out of three species of Phausis whose medial lobe extends forward ventrally beyond the parameres ( Fig. 22 Ii).

Phausis skelleyi looks similar to Phausis nigra and Phausis milleri . Species differs from Phausis nigra by the following characters: pronotum transverse, broadly subelliptical, with lateral margins more arcuate and explanate than anterior margin ( Fig. 18F ); having a pronotal angle (a tangent line drawn from lateral margin of pronotum meeting a parallel line drawn from the basal margin of the pronotum) equal to 55 degrees ( Fender 1962, 1966); antennomeres 3 to 10 subequal in length; sensorium ovate; elytral lateral margins expanded, but not as expanded as in P. nigra ; abdominal segment VII quadrate; basal piece of aedeagus v-shaped, segments contiguous (segments touching), and deeply sclerotized (dark brown)( Fig. 22 Hh); median lobe exceeds tips of parameres and extending forward ventrally ( Fig. 22 Ii); ventral opening absent; dorsal opening absent. Phausis skelleyi differs from Phausis milleri by the following characters: overall coloration darker; head vertex transversely concave; eyes large, not obstructing the labium postventrally; clypeus and apices of mandibles testaceous; antennomere 11 ovate; sensorium ovate; pronotal hind angles dentate; central pronotal disc punctate ( Fig. 18F ); metathorax without posterior apex notched; finely punctate; elytral costae absent; the shape of the apical fourth of the median lobe is curved upward and acute ( Fig. 22 Ii) less than Phausis milleri ( Fig. 22T ).

Redescription. Male ( Figs. 18F ; 22 Hh–Jj). Length 5.0–6.0 mm. Width 1.3–1.7 mm. Color. Body brunneous, sometimes infuscus (blackish-brown) beneath; eyes brown to ferruginous; mouthparts brunneous; clypeus and apices of mandibles testaceous; antennae brunneous; central pronotal disc brunneous to castaneus; scutellum brunneous; thorax brunneous to infuscus; trochanters along apical-medial margin, apical margin of femora, and tarsi paler than rest of body; coxae, femora, an tibiae brunneous; lateral margins of elytra paler than elytral disc; abdomen brunneous; photic organs absent on abdominal segments VI VII and VIII; pubescence brunneous to cinereous. Anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) present.

Head small and transverse (frontal view); vertex transversely concave with dense coarse punctures. Eyes small but not as large as P. reticulata , and separated, not obstructing labium postventrally. Mandibles long (more than apices of mandibles crossing frontally), subfalcate, begins tapering at half the length of mandible; incisor region less than half of total length of mandible; outer margin straight; basal angle greater than 90 degree angle dorsally. Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, last palpomere securiform. Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres.

Antennae filiform, long, extending to almost the posterior end of metathorax. Scape as long as pedicel, but sometimes can appear 2.0× as long on some specimens. Pedicel approximately 1/3 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 as long as antennomeres 4 to 10. Antennomere 11 ovate at apex. Flagellomeres feebly compressed, but not as compressed as in Lucidota or Ellychnia ; when viewed laterally, flagellomeres are wider than in ventral view. Sensorium present on the distal end of antennomere 11, semi-transparent, small, and ovate.

Pronotum transverse, broadly subelliptical ( Fig. 18F ); longitudinal median carina present, extending from base to apex of pronotum; lateral margins more arcuate and explanate than anterior margin; all margins reflexed, very strongly so anteriorly on the side and frontal margins, becoming flattened toward the hind angles; basal margin undulate and slightly reflexed medially; hind angles dentate. Central pronotal disc present; rectangular, shiny, and finely sparsely punctured. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) present, large (less than one width of spot between them), reniform, and punctate throughout.

Scutellum subspatulate; sides weakly curving inward and posterior apex rounded with longitudinal groove; surface with very fine longitudinal rugae ( Fig. 18F ).

Elytra well developed; overall rugose to punctate ( Fig. 18F ); more punctate basally than apically, becoming more finely punctate apically. Costae absent on each elytron. Longitudinal elevated and transverse lines weakly present; transverse lines somewhat irregular in the interstitial spaces giving elytra a wrinkled appearance.

Venter. Thorax elongate, subrhomboidal; finely sparsely punctate ventrally. Episternum densely punctate laterally. Metathorax with posterior apex without notched; medial line present; surface sparsely punctate. Tergal apicolateral angles strongly lobed. Abdominal segments VI and VII not bearing photic organs. Photic organ absent on abdominal segment VIII. Abdominal segment VII quadrate, apical margin emarginated. Abdominal segment VIII elongate, apical margin pointed.

Male Genitalia. Basal piece (dorsal view; Fig. 22 Hh) wider than long, v-shaped, segments contiguous (segments touching), and deeply sclerotized (brown to dark brown). Median lobe (dorsal view; Fig. 22 Hh) exceeds tips of parameres, overall shape elongate and rounded (greater than 45 degrees) at apex; median lobe position extending ventrally from parameres ( Fig. 22 Ii); sensilla absent; dorsal inner-basal margins rounded; dorsal opening present ( Fig. 22 Hh), elliptical, comprising of apical 1/4 of median lobe; longitudinal dorsal carina absent; lateral line absent (lateral view); ventral opening absent. Parameres (dorsal view; Fig. 22 Hh) elongate, slender, sub-parallel; inner lateral margins convex; outer lateral margins arcuate; apex roundly acute (lateral view; Fig. 22 Ii); proximal flanges (extensions of parameres that curve or extend outward from inner margin) absent (dorsal view). Sensilla absent.

Female. Unknown.

Larva. Unknown.

Eggs. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Dr. Leo Skelley of McMinnville, Oregon.

Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype ( Figs.18F ; 24L ). USA: OREGON: YAHILL Co.,“ McMinnville, Ore. VI.24.1949 [ Fender 1962, collection date of holotype VI.29.1939], Coll. K.M. Fender, HOLOTYPE Phausis skelleyi Fender , California Academy of Sciences Type No 9806”, 1 ♂ ( CAS). Paratype. “McMinnville, Ore. 19??, Coll. K.M. & D.W. Fender ”, 1 ♂ ( OSCA); “Skye Wash 7–6–36, Kenneth M. Fender Collection 1988 and 1992, Gifts to the California Academy of Sciences ,” [upside-down label “ Phausis nigra Det. Ralph Hopping ”, followed by paratype label], 1 ♂ ( CAS) .

Other material. USA: WASHINGTON: KING Co., Issaquah-Preston Reg. Trail nr. Highpoint, carrion pitfall trap, Thuja-Acer forest, beside E. Issaquah Creek , 500ft, 16.I to 1. VII.2003, Coll. A.S. Ramsdale, Det. A.S. Ramsdale, 2 ♂ (MTEC).

Distribution. Restricted to regions of the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington) ( Fig. 16 ).

Phenology. Occurs in late June to early July.

Remarks. Fender (1966) stated that antennal morphology is “submonofiliform”, but in fact it is closer to filiform (i.e., each antennomere is not divided into distinct beads). Fender (1966) separated P. skelleyi from P. nigra by the shape of their pronota (broadly subelleptical versus subelleptical). He also separated them by measuring the angle of an imaginary tangential line to the curved side of the prontom, that meets a line parallel to the base of the pronotum. He stated Phausis skelleyi has a 55 degree angle versus a 70 degree angle in P. nigra (Fender, 1961; Fender, 1966). The lead author (A. Hodson) found this morphological character to be true but it was difficult to measure accurately and was inconsistent among specimens examined. Other localities where Phausis skelleyi has been collected are: Skye, Washington; Newport, Oregon; and Spring Creek, Baker Co., Oregon ( Fender 1962, 1966).

Variation. None identified.

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Detail of North American distribution of Phausis skelleyi.

FIGURE 18. Dorsal habitus of male Phausis (A–F). (A) Phausis milleri sp. nov.; (B) Phausis nigra; (C) Phausis reticulata; (D) Phausis rhombica; (E) Phausis riversi; (F) Phausis skelleyi.

FIGURE 22. Phausis aedeagi (A–Jj) (from left to right: dorsal, lateral, ventral view). (A–C) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (D–F) Phausis californica; (G–I) Phausis dorothae; (J–L) Phausis inaccensa; (M–O) Phausis luminosa; (P–R) Phausis marina; (S–U) Phausis milleri sp. nov.; (V–X) Phausis nigra; (Y–Aa) Phausis reticulata; (Bb–Dd) Phausis rhombica; (Ee–Gg) Phausis riversi; (Hh–Jj) Phausis skelleyi.

FIGURE 24. Type labels of Phausis (A–L). (A) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (B). Phausis californica; (C) Phausis dorothae; (D) Phausis inaccensa; (E) Phausis luminosa; (F) Phausis marina; (G) Phausis milleri sp. nov.; (H) Phausis nigra; (I) Phausis reticulata; (J) Phausis rhombica; (K) Phausis riversi; (L) Phausis skelleyi.