Phausis christineae Hodson, 2024

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 : 16-17

Phausis christineae Hodson , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:309C2985-9032-4703-8F4C-25768AABD9FE

( Figs 6 ; 19A–D ; 20A )

Diagnosis. Male. Phausis christineae can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: eyes large and contiguous; obstructing labium postventrally; only prementum and palpi are visible ventrally; Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres; antennae filiform, short, does not extend to metathorax; abdominal segments VI and VII bearing photic organs, forming a central round stripe that does not reach margins and is greatly medially restricted; surface impunctate, sometimes slightly raised ( Fig. 20A ). This species appears similar to Phausis reticulata and Phausis luminosa but can be distinguished by the above characters.

Description. Male ( Figs. 19A–D ; 20A ). Length 5.0–6.0 mm. Width 1.5–1.8 mm. Color. Body brunneous; eyes black; mouthparts (excluding mandibles) testaceous, except for clypeus which is brunneous; mandibles testaceous, with apices darker than rest of structure, appearing ferrous at times; antennae brown; pronotum light brown; central pronotal disc castaneus; scutellum testaceous to light brown; thorax testaceous; legs brunneous; hind coxae paler than other leg segments; lateral margins of elytra paler than elytral disc; thorax testaceous; abdomen dark brown; photic organs on the VI and VII abdominal segments greatly reduced in size ( Fig. 20A ), overall flavus, except outer margins pale yellow; pubescence brunneous. Anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) present.

Head large and transverse (frontal view); vertex longitudinally concave with moderate punctures dorsally. Eyes large and contiguous, obstructing labium postventrally; only prementum and palpi are visible ventrally. Mandibles long (more than apices of mandibles crossing frontally), falcate, tapering gradually; incisor region short, less than half the total length of mandible; outer margin convex versus straight as in other taxa ( P. marina , P. nigra , P. skelleyi , and P. milleri ); basal angle approximately 90 degrees dorsally. Maxillary palps with four palpomeres, last palpomere securiform. Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres.

Antennae filiform,short, does not extend to metathorax( Fig.19A ).Scape as long as pedicel.Pedicel approximately 5/8 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 slightly longer than antennomeres 4 to 10. Antennomeres 4 to 10 approximately same size and length. Antennomere 11 approximately 1.5× longer than preceding antennomeres, rounded at apex. Flagellomeres not compressed; when viewed laterally, flagellomeres as wide as in ventral view. Sensorium present on the distal end of antennomere 11, semi-transparent, small, and subulate.

Pronotum transverse, subelliptical; longitudinal median carina present, extending from base to apex of pronotum ( Fig. 19A ); all margins slightly reflexed, more so apically than laterally or basally; lateral margins explanate, becoming more so towards hind angles. Basal margin reflexed forming a ridge, undulate; hind angles dentate. Central pronotal disc present, rectangular; surface shiny and finely moderately punctate. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) present, large (less than one width of spot between them), broadly falcate, and punctate along outer margins ( Fig. 19A ).

Scutellum spatulate; sides curving inward and posterior apex emarginated with longitudinal groove ( Fig. 19A ); surface dull and finely punctate, more so along the anterior margin.

Elytra well developed; strongly punctate to reticulate. Three costae present on each elytron, extending towards the posterior margin ( Fig. 19A ). Longitudinal elevated and transverse lines present; transverse lines somewhat irregular in the interstitial spaces giving elytra a reticulated appearance.

Venter. Thorax elongate and rhomboidal. Metathorax with posterior apex notched; medial line present; surface shiny and finely densely punctate. Tergal apicolateral angles strongly lobed.Abdominal segments VI and VII bearing photic organs, forming a central rounded stripe that does not reach margins and is greatly medially restricted ( Fig. 20A ); surface impunctate, sometimes slightly raised. Photic organ absent on abdominal segment VIII. Abdominal segment VII quadrate (as wide as long), apical margin emarginated. Abdominal segment VIII elongate (longer than wide) and apical margin weakly emarginated.

Male Genitalia. Basal piece (dorsal view) wider than long, v-shaped, segments approximate (almost touching) ( Fig. 19B ) and weakly sclerotized (flavus) Median lobe (dorsal view) approximates tips of parameres, elongate and acutely rounded (less than 45 degrees) at apex; parallel to parameres; sensilla absent; dorsal inner-basal margins round; dorsal opening absent; longitudinal dorsal carina absent; lateral line absent (lateral view); ventral opening present, curvate, comprising of the apical half of medial lobe ( Fig. 19D ). Parameres (dorsal view) elongate, robust, sub-parallel; inner lateral margins convex; outer lateral margins undulating; apex roundly acute (lateral view; Fig. 19C ); 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 the first authors’ mother Christine Ann Prine.

Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype (here designated; Fig. 19A ). USA: GEORGIA: CLARKE Co., “ Camp Wilkins , Athens, GA, April 30, 1942, Coll. Horace O. Lund,” [previously identified as Phausis reticulata by J. Lloyd] 1 ♂ ( UGCA). Paratypes. USA: GEORGIA: CLARKE Co., “Camp Wilkins, Athens, GA, April 30, 1942, Coll. Horace O. Lund,” [previously identified as Phausis reticulata by J. Lloyd] 3 ♂ ( UGCA); same except “ 8 mi E. Athens Ga. May 7 1989, at light, G. Brown & T. Harris,” [previously identified as Phausis reticulata by J. Lloyd], 3 ♂ ( UGCA); same except “GA: MADISON Co., 8 mi NE Danielsville jct. Broad R. & Hannah Cr., 3–6 May 2005, Coll. B.J. Freeman, Det. A.M. Hodson,” 2 ♂ ( FSCA). NORTH CAROLINA: “ NORTH CAROLINA: YANCEY Co., Crabtree Mdws., 9 June 1960, Coll. L. Mason,” 1 ♂ [folded label “ Microphotus ”, followed by label “Ret. 4”] ( SEMC) .

Other material. USA: GEORGIA: FRANKLIN Co., Dovetown Rd & HWY 29 S of Royston ( Mark Dalusky’s Cabin ), 7. V .2011, Coll. A.M. Hodson, C.H. Scott, B.J. Freeman, 1 ♂ ( AMHC) . USA: OKLAHOMA: LATIMER Co. , V .1984, in flight trap, Coll. K. Stephan, Det. A.M. Hodson, 1 ♂ ( JELC); same except 1 ♂ ( JELC); same except V .1983, 1 ♂ ( JELC) .

Distribution. Known to occur in northeast Georgia, Oklahoma, and North Carolina, United States of America ( Fig. 6 ).

Phenology. Occurs in late April through early June.

Remarks. None.

Variation. Identified. Single specimen examined has eyes strongly converging above, more so than other specimens. Specimen label data: USA: OKLAHOMA: LATIMER Co. , V.1983 , in flight trap, Coll. K. Stephan, Det. A.M. Hodson, 1 ♂ (Lloyd AMNH loan) Two specimens examined had only one photic organ on Abdominal segment VI . Specimen label data: USA: OKLAHOMA: LATIMER Co. , V . 83, in flight trap, Coll. K. Stephan, Det. A.M. Hodson, 1 ♂ ( JELC); same except V . 84, 1 ♂ ( JELC) .

Biology. Found in the same habitat as Phausis reticulata .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Detail of North American distribution of Phausis christineae sp. nov.

FIGURE 19. Phausis christineae sp. nov. Male (A–D). (A) Dorsal habitus of holotype; B–D, aedeagus of holotype (top to bottom: dorsal, lateral, ventral).

FIGURE 20. Ventral view of adult male photic organs (A–C). (A) Phausis christineae sp. nov. (paratype); (B) Phausis luminosa; (C) Phausis reticulata.