Phausis marina Fender, 1966

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 : 24-26

Phausis marina Fender, 1966

( Figs 10 ; 17F ; 22P–R ; 23D ; 24F )

Podabrus marina Fender 1966: 91 missapplied; typographical error

Diagnosis. Male. Phausis marina can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: head vertex more shallowly compressed than congeners; clypeus testaceous; body overall dark brown to castaneus; anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) small and remote ( Fig. 17F ); antennae more compressed than congeners; abdominal segment VIII apical margin bi-lobed.

Redescription. Male ( Figs. 17F ; 22P–R ; 23D ). Length 5.0–6.0 mm. Width 1.5–1.7 mm. Color. Body dark brown to castaneus; eyes brown; mouthparts brown except apical half of clypeus which testaceous; mandibles and apices of last maxillary palp testaceous or paler than other mouthparts; antennae castaneus; pronotum fulvus to brunneous with apical margins flavus to pale brown; central pronotal disc brunneous; scutellum castaneus; thorax overall brunneous, with margins and upper portions paler than thorax; apices of coxae, trochanters, femora, paler than rest of leg; tarsi not paler than other leg segments; lateral margins of elytra not paler than elytral disc; abdomen dark brown to castaneus with lateral and posterior margins of abdominal segments VII and VIII paler; photic organs absent on abdominal segments VI,VII and VIII; pubescence aureus to brown. Anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) present.

Head small and transverse (frontal view); vertex shallowly transversely concave with fine, dense punctures dorsally. Eyes small and separated, labium not obstructed postventrally.. Mandibles long (more than apices of mandibles crossing frontally), robust basally becoming abruptly strongly tapered, beginning to taper at half the length of the mandible; incisor region less than half of the total length of mandible; outer margin straight versus straight as in other Phausis taxa; basal angle approximately 90 degrees dorsally. Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, last palpomere securiform. Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres.

Antennae filiform, long, extending to middle of metathorax ( Fig. 17F ). Scape 2.0×longer than pedicel. Pedicel approximately 1/3 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 approximately as long as antennomeres 4 to 10. Antennomeres 4 to 11 approximately same size and length. Antennomere 11 slightly longer than previous antennomeres, roundly truncated at apex. Flagellomeres 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 round.

Pronotum elongate (wider than long), semicircular ( Fig. 17F ); longitudinal median carina present, extending 3/4 of pronotal length; lateral and apical margin evenly rounded; all margins weakly reflexed, more reflexed along sides and anterior margin, becoming flattened toward the hind angles; basal margin weakly undulate, appearing almost straight; hind angles strongly dentate. Central pronotal disc present; quadrate, shiny, sparsely punctured laterally. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) present, small (more than one width of spot between them), elliptical, and punctate around outer margins of vitreous areas only.

Scutellum rhombus ( Fig. 17F ); sides curving inward and posterior apex notched without longitudinal groove; surface shiny and finely punctate.

Elytra well developed; punctate to reticulate basally, becoming coarser medially, and irregularly punctate to rugose apically ( Fig. 17F ). One to two costae present medially on each elytron; arising from basal half of elytra and extending approximately to elytral apices. Longitudinal elevated and transverse lines weakly present.

Venter. Thorax subelongate and rhomboidal. Metathorax without posterior apex notched; medial line present; surface shiny, mostly impunctate with a few sparse punctures. Tergal apicolateral angles lobed, but not as prominent as in other taxa within the genus. Abdominal segments VI and VII not bearing photic organs. Photic organ absent on abdominal segment VIII. Abdominal segment VII elongate (longer than wide), apical margin emarginated. Abdominal segment VIII same as abdominal segment VII except apical margin bilobed.

Male Genitalia. Basal piece (dorsal view; Fig. 22P ) wider than long, c-shaped and moderately sclerotized (light brown); distinct segments divergent, widely separated. Median lobe (dorsal view; Fig. 22P ) exceeds tips of parameres, overall shape lanceolate and acutely rounded (less than 45 degrees) at apex; parallel to parameres; sensilla absent; dorsal inner-basal margins bifurcate; dorsal opening absent; longitudinal dorsal carina present; lateral line absent; ventral opening present ( Fig. 22R ), subtriangular, consisting of the apical fourth of medial lobe. Parameres (dorsal view; Fig. 22P ) robust, wide, with almost parallel lateral margins; inner lateral margins convex; outer lateral margins parallel; apex round (lateral view; Fig. 22Q ); proximal flanges (extensions of parameres that curve or extend outward from inner margin) absent (dorsal view). Sensilla present, sparse along proximal apical margins (ventral view). Number of sensilla vary from 1 to 3, if absent then a pore can be seen ( Fig. 23D ).

Female. Unknown.

Larva. Unknown.

Eggs. Unknown.

Etymology. Unknown.

Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype ( Figs. 17F ; 24F ). USA: CALIFORNIA: “ Mill Valley , MARION Co., Cal., 7. VI.49, H.B. Leech Collector, in house, California Academy of Sciences Type No 16802, 1 ♂ ( CAS). Paratypes. “Mill Valley, MARION Co. Cal. 4.VII.1957, H.B. Leech Collector, Phausis marina Fend. Paratype”, 1 ♂ ( OSAC); “Mill Valley, MARION Co. Cal. 4.V.1958, H.B. Leech Collector, Kenneth M Fender Collection 1988 and 1992, Gifts to the California Academy of Sciences, Phausis marina Fend. Paratype ”, 1 ♂ ( CAS); “Mill Valley, MARION Co. Cal. 4.VI.1957, H.B. Leech Collector, Kenneth M Fender Collection 1988 and 1992, Gifts to the California Academy of Sciences, Phausis marina Fend. Paratype ”, 1 male ( CAS) .

Other material. USA: CALIFORNIA: HUMBOLDT Co., Fieldbrook , 9.VII .1969 , Coll. R. P. Allen, Det. J.E. Lloyd, 1 ♂ ( CAS); MARION Co., 1 air mi. W. Inverness , 22.VI .1976 , berlese ex. Litter Alnus rubra, Coll. Doyen, Det. A.M. Hodson , 1 ♂ (EMEC); same except Inverness , 26.VI .1958 , Coll. Toschi, Det. A.M. Hodson, 1 ♂ (EMEC).

Distribution. Only known to occur in California, United States of America ( Fig. 10 ).

Phenology. Occurs May to early July.

Remarks. The genus name is stated as the genus Podabrus rather than Phausis ( Fender 1966) . This was found to be a typographical error by the original author. The incorrect genus epithet refers to the genus Podabrus Westwood 1838 ( Poole & Gentili 1997) in the family Cantharidae (Order: Coleoptera ) and bears no resemblance to Phausis ( Coleoptera : Lampyridae ). Fender (1966) mentions that the legs of this species are “compressed, more slender than usual for genus”. This character was examined and found in some but not all specimens of Phausis marina including paratypes, and also in some specimens of Phausis riversi .

Variation. The color of the pronotum can vary between brunneous or flavus within this species.

Biology. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Detail of North American distribution of Phausis marina.

FIGURE 17. Dorsal habitus of male Phausis (A–F). (A) Phausis branhami sp. nov.; (B). Phausis californica; (C) Phausis dorothae; (D) Phausis inaccensa; (E) Phausis luminosa; (F) Phausis marina.

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 23. Sensilla of Phausis aedeagi (A–D). (A) Phausis luminosa (medial lobe, ventral view); (B) Phausis dorothae (paramere, dorsal view); (C) Phausis riversi (paramere, dorsal view); (D) Phausis marina (paramere, lateral view). Not pictured is Phausis californica which also has sensilla on the apical tip of the parameres (holotype, dorsal view).

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.