Teslasena foucarti Chassain, 2005

Rosa, Simone Policena, 2014, Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of Physodactylinae (Coleoptera, Elateridae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 54 (18), pp. 217-292 : 231-232

Teslasena foucarti Chassain, 2005

( Fig. 34C )

Teslasena foucarti Chassain, 2005: 66 .

Redescription (male, Fig. 34C ): Integument brown to black, legs lighter. Total length 9.0-12.0 mm; elytra 2.3-2.4 times longer than pronotum. Head concave or with a median circular depression, frontal carina straight between antennal insertions; IEP 0.25-0.35 antenna reaching or surpassing the hind angle of pronotum by one antennomere. Pronotum 1.05-1.10x wider than long, with double punctation on disc, larger punctures 0.5-1.0 diameters apart, denser on lateral borders; densely pilose with long decumbent setae. Scutellum covered with short setae. Elytra tapered apicad from humerus.

Aedeagus: Phallobase 0.31x the total length of aedeagus, 1.10x longer than wide, length ratio between lateroposterior and median parts 4.3; penis: basal triangular part with sides straight, apical part 0.71x as long as the triangular basal part; with a ventral sclerite.

Holotype: [ Brésil, (Mato Grosso), 14°15’50.80”S, 59°14’02.05”W, Chapada dos Parecis], [30 km N d’Uirapuru, Usine Alcomat , 1 au 15-XII-2001, A. Foucart leg.], [Holotype], [ Teslasena foucarti sp. nov., Holotype, J. Chassain det. 04], male ( MNHN).

Paratypes: same data as holotype, 4 exs. ( MNHN), 1 ex. ( MZUSP) .

Distribution: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Parecis.

Remarks: T. foucarti ( Fig. 34C ) was detailed described by Chassain (2005), who distinguished this species from T. femoralis in the shape of the anterior margin of frons, which is straight in T. foucarti , its antennomeres relatively longer, the pronotum narrower anteriorly with punctation larger on lateral and anterior borders and the metatibial inner spur with tip curved. As discussed above, the analysis of a large series of T. femoralis revealed that those features, with the exception of the curved metatibial spur, are highly variable among the specimens and do not constitute consistent diagnostic characters. On the other hand, the curved tip of the metatibial inner spur was observed only in T. foucarti specimens, which also present body pilosity longer. The most evident difference in the pilosity of these species was observed in the pronotum, which is moderately long and usually dense on T. foucarti and absent or minuscule and scarce in T. femoralis . Their aedeagus do not present significant differences.

Figures

FIGURE 34: Habitus. A, Margogastrius schneideri (13.0 mm); B, Teslasena femoralis (9.0 mm); C, T. foucarti (9.5 mm); D, Idiotropia henoni (4.5 mm); E, Oligostethius capensis (10 mm); F,Toxognathus bakeri (6.0 mm); G, T. beauchenei (9.0 mm); H, T. coomani (6.5 mm); I, T. costulatus (11.0 mm); J, T. doherty (8.0 mm); K, T. fairmairei (7.5 mm); L, T. mouhoti (5.0 mm); M, Dactylophysus hirtus sp. nov. (10.5 mm); N, D. capixabensis nom. nov. (9.0 mm); O, D. tibialis (12.0 mm); P,Heterocrepidius mendax (9.0 mm); Q, Physodactylus asper sp. nov. (9.5 mm); R, P. besckei (11.0 mm). A, D = lectotypes; E-G, I, J, L, M, P, Q = holotypes.