Phelister uncinatus, Caterino & Tishechkin, 2020

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2020, Recognition and revision of the Phelister blairi group (Histeridae, Histerinae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 1001, pp. 1-154 : 1

52. Phelister uncinatus sp. nov. Figs 2D , 33E, F , 34I, J , Map 17

Type material.

Holotype male: "Venezuela: Aragua, Rancho Grande Biol.Stn. 10°21'N, 67°41'W [10.3500, -67.6833], 1140 m, 6-9 Mar 1995, Robert W. Brooks#070, ex: flight intercept trap" / "SEMC0903640 KUNHM-ENT" (SEMC); Paratypes (6): same data as type (SEMC, 1ex.); same locality but 25-28 Feb 1995 (1ex.); same locality but 1-8 Mar 1995 (1ex.); Venezuela: Aragua, Tiara, 50 km SW Caracas (10.1, -67.2), 2000 m, 2/22/71-2/25/71, forest carrion, S. Peck, EXO-02420 (CHSM, 1ex.); Tachira, 20 km NE. San Cristobal (7.8, -72.1), 4000ft, 5/18/74-5/22/74, bait trap, W. Suter (FMNH, 2ex.).

Other material.

Peru: Junín, 11 km NE Puerto Ocopa, Los Olivos (-11.05, -74.2587), 1200 m, 3/25/09-3/31/09, FIT, A. Tishechkin (AKTC, CHND and MSCC, 12ex.).

Diagnostic description.

Length: 1.58-1.73 mm (avg. 1.64 mm); width: 1.18-1.54 mm (avg. 1.37 mm). This species is very similar to the preceding two, differing principally in the following characters: median pronotal gland openings only ~ 1/3 behind anterior pronotal margin; prescutellar impression small, a weakly transverse oval only slightly wider than scutellum; outer subhumeral elytral stria present in apical 1/2; dorsal stria one well impressed in basal 1/3, present as a fine, scratch-like stria nearly to apex; dorsal stria two complete, 3rd stria interrupted, present at base and apex, 4th stria present as short apical fragment and strong basal arch, 5th present in apical 1/4, sutural stria in apical 3/4; propygidial secondary punctures dense in basal 2/3; pygidial punctures uniformly small and sparse; mesometaventral stria strongly arched forward onto mesoventrite, occasionally disrupting marginal mesoventral stria; lateral metaventral stria abbreviated posteriorly, but extending toward outer-third of metacoxa (not toward metepisternum). Male with distinctive undulate aedeagus, tegmen shallowly ‘S’ -shaped in lateral view (Fig. 34I ); T9 with ventrolateral apodemes small and subapical; S9 with distinct large apical flange on either side of narrow emargination; T10 divided; median lobe of aedeagus with gonopore very large, its upper edge extended and apically acute; proximal apodemes thin, convergent; ventromedial process present near apical one-third, thin and broadly u-shaped.

Etymology.

This species name, uncinatus, refers to the curved or hooked basal elytral strial fragment.

Distribution.

This species is known from a few localities in Venezuela. The specimens from Peru differ slightly in aedeagus characteristics and elytral striation but may simply represent geographic variation.

Remarks.

This species is very similar to the preceding, but has its pronotal gland openings much further forward, only ~ 1/3 behind anterior pronotal margin, and has a strong, isolated basal arch between the 4th and sutural striae.

Figures

Figure 2. Images of selected characters A SEM of pronotum of Phelister geminus, showing prescutellar impression and annulate median pronotal glands B SEM of pronotum of P. erwini, showing prescutellar impression and annulate median pronotal glands C SEM of pronotum of Phelister sculpturatus, showing prescutellar impression and annulate median pronotal glands D head of P. geminus, showing depressed frons and epistoma, and emarginate labrum E pronotum of P. uncinatus, showing non-annulate median pronotal gland openings F pronotum of P. semotus, showing non-annulate median pronotal gland openings G protibia of P. geminus, showing ' scalloped' protibial margin.

Map 17. Collecting records for Phelister curvipes (upright black triangle), P. vilavelha (black hexagon), P. rio (white circle), P. semotus (stars), P. uncinatus (black squares), and P. inscriptus (inverted white triangles).

Figure 33. A, B Phelister rio: A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C, D P. semotus: C dorsal habitus D ventral habitus E, F P. uncinatus: E dorsal habitus F ventral habitus G, H P. inscriptus: G dorsal habitus H ventral habitus.

Figure 34. Male genitalia A-F Phelister rio: A tergite 8 B sternite 8 C tergites 9 & 10 D sternite 9 E aedeagus, dorsal F aedeagus, lateral G, H P. semotus: G aedeagus, dorsal H tegmen, lateral I, J P. uncinatus: I aedeagus, dorsal J tegmen, lateral.