Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis, 2023

Chatzimanolis, Stylianos, 2023, A revision of the genus Photinopygus Chatzimanolis (Staphylinidae: Xanthopygina), Zootaxa 5292 (1), pp. 1-100 : 39-41

Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis , new species

( Figs. 86–93 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F4BBF724-D62A-42B3-AFBA-4D348443700E

Type material. Holotype, here designated, male, with labels: “ Ecuador: Cotopaxi 20km S La Unión de Toachi [- 0.43°, -78.94°], 1400 m, 11 Jan.[i] 1992, C. Carlton, R. Leschen [leg.] #135, ex: ivory palm flowers” / “SM0080016” / “Holotype Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis , des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ”. In the collection of SEMC.

Paratypes, 27, here designated: same label as holotype and barcode labels SM0080047, SM0080051, SM0080017, SM0080015, SM0080050, SM0080049, SM0080048, SM0080046, SM0080010, SM0080014, SM0080020, SM0080019, SM0080018 SM0080009, SM0080011, SM0080012 (4 ♁, 10 ♀ SEMC; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ UTCI); “ Ecuador: Cotopaxi Prov.: N of San Francisco de las Pampas vic. Rio Esmeraldas [-0.31°, -78.96°], v/14–15/93 [14–15.v.1993]” / “4400–5000 ft [1341–1524 m], L. Herman [leg.] #2706–2708; palm inflorescence” (5 ♁, 6 ♀ AMNH). All paratypes with label: “Paratype Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis , des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ” .

Diagnosis. Photinopygus cotopaxi belongs in the concave pronotum species group. Among species of that group that have pronotum with dense punctation (i.e., with 5–9 organized rows of punctures on each half beside median impunctate line), antennomeres 4–5 longer than wide, and sternite 7 in males without porose structure, P. cotopaxi can be recognized by the following combination of characters: sternite 8 in males with small ( Fig. 87 ) U-shaped emargination posteriorly (margin of emargination appear ‘shaved’ or glabrous), and aedeagus as in Figs. 90–92 with peg setae distributed mainly medially ( Fig. 92 ).

Description. Forebody ( Fig. 86 ) length 5.1–6.3 mm. Color of head, pronotum and mesoscutellum dark brown to black; antennae orange but antennomeres 6–9 slightly darker; legs dark brown to black except protarsi dark orange (in some specimens meso-, metatarsi light brown); elytra metallic blue with green or purple overtones; abdomen dark brown to black except segment 7 (typically posterior 1/2 orange but varies) and segment 8 orange. Antenna ( Fig. 89 ) with antennomere 3 without tomentose pubescence; antennomere 4 with tomentose pubescence; antennomeres 4–5 longer than wide; antennomeres 6–7 subquadrate; antennomeres 8–10 transverse. Head transverse; HW/HL ratio = 1.26–1.60. Posterior margin of head slightly extended posteriad on each side of neck. Head with medium-sized punctures, distance between punctures as wide as 0.5–1 punctures but punctures denser posteriorly. Left mandible with bicuspid tooth. Pronotum ( Fig. 88 ) subquadrate; PW/PL ratio = 0.95–1.06. Lateral margins of pronotum in dorsal view posteriad of midpoint concave; pronotum with 7–8 dense rows of punctures on each half beside median impunctate line; distance between punctures as wide as 1–2 punctures but areas of pronotum without punctures. EL/PL ratio = 1.40–1.60. Elytra with dense punctation; distance between punctures as wide as 0.5–1 punctures. Metepisternum covered with punctures (impunctate area less than 1/3). Abdomen with tergites 3–4 setose; tergites 3–5 with curved carina (arch-like). In males, sternite 7 without porose structure, sternite 7 with shallow and broad emargination posteriorly; sternite 8 with small U-shaped emargination posteriorly ( Fig. 87 ). Aedeagus as in Figs. 90–92 ; in dorsal view paramere converging before expanding to broad rounded apex; paramere shorter and narrower than median lobe; in lateral view paramere slightly expanding near tip; paramere with peg setae as in Fig. 92 . Median lobe in dorsal view converging to narrow pointed tip; in lateral view median lobe becoming narrower near the tip; median lobe without tooth.

Distribution. Known from the Pacific biogeographic dominion. Distributed only in Cotopaxi province in Ecuador. Map is shown in Fig. 93 .

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the name of Cotopaxi province in Ecuador.

Habitat. Collected in mid elevations (1341–1524 m) in ivory palm inflorescence, which might have been ♁ flowers of Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce (C. Carlton pers. communication).

Figures

FIGURE 93. Distribution map of Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis (square), P. cyanelytrius (Perty) (triangles), and P. tepidus (Erichson) (circles).

FIGURES 86–89. Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis. 86. Habitus. 87. Sternites 7–8. 88. Pronotum. 89. Antenna. Not to scale.

FIGURES 90–92. Aedeagus of Photinopygus cotopaxi Chatzimanolis.90. Lateral view. 91. Dorsal view. 92. Detail of paramere, ventral view.