Charisius subalatus (Champion) Campbell, J. M., 2014

Campbell, J. M., 2014, New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae), ZooKeys 415, pp. 269-293 : 278-280

6. Charisius subalatus (Champion) comb. n. Figs 8, 18, 22, 26

Narses subalatus Champion (1888: 424, pl. 19, Figs 15, 16a, 16b).

Description.

Uniformly reddish-brown; without elytral markings (Fig. 8). Length 7.6-8.7 mm.

Head coarsely, densely, evenly punctate on vertex; punctures separated by average distance less than diameter of a puncture. Eyes moderate in size, widely separated dorsally; mean OI of 9 specimens 45.2 (range 42-48). Pronotum slightly wider than long, average PI of 9 specimens 90.5 (range 87-96); with surface very finely granulate, opaque; finely, shallowly, sparsely punctate, punctures separated by average distance at least two times diameter of a puncture; punctures evenly distributed over most of disc except becoming nearly impunctate near sides; sides distinctly curved, widest across middle; with midline shallowly impressed in basal half. Prosternum and hypomeron with a few widely scattered, moderately coarse punctures; postcoxal extension of sides of pronotum with a few coarse, moderately shallow impressions. Metaventrite (Fig. 18) short, length between meso- and metacoxae shorter than length of mesocoxal cavity; moderately coarsely, densely, contiguously punctate medially in males, punctures becoming coarser and sparser approaching sides; coarsely punctate medially in female with punctures distinctly separated, punctures becoming coarser approaching sides. Ventrites finely, moderately sparsely punctate. Elytra 3.1-3.3 times longer than pronotum; striae shallowly, evenly impressed throughout (in specimens from Miramundo, Guatemala and El Salvador striae completely unimpressed between punctures); strial punctures coarse, narrowly separated along striae; intervals flat. Wings reduced, distinctly shorter than elytra; flightless.

Male. Anterior femora with patch of fine, dense pubescence on middle of ventral margin. Anterior tibiae slightly widened near middle on inner margin. Fifth ventrite unimpressed medially. Eighth sternal lobes (Fig. 22) broad, only slightly curved medially and distinctly curved ventrally near apices; apices of lobes narrowly rounded; viewed laterally, apices of lobes distinctly deflexed. Lobes of ninth sternum short, broad, with apices almost truncate. Aedeagus with apicale (Fig. 26) moderately narrow, with sides converging from base to near apex and distinctly constricted just before apex; apex narrowly rounded; viewed laterally, apicale slightly curved dorsally with apex very narrowly rounded; basale 2.8 to 2.9 times longer than apicale.

Female. Elytra with sutural margin and apex entire.

Type.

Not designated. The species was described by Champion from Totonicapán, 8,500-10,500 feet and the Quiché Mountains, 8,000 ft, both in Guatemala. The type series is in the BMNH.

Distribution and records.

The following records extend the known range of this species from Chiapas in southern Mexico to El Salvador.

EL SALVADOR: Chalatenango; El Pital, 13.1 km N San Ignacio, 2650 m, 28.VIII.1994, R Anderson (CMNC) 1.

GUATEMALA: Jalapa: Miramundo, 8400 ft, 3.VII.1986, JMC (CNCI, JMCC) 3. Quetzaltenango: Balneario Georginas, 1920-2460 m, 19.VI.1993, F. Genier (CMNC) 2. San Marcos: Volcán Tacaná, SE slope, Rancho San Antonio, 9,000 ft, 27-28.VII.1972, GE Ball (CNCI) 1.

Remarks.

Charisius subalatus and Charisius apterus are the only known flightless species of the genus. Adults of Charisius subalatus may be easily distinguished from those of Charisius apterus by the lack of markings on the elytra, by the much finer and sparser punctation of the head and pronotum, and by the lack of emarginations on the suture and apex of the female elytra. The close similarity of the male terminalia of Charisius subalatus , particularly with the species of the fasciatus group, provides additional confirmation for placing this genus in synonymy with the genus Charisius .

This species is known only from high elevations. It has been collected from bromeliads, from a Berlese sample of leaf litter in a cloud forest, and by beating herbaceous vegetation along the edge of a forest.