Operclipygus impressifrons, Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013

Caterino, Michael S. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2013, A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini), ZooKeys 271, pp. 1-401 : 106-107

Operclipygus impressifrons sp. n. Figs 28 E–F 29D, FMap 9

Type locality.

ECUADOR: Orellana: Yasuní Research Station [0°40.5'S, 76°24'W].

Type material.

Holotype male: "Ecuador: Napo, mid.Rio Tiputini, Yasuní Res. Stn. 0°40.5'S, 76°24'W, FIT#4. 5-14 July 1999. AKT#073 A.Tishechkin" / "LSAM 0013194" / " Operclipygus sp. #8, Hist 130 Yasuní NP Inventory, A.K.Tishechkin det. 2010" (FMNH). Paratypes (14): 8: same locality as type, differences as noted: 1: 28. vi– 7.vii.1999 (LSAM), 1: 25-30.vii.1999 (FMNH), 1: 23-30.vi.1999 (MSCC), 1: 25. vii– 4.viii.1999 (AKTC), 1: 28. vi– 5.vii.1999 (LSAM), 1: 5-11.vii.1999 (LSAM), 2: 215m, 5-10.ix.1999, E.G. Riley (TAMU); 1: Tiputini Biodiversity Station, 0.6376°S, 76.1499°W, 4-9.vi.2011, FIT, M.S. Caterino & A.K. Tishechkin, DNA Extract MSC-2173 (SBMNH), 3: 2-9.vi.2011 (USFQ, CHND); 1: Payamino Research Station, 0°29'36.01"S, 77°17'29.15"W, 300m, 30. vii– 12.viii.2007, Malaise trap, tropical rainforest, CPDT Gillett (BMNH); Sucumbíos: 1: Sacha Lodge, 0°28'14"S, 76°27'35"W, 270m, 21-24.iii.1999, FIT, R. Brooks (SEMC).

Other material.

COLOMBIA: Vaupés: 1: Est. Biol. Caparú, Rio Apoporis, 1.1°S, 69.5°W, 27. ix– 1.xii.1995, FIT, Black-water terrace forest on sandy soils, B.D. Gill (BDGC); 7: Parque Nac. Mosiro-Itajura ( Caparú), Centro Ambiental, 1°04'S, 69°31'W, 60m, 20-30.i.2003, FIT, D. Arias & M. Sharkey (MSCC, AKTC, IAVH). PERU: Cusco: 1: Cock of the Rock Lodge, NE Paucartambo, 13°3.3'S, 71°32.7'W, 1120m, 4-9.xi.2007, FIT, D. Brzoska (SEMC); Junín: 1: ~16km NW Satipo, Rio Venado, 11°11.677'S, 74°46.137'W, 1150m, 3-8.iii.2010, A.V. Petrov (MUSM); Loreto: 1: 1.5km N Teniente Lopez, 2°35.66'S, 76°6.92'W, 210-240m, 18.vii.1993, FIT, R. Leschen (SEMC).

Diagnostic description.

This species is very similar to Operclipygus angulifer , differing in the following characters: length: 2.25-2.50 mm, width: 1.87-2.06 mm; frons less deeply depressed at middle, frontal stria usually interrupted on each side, isolating central portion; pronotum with prescutellar impression slightly larger than scutellum; lateral submarginal pronotal stria frequently interrupted along side, present at base and apex; elytra with 4th dorsal stria abruptly angled inward at base toward, rarely connected with, base of sutural stria; mesoventrite with marginal stria complete; mesometaventral stria usually more or less continuous with lateral metaventral stria, the latter never extending inward to near the midline; propygidium with larger punctures extending to sides, ground punctation not conspicuous; coarser punctures of pygidium larger and more numerous; marginal pygidial stria fine, restricted to apical half of pygidial margin or less. Male genitalia (Figs 29D, E) extremely similar to those of Operclipygus angulifer , but with S9 slightly narrower, and with the tegmen more nearly parallel-sided throughout its length.

Remarks.

This species can best be distinguished from the preceding by its less deeply impressed frons (Fig. 28E), its basally weak or obsolete outer subhumeral stria, and the basal arch between the 4th dorsal elytral stria and the suture. There is considerable variation in several characters, such as the completeness of the lateral submarginal pronotal stria, and in the length of the 5th elytral stria. While all populations share the typical characters of the species, we restrict the type series to specimens from the Napo region of Ecuador.

Etymology.

This species’ name refers to its impressed frons.