Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis, 2023

Chatzimanolis, Stylianos, 2023, A revision of the genus Photinopygus Chatzimanolis (Staphylinidae: Xanthopygina), Zootaxa 5292 (1), pp. 1-100 : 19-22

Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis , new species

( Figs. 31–39 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:612B9806-735C-43A6-8FD3-F916E576B2FF

Type material. Holotype, here designated, male, with labels: “ Ecuador: Sucumbios [Napo; Sacha Lodge is not in Sucumbios]: Sacha Lodge , 270 m, 0°28’14’’S, 76°27’35’’W [-0.471°, -76.459°], 21–24.MAR[iii].1999, R. Brooks [leg.] ECU1B99 047, ex: flight intercept trap ” / “SM0153260” / “Holotype Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis , des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ”. In the collection of SEMC.

Paratypes, 32, here designated: same as the holotype, except SM0153256, SM0153257 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ SEMC) ; “ Colombia: Putumayo, PNN La Paya, La Nueva Paya , 0°2’S, 75°12’W [-0.033°, -75.200°], 230 m, 31.i.–3.ii.2003, malaise, C. Sarmiento leg. M3422” / “SM0650629” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; “ Colombia: Putumayo, PNN La Paya, Cabaña La Nueva , 0°2’S, 75°12’W [-0.033°, -75.200°], 330 m, 5–25.xii.2001, malaise, E. Lozano leg. M2797” / “SM0549130” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; as above except 24–25.ix.2001, SM0549117 (1 ♀ SEMC) ; “ Colombia: Caquetá, PNN Serrania de Chiribiquete Cuñare-Amú , bos. tiera firme, 0°13’N, 72°25’W [0.217°, -75.417°], 300 m, 19–22.ii.2001, malaise, M. Ospina & E. González leg., M1389” / “SM0549135” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; “ Ecuador: Orellana Prov. Yasuni NP via Maxus at Queb. , Pirana bridge, malaise 2, 0°39.5’S, 76°26’W [-0.66°, -76.26°], 14–24.vii.2008, A. Tishechkin [leg.]” (1 ♁ ZMUN) ; “ Ecuador: Orellana Prov. Tiputini Biological Station [-0.64°, -76.15°], 29.vii.–3.viii.2008, FIT #28, A. Tishechkin coll. [leg.]” (1 ♁, 1 ♀ ZMUN) ; as above except 10–24.vii.2008 (1 ♁ ZMUN) ; “ Ecuador: Napo [Sucumbios], Limoncocha [-0.40°, -76.60°], 250 m, 15–28.vi.1976, S. & J. Peck [leg.]. (1 ♀ CNC); above except 9–16.iii.1976, J.M. Campbell [leg.] (1 ♀ CNC); “ Ecuador: Napo, Yasuni Nat. Parl Biol. Res. Station , 0.69°S, 76.39°W [-0.690°, -76.390°], 18–26.v.1996, MT [malaise trap], primary forest, P. Hibbs [leg.] (1 ♀ CNC) ; as above, except 18–22.v.1996, SM0164288 (1 ♁ SEMC) ; “ Ecuador, Napo, Yuturi Lodge, Rio Napo, 0°32’54’’S, 76°2’18’’W [-0.548°, -76.038°], 270 m, 20–21.MAR[iii].1999, R. Brooks, D. Brzoska [leg.], ECU1B99 010, ex: flight intercept trap ” / “SM0153456” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; “41695” / “ Buchley ” / “Equador [ Ecuador]” / “Fry Coll. 1905 100” / “Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection ” / “FMNHINS3975592” (1 ♁ FMNH); “ Guyana: Region 8, Iwokrama Forest, 26 km SW Kurupukari, Iwokrama Mt. base camp, 4°20’17’’N, 58°48’38’’W [4.338°, -58.811°], 300 m, 23–25 May 2001 [23–25.v.2001], R. Brooks, Z. Falin [leg.] GUY1BF01 031, ex: flight intercept trap ” / “SM0253183” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; as above, SM0253184 (1 ♀ SEMC) ; “ Peru: Dept. Loreto, 1.5 km N. Teniente Lopez , 2°35.66’S, 76°06.92’W [-2.594°, -76.115°], 22 July 1993 [22.vii.1993], 210–240 m, Richard Leschen [leg.] #164, ex: flight intercept trap ” / “SM0079977” (1 ♁ SEMC) ; as above except 24.vii.1993, SM0079981, SM0079978, SM0079979, SM0079988, SM0079987 (2 ♁, 3 ♀ SEMC) ; as above except 18.vii.1993, SM0079980, SM0079982, SM0079985, SM0079986, SM0079989 (1 ♁, 1 ♀ UTCI; 3 ♀ SEMC) ; as above except 19.vii.1993, SM0079983 (1 ♀ SEMC) ; “ Peru: Loreto Dept., left river bank of Amazon Itaya R., 4°14.972’S, 73°28.277’W [-4.249°, -73.471°], 125 m, 11.i.2011, A. Petrov Coll. [leg.] (1 ♁, 1 ♀ ZMUN). All paratypes with label: “Paratype Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis , des. Chatzimanolis 2022 ”.

Diagnosis. Photinopygus assingi belongs in the narrow pronotum species group. Among species of that group that have pronotum with sparse punctation (i.e., with 2–5 loosely organized rows of punctures on each half beside median impunctate line), and antennomeres 4–5 longer than wide, P. assingi can be recognized by the following combination of characters: tip of paramere in dorsal view rounded ( Fig. 36 ), median lobe in dorsal (slightly oblique; Fig. 38 ) view converging to hook-like structure, tip of hook-like structure with two well-separated apical peaks, and median lobe in lateral view with two small lateral teeth.

Description. Forebody ( Fig. 31 ) length 4.8–5.6 mm. Color of head, pronotum and mesoscutellum dark brown to black; antennomeres 1–3, 11 dark orange; antennomeres 4–10 dark brown to black (some specimens with antennae dark orange); leg coloration varies, typically pro- and mesolegs dark orange, and hind legs dark brown to black but legs in some specimens uniformly dark brown to black; elytra metallic blue with green or purple overtones; abdomen dark brown to black except segments 7–8 (orange). Antenna ( Fig. 34 ) 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 = 1.42–1.50. Posterior margin of head slightly extended posteriad on each side of neck. Head with sparse medium-sized punctures, distance between punctures as wide as 1–2.5 punctures but punctures denser posteriorly. Left mandible with bicuspid tooth. Pronotum ( Fig. 33 ) subquadrate; PW/PL ratio = 1.06–1.07. Lateral margins of pronotum in dorsal view posteriad of midpoint strongly converging; pronotum with 3–4 sparse 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 = 1.40–1.47. 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 V-shaped emargination posteriorly ( Fig. 32 ). Aedeagus as in Figs. 35–38 ; in dorsal view paramere almost parallel-sided with broad rounded apex; paramere as long and as wide as median lobe; in lateral view paramere becoming narrower near tip; paramere with peg setae in lateral rows as in Fig. 37 . Median lobe in dorsal (slightly oblique; Fig. 38 ) view converging to hook-like structure, tip of hook-like structure with two well-separated apical peaks; in lateral view hook-like structure with two small lateral teeth.

Distribution. Known from the Boreal Brazilian biogeographic dominion. Distributed in departments of Caquetá and Putumayo in Colombia; the provinces of Orellana and Napo in Ecuador, from Guyana, and the department of Loreto in Peru. Map is shown in Fig. 39

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honor of Volker Assing for his tremendous work on rove beetle taxonomy.

Habitat. Collected at lowland elevations (125–330 m) using flight intercept and malaise traps.

Figures

FIGURE 39. Distribution map of Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis (stars), P. chapareanus (Scheerpeltz) (triangles), P. faustus (Erichson) (circles), and P. koptopeos Chatzimanolis (squares).

FIGURES 31–34. Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis. 31. Habitus. 32. Sternites 7–8. 33. Pronotum. 34. Antenna. Not to scale.

FIGURES 35–38. Aedeagus of Photinopygus assingi Chatzimanolis. 35. Lateral view. 36. Dorsal view. 37. Detail of paramere, ventral view. 38. Detail of the tip of median lobe, oblique view.