A taxonomic review of the genus Psephenops Grouvelle of the Lesser Antilles with description of new species Psephenops trini, and reassignment of Peruvian species Psephenus robacki Spangler (Coleoptera: Psephenidae: Psepheninae)
Author
Barr, Cheryl B.
of Entomology, 1101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg., University of California, Berkeley, CA
Author
Shepard, William D.
of Entomology, 1101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg., University of California, Berkeley, CA
text
Insecta Mundi
2024
2024-04-05
2024
45
1
22
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.11450152
1942-1354
11450152
5C9ECB63-6A77-4FF6-8391-BF0F77BE5674
Psephenops robacki
(
Spangler, 1966
)
,
new combination
Psephenus robacki
Spangler, 1966
(
Fig. 17
)
Type
locality.
PERU
,
Huánuco Region
, Río Rondos near Tingo María.
Type material examined (photographic).
Holotype
female.
Peru
, nr. Tingo / Maria IX-29-55 / Rio Rondos / S. S. Roback //
Psephenus
/ N. SP. / det. PJSpangler //
HOLOTYPE
/
Psephenus
/ robacki / P.J.Spangler [red label] [
Fig. 17e
].
Other material examined
(n = 7).
PERU
:
Madre de Dios
/
Manu
/
July 2005
547 m
/
Rio Salvacion
/
12°50′S
71°21′W
/
F. Montes
&
J. Chavez
//
Psephenops
/ robacki /
W.D.Shepard
(
1♀
,
EMEC
)
;
PERU
:
Cusco Region
/
3.7 km
N Mamabamba
/
13 IX 2013
1844 m
/ unnamed stream / S
13°25.40′ W
70°54.13′ / WDS-A-1925 [on reverse] //
William D.
/
Shepard
, leg. (
3♀
,
EMEC
)
;
PERU
:
Cusco Region
/
10.3 km
NE San Miguel
/
13 IX 2013
921 m
/ unnamed stream / S
13°20.57′ W
70°51.54′ / WDS-A-1926 [on reverse] //
William D.
/
Shepard
, leg. (
1♂
,
1♀
,
EMEC
)
;
PERU
:
Región Cusco
/
Que.
[Quebrada]
Cadena
at
Hwy.
/ 30C
SW Vitobamba
/
−13.3423
,
−70.8584
/
3-VIII-2022
,
C.B.Barr
(
1♂
,
EMEC
)
.
Distribution.
Peru
, South America.
Remarks.
Psephenus robacki
was described by
Spangler (1966)
from
three female
specimens from the Río Rondos near Tingo María,
Peru
(
Huánuco Region
). The
holotype
(
Fig. 17
) and
one paratype
are at the ANSP;
one paratype
is at the USNM.
Spangler (1966)
also described and illustrated a larva,
Psephenus
sp.
larva 1, which was collected in association with adults of the species and assumed to be the larva of
P.robacki
. At the time,
Psephenops
was not yet known from South America, and because the type series is female, tarsal modifications particular to
Psephenops
males are absent. The species rightfully belongs to
Psephenops
rather than
Psephenus
based on the morphology of the
holotype
(
Fig. 17
) and Spangler’s illustrations and description. Differences between females of the two genera include the shape and sculpturing of the pronotum, which in
Psephenops
is more angular laterally and is basally depressed adjacent to a glabrous, shiny median longitudinal carina. We therefore transfer
Psephenus robacki
Spangler
to
Psephenops robacki
(Spangler)
new combination
.
We have collected associated male and female
Psephenops
from one stream in the
Cusco Region
,
Peru
, the females of which agree with the species description and the
holotype
images (
Fig. 17
) of
P.robacki
. At two other nearby sites, and one in the
Madre de Dios Region
, we collected either males or females. Our collection localities are quite far, roughly
700 km
straight line distance, from the type locality. Although we think it likely that our specimens are
P. robacki
, we cannot be certain unless associated males and females are collected from the type locality. Alternatively, in the absence of males, DNA barcoding might link females from the type locality to males from other localities. Currently
P.robacki
is the only species of
Psephenops
known from
Peru
.