Phausis branhami Hodson & Branham 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Hodson, Alicia M.
name: Branham, Marc A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Lampyridae
Phausis
Phausis branhami

description: Phausis branhami Hodson, sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 10D0921E-8B26-4AA2-AA1F-1073C2816C7B
(Figs 4; 17A; 22A–C; 24A)
Diagnosis. Male. Phausis branhami can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: flagellomeres not feebly compressed (approximately the same width in lateral view as in ventral view); pronotal basal margin concave (Fig. 17A); trochanters paler than other leg segments; median lobe (dorsal view) slender in shape (Fig. 22A).
Phausis branhami looks similar to Phausis inaccensa but can be distinguished by the following characters: pronotum is broadly transverse, except more subrhombus in shape than in P. inaccensa; anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) triangular with rounded edges in shape (Fig. 17A); basal piece is c-shaped, with segments divergent (widely separated); median lobe is slender; ventral opening present, comprising of the apical 1/4 of the median lobe (Fig. 22C) instead of the apical 1/2 as in P. inaccensa.
Description. Male (Figs.17A; 22A–C). Length 5.5–6.5 mm. Width 1.8–2.5 mm. Color. Body light brown; eyes black; mouthparts (excluding mandibles) light brown; mandibles light brown, with apices amber; antennae light brown; central pronotal disc brunneous to light brown; scutellum light brown; thorax overall light brown; coxae, femora, tibiae, and tarsi light brown; trochanters paler than other leg segments; lateral margins of elytra paler than elytral disc; abdomen brown; photic organs absent on abdominal segments VI, VII and VIII; pubescence brunneous. Anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) present.
Head large and transverse (frontal view); vertex longitudinally concave with fine, dense punctures dorsally. Eyes large and approximate, partially obstructing labium postventrally. Mandibles long to normal (apices or more than apices of mandibles crossing frontally), falcate, robust basally, begins tapering at half the total length of mandible into slender point; incisor region short (less than half of total length of mandible); outer margin convex versus straight as in other taxa (P. marina, P. nigra, P. skelleyi, and P. milleri); basal angle approximately 90 degrees dorsally. Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, last palpomere securiform. Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres.
Antennae filiform (Fig. 17A), long, extending to posterior end of metathorax. Scape 1.5× longer than pedicel. Pedicel approximately 1/3 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 slightly longer than antennomeres 4 to 11. Antennomeres 4 to 11 approximately same size and length, becoming narrower towards last antennomere. Antennomere 11 ovate at apex. Flagellomeres not compressed; when viewed laterally, flagellomeres as wide as in ventral view. Sensorium present on the distal end of antennomere 11, semi-transparent, small, and subulate.
Pronotum transverse (Fig. 17A), sub-rhombus; longitudinal median carina present, extending from base to apex of pronotum; all margins reflexed, sides more reflexed, less so apically, becoming explanate toward the hind angles, with basal margin slightly reflexed; basal margin concave; hind angles dentate. Central pronotal disc present; rectangular with rounded edges, surface shiny and impunctate. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) present, large (less than one width of spot between them), triangular with rounded edges, punctate around outer margins.
Scutellum spatulate (Fig. 17A); sides sinuate and posterior apex roundly truncated; surface dull and finely punctate.
Elytra well developed (Fig. 17A); finely punctate and rugose throughout. Elytral costa absent on each elytron. Longitudinal elevated lines, present, sometimes confused with costae.
Venter. Thorax elongate and broadly spatulate. Metathorax with posterior apex weakly notched; medial line present; surface shiny and finely sparsely punctate. Tergal apicolateral angles strongly lobed. Photic organs absent on abdominal segments VI, VII and VIII. Abdominal segment VII elongate (longer than wide), apical margin emarginated. Abdominal segment VIII missing in all specimens examined.
Male Genitalia (Fig. 22A–C). Basal piece (dorsal view) wider than long, c-shaped, segments widely separated (Fig. 22A), moderately sclerotized (light brown). Median lobe (dorsal view) exceeds tips of parameres, overall slender, acutely rounded (less than 45 degrees) at apex; parallel to parameres (Fig. 22B); sensilla absent; dorsal inner-basal margins cordate; dorsal opening absent; longitudinal dorsal carina present (Fig. 22A); lateral line absent (lateral view); ventral opening present (Fig. 22C), elliptical, consisting of the apical fourth medial lobe. Parameres (dorsal view) elongate, slender, sub-parallel (Fig. 22A); inner lateral margins convex; outer lateral margins parallel; apex rounded (lateral view; Fig. 22B); proximal flanges (extensions of parameres that curve or extend outward from inner margin) absent (dorsal view). Sensilla absent.
Female. Unknown.
Larva. Unknown.
Eggs. Unknown.
Etymology. The species is named in honor of Dr. Marc Branham whose guidance and passion for fireflies aided this revision.
Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype (here designated; Figs. 17A; 24A): “ USA: WISCONSIN: SAUK Co., Hemlock Draw, Mesic Hardwood Forest, 43° 21’07’’N 89° 57’08” W, 1–10.VII.2000, Coll. Alistair Ramsdale, Det. A.M. Hodson,” 1 ♂ (MTEC). Paratypes. “ USA: WISCONSIN: SAUK Co., Hemlock Draw, Mesic Hardwood Forest, 10N 5 E Sec 7, 19.26. VI.1999, Coll. Alistair Ramsdale, Det. A.M. Hodson,” 2 ♂ (MTEC); same except “ Hemlock Draw, Mesic Hardwood Forest, 10N 5 E Sec 7, 19–21.VI.1999, Coll. Alistair Ramsdale, Det. Det. A.M. Hodson,” 2 ♂ (MTEC); same except “ Hemlock Draw, Mesic Hardwood Forest, 10N 5 E Sec 7, 25.VI to 3.VII.1999, Coll. Alistair Ramsdale, Det. A.M. Hodson,” 3 ♂ (MTEC); “JACKSON Co., Black River SE, white pine forest, WDNR-ER, 22N 2 W Sec 5, 10.VII.1997, Coll. Kathryn Kirk, Det. A.M. Hodson ” 2 ♂ (MTEC).
Distribution. Only known to occur within certain localities of Wisconsin, United States of America (Fig. 4).
Phenology. Occurs between the middle of June to early July.
Remarks. The type series was described from 7 whole specimens and three partial specimens, most of which are only aedeagi in genitalia vials on insect pins. The collector Alistair Ramsdale noted that these specimens were close in appearance to Phausis inaccensa and previously labeled them as “ Phausis sp. nr. inaccensa ”.
Variation. None identified.
Biology. Found in mesic hardwood or white pine forests.
description: Published as part of Hodson, Alicia M. & Branham, Marc A., 2024, Revision and Phylogeny of the Genus Phausis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) with the Description of Three New Species, pp. 1-52 in Zootaxa 5458 (1) on pages 11-13, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11348272