Phausis milleri 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 milleri

description: Phausis milleri Hodson, sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1F331CC7-6AC8-4CAA-9341-3B0C5D8CC01A
(Figs 11; 18A; 22S–U; 24G)
Diagnosis. Male. Phausis milleri differs from congeners by the following characters: pronotum paler than elytra, light brown to castaneus; central pronotal disc reddish-brown (Fig. 18A); antennomeres 9 and 10 are slightly smaller than antennomeres 3 to 8; median lobe position extending forward ventrally with respect to parameres (Fig. 22T).
Species looks similar to Phausis skelleyi except for the following characters: Overall body coloration paler; eyes large and approximate, partially obstructing labium postventrally; clypeus and apices of mandibles not testaceous; antennomere 11 apices rounded instead of ovate; Sensorium subulate not ovate; pronotal hind angles strongly dentate; Central pronotal disc impunctate, becoming rugose basally; anterior vitreous areas (pronotal spots) broadly falcate; Scutellum spatulate; sides subparallel and posterior apex rounded with longitudinal groove; surface shiny and finely punctate; metathorax with posterior apex notched obscurely, medial line present; surface impunctate; Three costae present medially on each elytron; apical fourth of the median lobe is curved more upward (lateral view); Paramere outer lateral margins parallel; and apices of parameres are more acute than in P. skelleyi.
Description. Male (Figs. 18A; 22S–U). Length 6.0 mm. Width 1.8–2.0 mm. Color. Body light brown to brunneous; eyes black; mouthparts brunneous; Apices of last maxillary palpi paler than mouthparts; antennae brown; pronotum paler than elytra, light brown to castaneus; central pronotal disc reddish-brown; scutellum light brown; thorax overall light brown, with margins and upper portions paler; legs yellow-brown (flavus); lateral margins of elytra paler than elytral disc; abdomen brunneous; 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 dense coarse punctures dorsally. Eyes large and approximate, partially obstructing labium postventrally. Mandibles long (more than apices of mandibles crossing frontally), falcate, begins tapering gradually from base; incisor region less than half of total length of mandible; outer margin straight. Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, last palpomere securiform. Labial palps reduced, with two palpomeres.
Antennae filiform, long, extending to posterior end of metathorax. Scape as long as (1.0) pedicel. Pedicel approximately 1/3 the length of antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 as long as antennomeres 4 to 11, except for antennomeres 9 and 10 which are slightly smaller than preceding segments. Antennomere 11 rounded at apex. Flagellomeres feebly compressed, but not as compressed as in Lucidota or Ellychnia; when viewed laterally, flagellomeres are wider than in ventral view. Sensorium present on the distal end of antennomere 11, semi-transparent, small, and subulate.
Pronotum transverse, subelliptical (Fig. 18A); longitudinal median carina present, extending from base to apex of pronotum; all margins reflexed, sides becoming explanate laterally; anterior margin more reflexed than lateral and basal margins; basal margin reflexed, forming a ridge; basal margin undulate; hind angles strongly dentate. Central pronotal disc present, rectangular, shiny, impunctate, becoming rugose basally. Anterior vitreous areas (spots) present, large (less than one wide of spot between them), broadly falcate, coarsely punctate throughout.
Scutellum spatulate; sides subparallel and posterior apex rounded with longitudinal groove; surface shiny and finely punctate (Fig. 18 A).
Elytra well developed; reticulate, becoming obscurely rugose apically. Three costae present medially on each elytron (Fig. 18A); arising from apical fourth of elytra and extending approximately to elytral apices. Longitudinal elevated and transverse lines present; transverse lines somewhat irregular in the interstitial spaces giving elytra a reticulated appearance.
Venter. Thorax elongate and rhomboidal to trapezoidal in shape. Metathorax with posterior apex notched obscurely; medial line present; surface impunctate. Tergal apicolateral angles strongly lobed. Abdominal segments VI and VII not bearing photic organs. Photic organ absent on abdominal segment VIII. Abdominal segment VII and VIII missing or damaged in all specimens examined.
Male Genitalia. Basal piece (dorsal view; Fig. 22S) wider than long, quadrate, segments contiguous (segments touching) and moderately sclerotized (light brown). Median lobe (dorsal view) exceeds tips of parameres, overall elongate and rounded (greater than 45 degrees) at apex; median lobe extending ventrally with respect to parameres (Fig. 22T); sensilla absent; dorsal inner-basal margins truncate; dorsal opening present (Fig. 22S), elliptical, comprising of apical 1/4 of median lobe; longitudinal dorsal carina absent; lateral line absent (lateral view; Fig. 22T); ventral opening absent (Fig. 22U). Parameres (dorsal view; Fig. 22S)) elongate, slender, sub-parallel; inner lateral margins convex; outer lateral margins parallel; apex roundly acute (lateral view; Fig. 22T); 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. This species is named in honor of Dr. Kelly Miller who was the primary author’s undergraduate professor who encouraged her to pursue a career in entomology.
Specimens Examined. Type Material. Holotype (here designated; Figs. 18A; 24G). USA: WISCONSIN: “WI: SAUK Co. Hemlock Draw, T10 N/ R5 E/ Sec.07, June 1921, 1999, Alistair Ramsdale, Flight intercept trap, Mesic Hardwood Forest”, Det. A.M. Hodson 2011, 1 ♂ (MTEC). Paratypes. USA: WISCONSIN: “WI: SAUK Co. Hemlock Draw, T10 N/ R5 E/ Sec.07, June 19–21, 1999, Alistair Ramsdale, Flight intercept trap, Mesic Hardwood Forest”, Det. A.M. Hodson 2011, 1 ♂ (MTEC); same except “WI: SAUK Co. Hemlock Draw, T10 N/ R5 E/ Sec.07, June 19–26, 1999, Alistair Ramsdale, Flight intercept trap, Mesic Hardwood Forest”, Det. A.M. Hodson 2011, 4 ♂ (MTEC); same except WI: SAUK Co. Pine Hollow, T10 N/ R5 E/ Sec. 4, July 7–13, 1999, Alistair Ramsdale, Flight intercept trap, Mesic Hardwood Forest ”, Det. A.M. Hodson 2011, 1 ♂ (MTEC); same except “WI: JACKSON Co. Black River SF, VII/10 /97, 22N/2W/ SWNW5, white pine forest, Coll: Kathryn Kirk, WDNR-ER pitfall ”, Det. A.M. Hodson 2011, 2 ♂ (MTEC).
Distribution. Known to occur within certain regions of Wisconsin, United States of America (Fig. 11).
Phenology. Occurs through middle of June to middle of July.
Remarks. This species is described from two whole specimens, and 7 partial specimens, most of which are only aedeagi in genitalia vials on insect pins. The type series designated here are the only known specimens. The collector Alistair Ramsdale noted that these specimens were close in appearance to Phausis skelleyi and previously labeled them as “ Phausis sp. nr. skelleyi ”.
Variation. None identified.
Biology. Found in mesic hardwood 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 26-28, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11348272