Thisiomorphus Pic
Creators: name: Pollock, Darren A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Mycteridae
Thisiomorphus

description: Thisiomorphus Pic
Thisiomorphus Pic 1931: 31; Blackwelder 1945: 493; Pollock 2010: 693; Ivie & Pollock 2012: 10. Type species. Thisiomorphus latus Pic, by monotypy.
Original description (translated from Pic 1931: 31 by the author): “ Thisiomorphus n. gen. (fam. Lacconotinae). This genus, near Thisias Chp., which can be distinguished at first glance by the structure of the prothorax and the pygidium protruding posterior of the elytra, presents the following principal characters: fore coxae approximate and median coxae with trochantin, legs robust, tarsal claws appendiculate; antennae short and slender, with club of four articles; prothorax short and transverse, with weak lateral bead, vanishing anteriorly, and posteriorly bordered; body robust, very slightly pubescent; pygidium prominent. – This genus is established for the following new species.”
Redescription of genus. Body subparallel-sided, elongate oval or broadly oval (TL/GEW 2.02–3.05), flattened to slightly convex dorsally. Pubescence short, inconspicuous (most pronounced in T. osaensis). TL 4.12– 7.90 mm; GEW 1.52–3.52 mm.
Head relatively short, slightly to moderately narrowed posterior of eyes; distance between posterior extent of eye and anterior margin of pronotum much less than length of one eye; eyes moderately large, hemispherical in some species, finely faceted, without intrafacetal setae; frontoclypeal suture not indicated; frontal furrows present, of variable length and depth, parallel or slightly convergent anteriorly; frons slightly elevated over very slightly concealed antennal insertions; labrum distinctly transverse, anterior margin slightly convex to slightly concave.
1. It is doubtful that all species of Loboglossa described by Pic and Champion are congeneric with L. variipennis Solier, the type of the genus
Antennae relatively short, extending posteriorly to near midlength of pronotum (in T. curticornis n. sp. slightly past anterior margin), not exhibiting obvious sexual dimorphism; scape and pedicel short, submoniliform; antennomeres 4–10 variable, from submoniliform (e.g. T. osaensis, T. curticornis) to filiform, some species with vaguely indicated, subserrate distal club of 4 antennomeres; sensilla obvious on distal surfaces of antennomeres 5– 10 in some species (e.g. T. davidsoni).
Mandibles relatively short, slightly asymmetrical, apically shallowly bidentate; inner, terebral teeth absent, represented by indentations or crenulations, especially on right mandible; left and right mandibular molae subequal in size, approximately subquadrate; prostheca distinct on both mandibles, nearly half the length of mandible; maxillae with inner lacinia slightly shorter than outer galea, both bluntly rounded and densely setose; maxillae with palpomeres elongate, 3-segmented, terminal palpomere variously securiform to slightly cultriform; mentum relatively short, labial palpi with terminal palpomere fusiform.
Prothorax subquadrate to distinctly transverse (GPW/PL 1.14–1.73); lateral pronotal margins parallel-sided (e.g. T. solisi), convergent anteriorly (e.g. T. convergens), to evenly arcuate (e.g. T. brasiliensis); pronotal disc indistinctly to distinctly convex, with (e.g. T. brasiliensis) or without broad, paired depressions; lateral carina absent, or at most vaguely impressed, posteriorly only; posterior margin of pronotum with distinct, relatively narrow but deep groove, ending laterally in slightly widened pits; prosternum anterad procoxae relatively short, intercoxal process narrow, elongate, extending to at least one-half length of procoxae, not broadened distally; procoxae rounded to slightly elongate; cavities broadly open, protrochantins concealed.
Mesothorax. Elytra moderately ovate, ovate-elongate, to distinctly elongate; disc flat to moderately convex, upper surface evenly punctate/setose, setae mostly decumbent, but with a few scattered, erect setae; apical elytral patch present, conspicuous or inconspicuous dorsally (in intact specimens); each epipleuron narrow through most of its length, but distinct to very nearly the elytral apex; mesosternum with posterior intercoxal process elongate, subparallel-sided, extended posteriorly to past one-half length of mesocoxae; mesocoxae completely separated, trochantins exposed; coxal cavities partially closed laterally by inner margin of mesepimera.
Metathorax. Metasternum large, convex, with distinct discrimen; intercoxal process distinct, in contact with, or slightly overlapping mesosternal process; metendosternite with relatively wide stalk; anterior tendons attached to anterior surface of metendosternite body; laminae (lateral extensions) relatively short, rounded to somewhat angulate.
Wing fully developed, with wing membrane beyond closed radial cell moderately short; wing lightly to moderately darkly pigmented; 3 MP veins reaching hind wing margin, proximal to CuA + AA; pigmented flecks present, near junction of RP and MP, and near radial cell.
Legs well developed, similar in relative size and shape on all thoracic segments; legs relatively slender, femora slightly deepened at midlength; tibiae straight, subequal in length to femora; tibial spurs very short, inconspicuous; tarsi 5-5-4, simple ventrally except penultimate tarsomere distinctly broadened; tarsal claws with large, blunt basal tooth.
Abdomen with all ventrites freely articulated, uniformly punctate and setose; male sex patch present on second ventrite, consisting of relatively small, longitudinally ovate patch of thickened, posteriorly directed setae.
Male genitalia (Figs 13–20) relatively short, stocky, median lobe oriented dorsad tegmen; sternite 9 forming ring-like sclerite; tegmen of two distinct parts; basale broad, deeply emarginate proximally; apicale divided into two separate parameres, shorter than basale (along lateral margin); inner margins of parameres relatively straight or slightly emarginate/sinuate distally, apices distinctly hooked medially; penis relatively stout, distinctly longer than tegmen; ventral surface emarginate; dorsal side subquadrate basally, sides somewhat explanate or “flanged”; apex of penis bluntly triangular to slightly bulbose.
Female genitalia with relatively short, lightly sclerotized ovipositor; coxites short, multi-segmented, with short setae; distal segment darker, more sclerotized than remainder of coxite; valviferal and proctigeral baculi well developed; coxital baculi present, situated distinctly distad ovipositor midlength; spiculum distinct, long, exceeding length of segment 8; bursa copulatrix small to moderately large, separated from vagina by narrow constriction.
Natural history. No biocontextual information has been published for any species of Thisiomorphus; this is not surprising, as there was only one previously described species, based on a single specimen. The only data available have been gleaned from specimen labels, and even that is rather scant, regarding natural history of adult Thisiomorphus. For several species (T. osaensis, T. inaequalis, and T. caeruleus) the only relevant data indicate capture in a Malaise trap. Specimens of T. solisi have been captured in both Malaise and flight intercept traps. The greatest detail in relevant natural history data is in that of T. festivus. In addition to being collected by Malaise trap, and in primary and secondary forest, there are three associations with plants. There is a generic “palm” association on one of the specimen labels; two other species are also indicated: Astrocaryum alatum Loomis (underside of leaf) and Raphia taedigera (Mart.) Mart. (on frond). Both species are members of the palm family (Arecaceae), and, although there are only two records, they may indicate an association of T. festivus with palms. Immature stages of Thisiomorphus remain unknown; however, based on known larvae of other genera of Eurypinae, it seems likely that larvae are subcortical inhabitants of dead trees or within dead vegetation (see Pollock 1995; Pollock et al. 2000).
description: Published as part of Pollock, Darren A., 2016, Revision of Thisiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Eurypinae) with descriptions of eleven new species from Central and South America and a key to genera of Neotropical Eurypinae, pp. 301-322 in Zootaxa 4093 (3) on pages 303-304, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4093.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/264106