Systematic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Peruvian species of the genus Psectrascelis Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Nycteliini)

Giraldo-Mendoza A.E.; Flores G.E.; Predel R.; Zúñiga-Reinoso Á. · Zoologischer Anzeiger (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2025.10.011

Resumen

The Peruvian species of Psectrascelis Solier, 1836 (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini) are revised and a phylogenetic analysis is conducted on the basis of characters of external morphology plus the male and female genitalia. Also, based on a barcode region of the COI gene, the genetic distance of some species collected specifically for this study is calculated. Based on morphology, Peruvian species of Psectrascelis form a monophyletic group named here laevigata group and constitute a well-characterized species-group inside the genus. This group comprises 11 species/subspecies, out of which six are described as new: Psectrascelis sacratus Giraldo & Flores sp. nov., Psectrascelis claudiavelizae Giraldo & Flores sp. nov., Psectrascelis laevigata huayruro Giraldo & Flores ssp. nov., Psectrascelis yanatulti Giraldo & Flores sp. nov., Psectrascelis chankas Giraldo & Flores sp. nov., and Psectrascelis altiplanicus Giraldo & Flores sp. nov. Other valid species of the group are: Psectrascelis politicollis Fairmaire, 1876, P. laevigata (Erichson, 1834), Psectrascelis marginipennis Kulzer, 1954, Psectrascelis subplanata Peña, 1994, and Psectrascelis rufipes Kulzer, 1954 stat. n. Psectrascelis escobari Peña, 1985 is synonymized under P. laevigata (Erichson, 1834), P. laevigata rufipes Kulzer, 1954 is raised to species status and a neotype is designated for Nyctelia laevigata Erichson, 1834. Psectrascelis aequalis Fairmaire, 1876 and Psectrascelis intricaticollis Fairmaire, 1876 are excluded from the Peruvian fauna. This article includes morphological descriptions or redescriptions of each of the 11 species/subspecies including features of male genitalia, complemented by an identification key and distribution maps. The external morphology and male/female genitalia are discussed to propose characters that may be informative for phylogenetic analysis. Also based on the distributional patterns a biogeographical scenario is suggested.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina