Hemipeplus belizensis KC & Pollock, 2025

Hemipeplus belizensis KC & Pollock , sp. nov.

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(Figs 17, 61)

Type Material. Holotype, male, labeled: ‘ BELIZE: Cayo; Las Cuevas Research Station ; 550m 16°43.99N, 88°59.20W V/20-21/2000 M. Caterino / BMNH {E} 2000- 124 M. Caterino / [green label] ♂ / [red label] GoogleMaps HOLOTYPE ♂ Hemipeplus belizensis KC & Pollock’, in BMNH. Three paratypes: 2 specimens, 1 female, 1 sex unknown, same label as in holotype, in BMNH; 1 specimen, male [without head and prothorax], labeled: ‘ GUATE PETEN 5km S. Santa Elena, 200-300m; beating; 16°52.350’N 89°49.899’W 20-25.vi.2012., E. Fuller 12-18’, in FSCA GoogleMaps .

Derivation of Specific Epithet. The specific name (adjective in the nominative case, in gender agreement with substantive) is given in allusion to the type locality of the holotype, i.e., Belize .

Diagnosis. Hemipeplus belizensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by its large eyes, short temples, and dark, rufopiceous body with coarse dorsal texture. Hemipeplus belizensis sp. nov. has the following diagnostic features: temples present, short and rounded; scape elongate (about as long as antennomeres II+III); eyes large (as long as scape + pedicel), moderately wide and moderately convex; pronotum subcordiform without distinct anterior emargination, anterior half widened, lateral margins sinuate; anterolateral angles moderately produced, rounded; pronotal pad distinct; posterolateral angles obtuse, rounded; pronotal lobe indistinct without noticeable median notch; body slender and elongate; elytra more or less flat; color dull, dark rufopiceous; distribution: Belize, Guatemala.

Description. Measurements (in mm)—GHW: 0.70–0.73; HL: 0.66; AL: 1.16–1.18; GPW: 0.70–0.76; PL: 0.66–0.70; GEW: 0.96–1.00; EL: 3.50–3.72; TL: 4.82–4.88.

Head (Fig. 17B) wide, (GHW/HL: 1.06–1.10); eyes large (as long as scape + pedicel), moderately wide and moderately convex; temples short and rounded; occiput with slight raised areas; antennae shorter than head and pronotum length combined; antennal scape elongate (about as long as antennomeres II+III); pedicel small, submoniliform; antennomeres III–V more elongate and apically dilated; VI–X subtriangular, gradually increasing in size; XI subpyriform with apex narrowed; lateral mandibular tooth absent. Pronotum (Fig. 17B) wide (GPW/ PL: 1.06–1.09); anterior margin without noticeable emargination; anterolateral angles rounded, slightly produced; lateral margins sinuate; posterior half contracted; posterolateral angles obtuse and rounded; pronotal lobe slight without prominent median notch; pronotal pad (Fig. 17C) present; pronotal pits shallow without noticeable grooves. Scutellar shield subhexagonal, transverse, less than twice as wide as long. Elytra (Fig. 17A) elongate (EL/GEW: 3.65–3.72), more or less flat; vestiture short and dense; apical patch long and piceous, appears faint in piceous elytra. Ventral surface. Prosternal process short, not extending to the posterior of procoxae; hypomeral edges broadly separated; mesosternal process narrow and linear. Color unevenly rufopiceous, dull; ventrally rufopiceous with paler palpi, glossal sclerite, and galea; legs rufotestaceous.

FIGURE 17. Hemipeplus belizensis sp. nov. ( Holotype).A.Dorsal habitus(with scale bar);B. Dorsal head and prothorax; C. Lateral view of head and prothorax; D. Male genitalia dorsal view with spiculum gastrale (apices of parameres and penis broken); E. Tegmen dorsal view (with scale bar); F. Tegmen lateral view with one paramere removed.

Male Genitalia (Figs 17D–F). (Tegmen length = 0.40 mm (n = 2)) Lobe of basale short and blunt, slender to very thin; shoulders almost straight and obtusely angled; apicale and basale with distinct suture; parameres slightly depressed near the bases and slightly arcuate apically; apices of parameres sharp and pointed; penis subequal to tegmen.

Remarks. Hemipeplus belizensis sp. nov. occurs sympatrically with H. anishae sp. nov. in Belize.

Geographical Distribution (Fig. 61). Belize, Guatemala.

FIGURE 18. Hemipeplus longiscapus Pollock, 1999 ( Holotype). A. Dorsal habitus; B. Dorsal head and prothorax; C. Lateral view of head and prothorax. Image Credit. NMNH/Lourdes Chamorro.