Phthiarella xantha Brailovsky and Barrera, 2025

Phthiarella xantha Brailovsky and Barrera , new species

( Figs. 27‒28)

Diagnosis. Within the “femorata group” only three species have the corium entirely metallic green with bluish or purple reflections: P. femorata (Breddin) , P. durena sp. nov., and P. xantha sp. nov. In P. durena sp. nov. and P. femorata the pronotal disk lacks a wide yellowish orange transverse fascia present in P. xantha sp. nov.

Description. Holotype female. Body length 20.58. Head length 2.70; width across eyes 2.45; interocular distance 1.35; interocellar distance 0.62; preocular distance 1.57; length antennal segments: I, 4.32; II, 4.78; III, 3.60; IV 6.95; pronotum: total length 3.25; width across humeral angles 6.25; scutellum: length 2.60; width 2.70.

Dorsal coloration. Head metallic green with short yellow spot behind each ocelli; antennal segments I–III black with metallic green reflections, IV dull black; pronotum with collar, calli, and anterolateral borders metallic green; anterior lobe with wide yellowish orange transverse fascia not reaching the anterolateral borders; posterior lobe black with bluish reflections; scutellum, clavus and corium black with metallic bluish reflections; hemelytral membrane black with metallic bluish green veins; connexival segments III–VII black with metallic green reflections; dorsal abdominal segments III–V dark orange, VI black and VII–IX black with bluish green reflections at posterior margin. Ventral coloration. Head metallic green with short yellow spot at each side of midline, near collar; rostral segment I metallic green, II metallic green with posterior half dark orange, III dark orange, IV black; pro-, meso-, and metasternum, anterior and posterior lobe of metathoracic peritreme, inner margin of acetabulae, coxae, trochanters, and femora yellow; propleura metallic green with short yellow spot near to anterior margin; meso-, and metapleura, abdominal sterna III–VII and genital plates metallic green.

Structure. Head. Rostrum reaching anterior third of abdominal sternite IV. Thorax. Humeral angles with medium sized acute spine, directed outward.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. From the Latin word “ xantha ”, referring to the yellowish fascia at the anterior pronotal lobe.

Type locality. Ecuador, Province Napo .

Material examined. Type material. HOLOTYPE female, ECUADOR, Province Napo, vic Puerto Misahualli , collected with fish carrion baited butterfly trap, 1650’–1900’ 1°2’4.2’’S- 77°39’49’’W, 6–19–IX–1998, J. E. Eger ( UNAM) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: 2 females, ECUADOR, Province Napo, vic Puerto Misahualli , collected with fish carrion baited butterfly trap, 1650’–1900’ 1°2’4.2’’S- 77°39’49’’W, 6–19–IX–1998, J. E. Eger ( UNAM) GoogleMaps .