Piriana consimilis sp. nov.

(Figs 32–35)

Description. Male. Integument mostly dark brown, almost black in some areas; frons (except dark brown area under antennal tubercles), genae, gulamentum and mouthparts reddish brown; basal 4/5 of antennomere IV yellow, with narrow reddish area before dark brown distal fifth; remaining antennomeres dark reddish brown; pronotum with wide dark reddish brown band on each side; central area of prosternum and prosternal process reddish brown; elytra reddish brown laterally in basal 2/3 (except lateral dark brown area, covering mostly of basal third), widely projected toward suture at about middle (not reaching suture); pro- and mesocoxae, pro- meso, and metatrochanters mostly reddish brown; pro- and mesofemoral peduncles, base of pro- and mesofemoral clubs, basal third of metafemora reddish brown; tarsal claws reddish brown.

Head. Frons densely micropunctate; with short pale yellow pubescence not obscuring integument. Central area of vertex, from area between antennal tubercles to near prothoracic margin with yellow pubescent band, nearly obscuring integument, especially between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes (pubescence slightly longer and thicker than in remaining surface of vertex); remaining surface of vertex with yellowish brown pubescence not obscuring integument. Area behind eyes with yellowish white pubescence close to eye, not obscuring integument (more grayish white depending on angle of light source), glabrous toward prothorax. Genae densely micropunctate, with pale yellow pubescence (except glabrous narrow distal area) not obscuring integument. Antennal tubercles with sculpture and pubescence as on frons. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.15 times length of scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.32 times length of scape. Antennae 2.85 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at basal third of antennomere VI; scape, pedicel and antennomere III with long, erect, thick dark setae ventrally; antennomeres IV–VI with a few short dark setae ventrally and distally; antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.90; pedicel = 0.07; IV = 1.37; V = 1.20; VI = 1.15; VII = 0.09; VIII = 1.18; IX = 1.18; X = 1.25; XI = 1.47.

Thorax. Prothorax 1.45 times wider than long; widest area ending in obtuse angle. Pronotum transversely sulcate near base; finely, sparsely punctate, more abundantly punctate in basal area; wide central area with short yellowish brown pubescence not obscuring integument; laterally with dense yellow pubescence obscuring integument, longer and thicker than central pubescence. Sides of prothorax with yellow pubescence obscuring integument in narrow area close to pronotum, with yellowish brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface (shorter and finer than yellow pubescence). Ventral surface of thorax with grayish white pubescence not obscuring integument. Scutellum with yellowish brown pubescence not obscuring integument. Elytra. Moderately coarsely, abundantly punctate in basal 2/3, gradually finer, sparser in distal third; humeral carina distinct from base to almost apex; dorsally with two longitudinal carina, outermost distinct from humerus to almost apex, innermost less distinct, especially in basal quarter, gradually disappearing after middle; apex sinuous, with rounded sutural angle; light area with yellow, slightly bristly pubescence obscuring integument; dark area with brownish pubescence exposing integument; with moderately long, suberect, thick dark setae throughout. Legs. Tibiae proportionally short, gradually widened toward apex, with bristly pubescence. Metatarsomere I slightly shorter than II–V together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with grayish white pubescence not obscuring integument.

Female. No sexual dimorphism was found, hence the sex of Piriana consimilis specimens can be only be determined by extending and examining their genitalia.

Dimensions (mm), holotype male/ paratype female.Total length, 7.15/6.90; prothoracic length, 1.05/1.00; basal prothoracic width, 1.30/1.20; distal prothoracic width, 1.10/0.95 (1.25/1.10 before constriction); greatest prothoracic width, 1.55/1.40; humeral width, 1.70/1.60; elytral length, 5.25/5.05.

Type material. Holotype male from ECUADOR, Loja: Loja, 08.IV.1965, Peña col. (MZSP). Paratype female from ECUADOR, Loja: El Coco, V.1965, Peña col. (MZSP).

Etymology. Latin, consimilis = alike, very similar; related to the similarity with Piriana mima.

Remarks. Piriana consimilis sp. nov. is similar to P. mima, but differs by the metatibiae proportionally short, gradually widened toward apex and with pubescence distinctly bristly. In male of P. mima (see photograph of male syntype at Bezark 2017), the metatibiae are slender, longer, not widened toward apex and lack distinct bristly pubescence.