Abstract
A new species, Trirammatus torqueotrochantus is described from Caram vida, Chile. Males of this species are distinguished by unique femur-length, twisted and falcate trochanters, which are a form unlike that of any described pterostichine. Both sexes are recognizable from other species of Trirammatus by the combination of short metepisternum and bicolored legs. The species is included in Trirammatus based on the shared condition of having paired sub-tarsal claw setae. The status and characters of genera thought to be near relatives of Trirammatus, the evolution of elongate metatrochanters and their relationship to wedge-pushing are briefly discussed. The hind legs of T. torqueotrochantus, Pterostichus (Cylindrocharis) acutipes acutipes, P. (Steropus) moestus and Acanthoferonia ferox are illustrated to show relative trochanter lengths.References
Evans, M.E.G. (1977) Locomotion in the Coleoptera Adephaga, especially Carabidae. Journal of Zoology, London, 181, 189–226.
Evans , M.E.G. (1986) Carabid locomotor habits and adaptations. In den Boer, P.J., Luff, M.L., Mossakowski, D. & Weber, F. (Eds.). Carabid Beetles, Their Adpatations and Dynamics. Gustov Fischer, New York, pp. 59–78.
Jeannel, R. (1941) Coléoptères Carabiques, Part 1. Fauna de France, 39, 1–571.
Lorenz, W. (1998) Nomina carabidarum - a directory of the scientific names of ground beetles. (Insecta, Coleoptera "Geadephaga": Trachypachidae and Carabidae incl. Paussinae, Cicindelinae, Rhysodinae). Published by the author, Hormannstrasse 4, D-82327 Tutzing, Germany.
Roig-Juñent, S. (1993) Cnemalobini, una triba de Carabidae (Coleoptera) endémica de América del Sur. Acta Entomológica Chilena, 18, 7–18.
Stork, N.E. (1980) A scanning electron microscope study of tarsal adhesive setae in the Coleoptera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68, 173–306.
Straneo, S L. (1979) Notes about classification of the south American Pterostichini with a key for determination of subtribes, genera and subgenera (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Quaestiones Entomologicae, 15, 345–356.
Will, K.W. (2002) Revision of the new world abariform genera Neotalus n. gen. and Abaris Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini (Auctorum). Annals of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 17, 143–213.