Notaepytus elongatus, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 66-68

Notaepytus elongatus Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 94 , 133 , 138

Diagnosis. The species can be distinguished by: a narrowly elongate body and transversely elongate basal orangish elytral spot ( Fig. 94 , 133 ).

Description. Length: 8.6 mm; width: 3.8 mm. Body elongate, parallel-sided, somewhat flattened; surface weakly microreticulate, glossy. Color mostly black; elytron with narrow transverse mark at basal third attaining stria II medially (lacking anterior projection as seen in N. modestus ), and a subapical spot with jagged edges attaining elytral suture medially; tarsi, antennomere XI and apical half of abdomen red-brown.

Head interocular width = 2.5 x ocular width; vertex and epistome puncture size = 0.3-0.5 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 3-4 x their diameter; epistome anterior margin truncate. Eyes large, facets moderate in size. Antennomere III length = 3 x width, antennomere III length = length of antennomeres IV+V combined; antennomeres IV-VIII equal in length, each with length = 2 x width; antennomere VIII not wider than VII; antennomere IX triangular, length = 1.2 x width; antennomere XI narrower than X, subcircular. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular, weakly asymmetrical, length = 0.8 x width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = 2 x length, expanded medially, width = terminal maxillary palpomere.

Pronotum distinctly transverse; punctures fine, puncture size as those on vertex, sparse, separated by 3-4 x their diameter; small group of large punctures at each side of base, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter. Scutellum transverse, length = 0.5 x width. Elytra long, 4.5 x longer than pronotum; apex narrowly rounded; striae not impressed, punctures moderate, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, separated by 2-3 x their diameter; interval punctures fine, obscure; base lacking marginal bead. Wings present, fully developed.

Prosternum length = 3 x basal width; sternal plate flat, rugose; sternal lines not continuous around coxal cavity; base strongly concave. Mesosternal lines parallel, not continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum long, distance between meso- and metacoxae = 2 x intermesocoxal width; anterior lines absent medially, continuous posteriorly around mesocoxal cavity; coarsely punctate at anterolateral angles, fine scattered punctures medially and posteriorly. Abdomen with coxal lines not connecting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; surface punctures fine and scattered. Male unknown.

Distribution. Found in the Dominican Republic in the Sierra de Baoruco ( Fig. 138 ).

Type Material. The female holotype of Notaepytus elongatus ( Fig. 133 ) has the following label data: “/ Dom. Rep.: Pedernales, 37 km. N. Cabo Rojo, 1500m, 18 o 09’N- 71 o 35’W / 25-SEP-1991, J. Rawlins. R. Davidson, C. Young, S. Thompson, Grassland with pines / [red paper] HOLOTYPE Notaepytus elongatus P.E. Skelley /” ( CMNH).

Etymology. The specific epithet reflects the notably elongate elytra and elytral markings.

Figures

Figure 1. West Indian maps. 1a) Map of West Indian countries mentioned in the text. 1b) Map indicating species occurring on specific islands with distribution of Notaepytus flavitarsis (Lacordaire) indicated by the white triangles.

Figure 89-104. Notaepytus spp., habitus drawings. 89) N. flavitarsis. 90) N. tarsatus. 91) N. cubanacan. 92) N. modestus. 93) N. cyclosignatus. 94) N. elongatus. 95) N. fulvitarsis. 96) N. decoregens. 97) N. ignotensis. 98) N. haitensis. 99) N. inversus. 100) N. baorucoensis. 101) N. neibaensis. 102) N. lavegaensis. 103) N. cyanoros. 104) N. elateroides.

Figure 132-137. Notaepytus spp. occurring on Hispaniola. 132) N. modestus. 133) N. elongatus, holotype. 134) N. cyclosignatus, holotype. 135) N. haitensis, paratype. 136) N. ignotensis, paratype. 137) N. inversus, holotype.

Figure 138-140. Distribution maps of Notaepytus spp. on Hispaniola. 138) Circle = N. modestus; triangle = N. elongatus. 139) Circle = N. fulvitarsis; triangle = N. decoregens; square = N. haitensis; square with ‘X’ = N. inversus. 140) Circle = N. cyclosignatus; triangle = N. lavegaensis; square = N. neibaensis; square with ‘X’ = N. baorucoensis.