Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi, Konstantinov & Linzmeier, 2020

Konstantinov, Alexander S. & Linzmeier, Adelita M., 2020, Moss inhabiting flea beetles of the West Indies III: Erinaceialtica, a new genus from Hispaniola (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 955, pp. 113-145 : 113

Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi sp. nov. Figs 22 , 23-27 , 28-33 , 34-40 , 41-43 , 44-45 , Map 1

Description.

Body length 2.59-2.86 mm, width 1.45-1.78 mm. Vertex and part of head below vertex including frons same metallic blue. Antennal calli with a greenish shine. Antennomere 11 slightly lighter than 9. Base and sides of pronotum same color as apex, metallic blue and purple (some specimens have pronotum with greenish tint). Antebasal pronotal impression absent. Elytral disc metallic blue and purple. Some spots on elytron appear black in part because elytral surface darker, in part because it is covered with dark setae, these places also slightly impressed compared to rest of elytron surface. In dorsal view dark spots are: on lateral slope near middle and another spot directly below it towards posterior and one on posterior end. Elytra towards apex also appear darker. Triangular spot lateral to scutellum dark yellow. Ventral side of body dark brown, except last abdominal segment being lighter in color. Base of pro- and mesofemora light yellow. Apex of pro- and mesofemora and most of pro- and mesotibiae dark brown, except lighter poorly defined ring around middle tibiae. Metafemora dark, with bronzy shine. Metatibia dark yellow at base, brown near apex. Setae on orbit and vertex whitish, directed laterally. Setae on middle of vertex short, directed towards middle, not forming a small “mohawk”. Pronotal setae directed posteriorly starting from about middle. Second row on punctures on elytral slope longitudinally impressed with setae directed laterally and ventrally from it. Median lobe of aedeagus narrows substantially from middle to apex in ventral view, apex rounded.

Diagnosis.

Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi has unique color and can be easily identified using the key at the end of the paper.

Habitat.

Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi was collected on the southern slopes of Sierra de Baoruco in the area called Las Abejas. The site is a deep ravine situated at about 1200 m, which descends abruptly from pine forest (Figs 44 , 45 ). Fisher-Meerow and Judd (1989) classified the area as premontane wet forest, rich in epiphytes. Moss was sampled three times in this area, in July of 2004, late June of 2005 and mid July of 2006. No moss inhabiting flea beetles were collected in 2004. In addition to E. rickstanleyi , Kiskeya baorucae Konstantinov & Chamorro-Lacayo 2006 was found in that place in 2005 and 2006.

Etymology.

The species epithet, rickstanleyi , is a patronym in honor of Rick Stanley of Bethesda, Maryland. We greatly appreciate Rick and his family friendship and generosity in providing access at the Punta Cana Resort, including use of their home, Casa de los Sueños. Rick took part in our numerous collecting trips over the years in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua documenting local landscapes, avian- and insect faunas with numerous photos, some of which were used in publications (e.g. Konstantinov et al. 2009).

Type material examined.

Holotype, male: 1) Dominican Republic: Pedernales Prov., PN Sierra de Baoruco, Las Abejas 1270 m, 18°09.008'N, 71°37.338'W, 18.VI.2005, moss sifting A. Konstantinov (USNM). Paratype females 3, with the same labels as holotype (2 USNM), (1 MHND). Paratype male: Dominican Republic: Pedernales Province Sierra de Baoruco, Las Abejas forest 1230 m. 17.VII.2006 18°09.132'N, 71°37.430'W leg. A.Konstantinov (USNM).

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of Erinaceialtica species on the island of Hispaniola.

Figure 22. Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi sp. nov., dorsal habitus (illustration by Katie Sayers, USNM and SEL scientific illustrator internship program, summer 2019).

Figures 23 - 27. Adult Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi 23 habitus, dorsal view 24 habitus, lateral view 25 habitus, three quarter view 26 median lobe of aedeagus, ventral and lateral views 27 habitus, frontal view.

Figures 28 - 33. Adult Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi, morphological structures 28 middle part of head, ventral view 29 labrum 30 antenna 31 mesotergite 32 meso- and metasternites 33 metatergite.

Figures 34 - 40. Adult Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi, morphological structures 34 metendosternite 35 hind tarsus 36 right elytron 37 hind leg 38 middle leg 39 abdominal ventrites, female 40 last abdominal tergite, female.

Figures 41 - 43. Adult Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi, female genitalia 41 spermatheca 42 vaginal palpi 43 tignum.

Figures 44, 45. Las Abejas, habitat of Erinaceialtica rickstanleyi.