Akalyptoischion pogonias Hartley, Andrews & McHugh, 2008

Hartley, Christopher S., Andrews, Fred G. & Mchugh, Joseph V., 2007, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Genus Akalyptoischion Andrews (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 6) 61, pp. 1-50 : 40-41

Akalyptoischion pogonias Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species

Etymology. Greek meaning ‘‘bearded’’ referring to the long setae on the lateral margin of the head.

Description. Length 1.3 mm. Width 0.4 mm. Body elongate, subparallel, surface shining, uniformly reddish brown; uniformly setose, setae inconspicuous on head; head narrower than pronotum by size of one eye facet, sides sinuate; clypeus narrowing sharply at greater than 45u angle anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae large, distinct, elongate ovals, twice the size of eyes; head setation sparse but even, setae decumbent medially, stout and erect at posterior corners near eyes and stout and erect along lateral margin between eyes and anterior margin; head punctation very sparse, surface smooth; eyes small and not prominent with 4 facets; tempora long, equal to eye width; hind angles sharp, nearly 90u; clypeal fovea length of antennomere III, 0.7 width of labrum; labrum anterior margin slightly emarginate, labral setation sparse; mandibles large, visible dorsally from beneath labrum; antennae with a 3-segmented club; antennae reach posterior 1/3 of pronotum; antennomere I wider than long and widening apically, sides arcuate, II elongate oval, 2 times longer than wide, III–V elongate, becoming progressively rounder, VI–VIII submonilliform, IX–XI form club, IX parallel sided, subquadrate, X subequal to IX, XI larger than X, elongate, subrectangular.

Pronotum widest anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, nearly 90u, lateral margin straight, converging posteriorly; lateral margin slightly explanate with,8 large tubercles, spaced far apart, each bearing a long, erect seta; median 3/5 raised with very sparse decumbent setae; pronotal foveae distinct, anterior pair transverse, connected medially by a shallow furrow, posterior pair broad, deep, not connected, a small single fovea present at midline between posterior foveae; pronotal punctation sparse, distinct anteriorly only.

Elytra subparallel, lateral flange weak, present in anterior 1/3 only; 6 striae; humeral angle nearly 90u, not lobed; strial interspaces 3 and 5 raised; short decumbent setae present on every interspace, interspaces 1, 3, 5 and lateral margin also with long erect setae; epipleuron complete, narrowing posteriorly.

Ventral surface sparsely setose; submental fovea large, length of antennomere II; ventral head very sparsely punctate or impunctate; abdominal ventrite I with a large, deep fovea equal in size to metacoxae posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; ventrites II–IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: label data: ‘‘ Calif : San Bernardino, Co. Pioneertown 4,2009, IX-29-1982 82-241, K. W. Cooper,’’ ‘‘ Neotoma nest in clump of Joshua trees’’ ( CDAE).

Remarks. This species is known from only one specimen, the holotype. Having only one specimen prevented preparation of a slide mount and measurements of ventral characters. Akalyptoischion pogonias resembles A. tomeus superficially but can be recognized by the stout, erect setae present at the posterior corners and along the lateral margin of the head, the larger head foveae and the different pronotal foveae. Akalyptoischion pogonias also may be confused with A. anasillos and A. hadromorphus . It may be distinguished from these species by its lack of punctation on the median surface of abdominal ventrite I, its large mandibles that are visible dorsally and the sparse setation of its head and pronotum.