Discheramocephalus nigerrimus, Darby, 2020

Darby, Michael, 2020, Eight new species of Ptenidiini and Discheramocephalini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Ecuador, European Journal of Taxonomy 599, pp. 1-19 : 14-15

Discheramocephalus nigerrimus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6D903FF0-39BB-4CA1-987E-92998C750375

Fig. 7 A–D

Etymology

Named after the dark colour of this species.

Material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR • ♂; Napo, Cosanga, Camp ; 2100 m a.s.l.; 23 Mar. 2018; flight intercept trap; J. McClarin leg.; QCAZM.

Description

SIZE. Habitus length 0.64 mm ( Fig. 5A ).

COLOUR. Dark brown/black, shining, appearing polished, glabrous, legs and antennae yellow/brown, antennal club darker.

HEAD. With distinctive sculpturing and long pubescence behind eye, including two linear depressions extending, but not joined, onto vertex ( Fig. 7C ) and much deeper depression behind this; width across eyes 0.19 mm; antennomeres III–XI length 0.21 mm, X–XI forming distinct club; mentum front angles rounded, then tapering slightly to wide base, prementum wide from side to side but narrow from front to back, with four setae.

PRONOTUM. Length 0.16 mm, width 0.21 mm, sparsely pubescent, with two longitudinal linear depressions situated medially and two at sides, medial depressions widest basally and flanked by pair of much shorter foveae on each side; pronotal lateral margins strongly sinuate posteriorly, widening to posterior angles, lateral margin with two distinct setae bearing concave sinuations in front of scutellum ( Fig. 7B ).

ELYTRA. Length 0.42 mm, width 0.27 mm, sparsely pubescent, evenly rounded, widest medially, suture clearly bordered.

SCUTELLUM. With narrow keel, broadest at base and extending to apex.

MESOVENTRITE. Collar broad, strongly reticulate, raised medially, tapering to base at junction with extension of metaventrite, humeri with projecting teeth, position of mesepiventral suture marked by raised line from middle of collar extension to outside of mesocoxae ( Fig. 7D ).

METAVENTRITE. Length 0.18 mm (measured to anterior tip of extension between mesocoxae), width 0.22 mm, sparsely pubescent, with wide anterior extension between mesocoxae terminating in blunt point, lateral margins running into mesocoxal cavity borders; positions of metepisternal sutures visible as extensions of those on mesoventrite, effaced before reaching posterior margin of metaventrite ( Fig. 7D ).

MALE GENITALIA. Aedeagus ( Figs 7 Ba–Bb).

FEMALE GENITALIA. Not known.

Remarks

The description of this species based on a single specimen is justified because only one other specimen of the genus is known from the country (see next species). It is distinguished from D. striatus sp. nov. by the lack of striae on the elytra. It is only likely to be confused with D. bisulcatus Darby, 2013 among the other described species but differs from it in the narrower collar extension and the interrupted linear depression between the eyes.

Figures

Fig. 7. Discheramocephalus nigerrimus sp. nov. A. Habitus. B. Pronotum ×725. C. Side of head ×2220. D. Meso- and metaventra ×830. E. Mesoventrite keel and metaventrite projection between mesocoxae ×830.

Fig. 5. Notoptenidium brunneum sp. nov. A. Habitus. B. Venter ×298. C. Spermatheca. D. Mentum and prementum ×1460. E. Mesoventrite ×595. F. Posterior margin of the metaventrite between the metacoxae ×590. G. Prosternum ×595.