Notomicrus josiahi, Miller, Kelly B., 2013

Miller, Kelly B., 2013, Notomicrus josiahi, a new species of Noteridae (Coleoptera) from Venezuela, Zootaxa 3609 (2), pp. 243-247 : 244-245

Notomicrus josiahi sp. n.

( Figs 1–9 )

Type locality. Venezuela, Amazonas, Communidad Cano Gato, Rio Sipapo, 4º 58.838' N 67º 44.341' W ( Figs 6–9 ).

Type material. Holotype: 3 in MIZA labeled, “ VENEZUELA: Amazonas State 4°58.838'N, 67°44.341'W; 95m Cumminidad Caño Gato on Rio Sipapo; 16.i.2009; leg. Short, Miller, Camacho, Joly, & Garcia VZ09-0116- 01X; along stream/ [barcode] SM0843537 KUNHM-ENT”. Paratypes, 7 in MIZA, MSBA and SEMC labeled same as holotype except with different barcodes and labeled with following KUNHM-ENT numbers; SM0842848, SM0842850, SM0842854, SM0831496, SM0843568, SM0843570, and SM0843572.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other Notomicrus by the following: 1) distinctive coloration with head and pronotum yellow and elytra distinctly dark in basal half, lighter red-brown in apical half ( Fig. 1 ). 2) larger than most known species (1.48–1.53 mm), 3) dorsal microsculpture weakly impressed, weakly and sparsely punctate, surface shining, and 4) male gentalia distinctive with median lobe elongate, evenly curved and narrowed to abruptly curved apex in lateral view, expanded apically and curved to left in ventral aspect ( Figs 2–3 ). The only other described species with members as large as N. josiahi are N. traili Sharp , which has different coloration, is more strongly punctate on the elytra and has differently-shaped male genitalia, and N. reticulatus Zimmermann which has different coloration and is more strongly reticulate (the male of N. reticulatus is unknown).

Description. Measurements. TL = 1.48–1.53 mm, GW = 0.67–0.70 mm, HW = 0.36–0.39 mm, EW = 0.14–0.16 mm, TL/GW = 2.13–2.19, HW/EW = 2.4–2.6.

Coloration ( Fig. 1 ). Head, pronotum, appendages and ventral surfaces yellow; elytron with well-demarcated dark black to testaceous region occupying basal 1/4–1/3 of elytron, extending posteriorly along suture, elytron apically lighter in color, brown to yellow, lightest apically, slightly iridescent.

Sculpture and structure. Body elongate, distinctly attenuate posteriorly, widest near humeral angles, lateral outline continuous and evenly curved between pronotum and elytron ( Fig. 1 ); relatively dorsoventrally compressed. Head with fine, nearly obscured sculpture, with few indistinct punctures. Pronotum and elytron finely, inconspicuously punctate, shiny. Metasternum, metacoxa and abdominal sternites impunctate, shiny. Prosternum broad, prosternal process slightly canaliculate, apically rounded.

Male genitalia. Median lobe in lateral aspect elongate curved, medially moderately broad, narrowed to narrowly rounded apex, more strongly curved apically, with elongate triangular sclerite extending from base on right side, with long, slender process extending anteriorly from base ( Fig. 2 ); in ventral aspect broadly curved to right, subapically broadly expanded, apex curved to right, sharply pointed, with anterior process very slender, extending posteriorly from left side ( Fig. 3 ). Right lateral lobe much shorter than median lobe or left lateral lobe, broad, apically broadly rounded, with large apical cluster of elongate setae ( Fig. 4 ). Left lateral lobe as long as median lobe, broadly curved, medially moderately broad, narrowed to narrowly-rounded apex, with subapical series of dense, long setae along dorsal margin ( Fig. 5 ).

Etymology. This species is named to honor my son, Josiah B. Miller.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality.

Habitat. Notomicrus josiahi was found in a shallow, slow stream in dense lowland wet forest ( Figs 6–9 ). The stream has a sandy substrate with dense leaf packs along the margin. The leaf packs had a high density of water beetles, especially Bidessini diving beetles. Notomicrus josiahi was also found in these leaf packs.

Checklist of valid species of Notomicrus

Notomicrus brevicornis Sharp, 1882 ; Brazil, Bolivia.

Notomicrus gracilipes Sharp, 1882 ; Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Brazil.

Notomicrus huttoni Young, 1978 ; Panama.

Notomicrus josiahi sp. n.; Venezuela.

Notomicrus malkini Young, 1978 ; Brazil.

Notomicrus nanulus (LeConte, 1863) ; USA (Louisiana, Georgia, Florida)

Notomicrus punctulatus Fauvel, 1903 ; New Caledonia.

Notomicrus reticulatus Zimmermann, 1921 ; Argentina, Uruguay.

Notomicrus sharpi J. Balfour-Browne, 1939 ; Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, USA (Florida).

Notomicrus tenellus (Clark, 1863) ; Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Java, Sumatra, New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Samoa.

Notomicrus traili Sharp, 1882 ; Brazil.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Notomicrus josiahi. 1) Dorsal habitus, 2) Median lobe, ventral aspect, 3) Median lobe, right lateral aspect, 4) Right lateral lobe, right lateral aspect, 5) Left lateral lobe, left lateral aspect.

FIGURES 6 – 9. Notomicrus josiahi, stream habitat, type locality.