Mizotrechus brulei, Erwin, 2011

Erwin, Terry L., 2011, Rainforest understory beetles of the Neotropics, Mizotrechus Bates 1872, a generic synopsis with descriptions of new species from Central America and northern South America (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Perigonini), ZooKeys 145, pp. 79-128 : 88-89

Brule’s trough beetle Mizotrechus brulei sp. n. Figs 4 27 40

Holotype.

GUYANE, Saut Pararé, Arataie River, Nouragues Field Station, 51 m, 4.0378°N, 52.6725°W, 13 September 2009 (S Brule, PH Dalens, & E Poirier)(NMNH: ADP124886, male).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet “brulei” is an eponym, based on the family name of Stephané Brule, whose team in Guyane has been collecting beetles using Flight Intercept Traps and capturing adults of many new species, such as this one.

Proposed English vernacular name.

Brule’s trough beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus as described above and small sized for the genus as it is presently understood; adults have castaneous integument, except anterior parts of mandible, baso-lateral corner of labrum, and clypeal suture piceous. Frons shallowly rugose only at extreme anterior angles and punctulate. Occiput punctulate. Pronotum quadrate with lateral margins basally shallowly emarginate; base moderately microrugose. Elytra moderately narrow and elongate, wider than the width of pronotum across anterior third, and with 8 well-impressed interneurs, intervals not convex; margin behind humerus moderately serrulate. Foreleg femur with slight swelling near the base on the postero-ventral margin.

Description.

( Figs 4 , 27 ). Size: See Appendix 1. Moderately small for genus, ABL = 6.0-6.8 mm, SBL = 5.53-6.41 mm, TW = 2.03-2.22 mm. Color: see diagnosis, above. Luster: Head, pronotum and legs shiny. Head: Labrum quadrate, apico-medially barely emarginate. Eye small, moderately convex. Gena long, straight. Frons, occiput, and gena glabrous. Prothorax: Broad, narrowed slightly toward base, margin beaded, not explanate except at hind angle; surface punctulate, punctures widespread, glabrous. Pterothorax: Elytron barely convex, intervals nearly flat, interneurs striate, not punctate, apex slightly oblique and slightly rounded, sutural apex narrowly truncate. Metasternum sparsely setiferous in male. Legs: Normal in both sexes; foreleg femur ( Fig. 23 ) with slightly produced ridge along postero-ventral margin, not dentate, without short dorsal ridge at base of longer ridge; posterior trochanter tapered to acute point in male, acuminate in female, length half that of femur. Abdomen: Abdominal sterna moderately setiferous; sternum IV of male with narrow and dense patch of decumbent setae; sternum VII medially notched in male, slightly emarginated in female. Male genitalia: Median lobe ( Fig. 27 ) short and robust with ostium moderately elongate, over half the length of the median lobe; apex short, blunt, distal end more prominent than in Mizotrechus belvedere , slightly curved in lateral aspect, ventral margin proximal to apex evenly curved; endophallus with complexly folded tracheal fields; phallobase hooded, opening more or less in line with axis of shaft. Parameres large, left a third longer than the right, both broadly rounded, asetose. Female genitalia: Not investigated; however, it is likely similar to that illustrated on Plate 11 .

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Way of life.

The adult specimens were collected in flight intercept traps in the rainforest understory. Adults are active in April and September, in both the rainy and dry seasons.

Other specimens examined.

Paratypes: GUYANE, Montagne des Chevaux, Commune de Roura, RN2 PK22, 90 m, 4.7127°N, 52.3966°W, 14 April 2010 (S Brule, PH Dalens, & E Poirier)(NMNH: ADP124960, female), 9 January 2011 (NMNH: ADP124924, female), 6 March 2010 (NMNH: ADP127159, male), 8 August 2010 (NMNH: ADP129205, male), 22 August 2010 (NMNH: ADP128729, male, ADP128727, female), 3 October 2010 (NMNH: ADP128731, male), Saül, Commune de Saül, Belvédère de Saül, 283-325 m, 3.6223°N, 53.2159°W, 29 October 2010 (S Brule, PH Dalens, & E Poirier)(NMNH: ADP124926, female).

Geographic distribution.

( Fig. 40 ). This species is currently known only from three lowland localities in Guyane.

Figures

Plate 1. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect: 1 Mizotrechus batesi sp. n., ABL = 5.9 mm, male holotype, ADP 124884; type locality. 2 Mizotrechus bellorum sp. n., ABL = 6.9 mm, male holotype, ADP 124890; type locality. 3 Mizotrechus belvedere sp. n., ABL = 7.2 mm, male holotype, ADP 129201; type locality. 4 Mizotrechus brulei sp. n., ABL = 6.7 mm, female paratype, ADP 124926; type locality.

Plate 6. Digital Photo-illustrations, anterior femur, ventral aspect: 19 Mizotrechus minutus sp. n., ADP 124966; type locality. 20 Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 124896; type locality. 21 Mizotrechus chontalesensis sp. n., ADP 127181; type locality. 22 Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n., ADP 124948; type locality. 23 Mizotrechus brulei sp. n., ADP 129205; type locality. 24 Mizotrechus gorgona. sp. n., ADP 128622; type locality.

Plate 7. Digital Photo-illustrations, male genitalia, median lobe and parameres, left lateral, dorsal, and right lateral aspects: 25 Mizotrechus bellorum sp. n., ADP 124890; type locality. 26 Mizotrechus belvedere sp. n., ADP 129201; type locality. 27 Mizotrechus brulei sp. n., ADP 127159, Guyane, Montagne des Chevaux, Commune de Roura.

Plate 11. Figure 37. Digital Photo-illustration, female genitalia: Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 127161; Petite Montague Tortue, Guyane. A. Dorsal aspect. Legend, bc, bursa copulatrix; co, common oviduct; sg, spermathecal gland; sgd, spermathecal gland duct; sp, spermatheca. dorsal aspect; vc, villous canal; lt, laterotergite; gc 1, gonocoxite 1; gc 2, gonocoxite 2. B. Gonocoxite 2, dorsal aspect: Legend, b, base of gonocoxite 2; bl, blade of gonocoxite 2; des, dorsal ensiform seta; ves, ventral ensiform setae.

Figure 40. Distribution symbol map for known localities of Mizotrechus batesi, Mizotrechus bellorum, Mizotrechus belvedere, Mizotrechus brulei, Mizotrechus dalensi, Mizotrechus grossus, Mizotrechus marielaforetae, Mizotrechus minutus, Mizotrechus poirieri, Mizotrechus neblinensis, spp. n.