Geocharidius minimus, Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014

Sokolov, Igor M. & Kavanaugh, David H., 2014, The integripennis species group of Geocharidius Jeannel, 1963 (Carabidae, Bembidiini, Anillina) from Nuclear Central America: a taxonomic review with notes about biogeography and speciation, ZooKeys 443, pp. 61-118 : 79

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Geocharidius minimus sp. n. Figs 3E, G, 5F, 6 D–E, 7B, 12H, 13 G–J, 16C, 17C, 22, 23

Type material.

HOLOTYPE, a male, in KUNHM, glued on cardboard, labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Sacatepéquez: 5km SE Antigua, 14.53577 -90.69428 ± 200m, 2150m, 10-VI-2009, ex. sifted leaf litter, hardwood forest LLAMA09 Wa-B-08-1-all \ KUNHM \ HOLOTYPE Geocharidius minimus Sokolov and Kavanaugh 2014 [red label] \. PARATYPES: A total of 121 specimens (6 males and 4 females were dissected), deposited in CAS and KUNHM; 53 specimens labeled same as holotype; 11 specimens labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Sacatepéquez: 5km SE Antigua, 14.53439 -90.69340 ± 36m, 2175m, 11-VI-2009, ex. sifted leaf litter, hardwood forest LLAMA09 Wm-B-08-2-08 \ KUNHM \; 1 specimen labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Sacatepéquez: 5km SE Antigua, 14.53666 -90.69491 ± 255m, 2140m, 10-VI-2009, ex. sifted leaf litter, hardwood forest LLAMA09 Wm-B-08-1-07 \ SEMC0896573 KUNHM-ENT \; 48 specimens labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Sacatepéquez: 5km SE Antigua, 14.53482-90.69398 ± 33m, 2175m, 10-VI-2009, ex. sifted leaf litter, hardwood forest LLAMA09 Wm-B-08-1-04 \ SEMC0888829 KUNHM-ENT \; 4 specimens labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez: 4km S Vol. Atitlán, 14.55311- 91.19337 ± 35m, 1750m, 15-VI-2009 ex sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, LLAMA09 Wm-B-09-2-02 1 \ KUNHM \; 2 specimens labeled: GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez: 4km S Vol. Atitlán, 14.54915- 91.19055 ± 200m, 1625m, 15-VI-2009 ex sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, LLAMA09 Wa-B-09-1-all \ SEMC0889856 KUNHM-ENT \; 2 specimens labeled: \ GUATEMALA: Suchitepéquez: 4km S Vol. Atitlán, 14.55972- 91.18951 ± 27m, 2164m, 17-VI-2009 ex sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, LLAMA09 Wm-B-09-2-06 \ SEMC0896573 KUNHM-ENT \.

Type locality.

Guatemala, Sacatepéquez Department, 5 km SE of Antigua.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, minimus (superlative of parvus), in the masculine form, meaning “smallest”.

Recognition.

Adults of this new species are distinguished from those of other members of the integripennis species group by the combination of small size, elongate habitus and smooth proepisternum. Males and females of Geocharidius minimus are distinguished from those of other members of the integripennis species group by the structure of the median lobe and the shape of spermatheca, respectively.

Description.

Size. Small for genus (SBL range 1.11-1.24 mm, mean 1.18 ± 0.041 mm, n=26).

Habitus. Body form (Fig. 12H) moderately convex, elongate, general proportions narrow (WE/SBL 0.37 ± 0.009), proportions of head (WH/WPm 0.75 ± 0.016) and pronotum (WPm/WE 0.80 ± 0.015) wide for group.

Color. Body rufotestaceous, appendages testaceous.

Microsculpture. Mesh pattern of irregularly isodiametric sculpticells present over all dorsal surfaces of head and elytra. Pronotum and proepisternum smooth (without evident microscupture).

Mouthparts. Maxillae and labium (Fig. 5F).

Prothorax. Pronotum moderately narrow (WPm/LP 1.24 ± 0.027), with lateral margins markedly constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.35 ± 0.022). Posterior angles obtuse (110-120°). Width between anterior angles greater than between posterior angles (WPa/WPp 1.06 ± 0.024).

Pterothorax (Fig. 3E).

Elytra. Moderately convex, slightly depressed along suture, moderately narrow (WE/LE 0.64 ± 0.017), without traces of striae. Humeri rounded, in outline forming right angle with longitudinal axis of body. Lateral margins subparallel, evenly divergent at basal fifth, evenly rounded to apex in apical fourth.

Legs. Mesotibia (Fig, 7B). Protarsus (Figs 6 D–E).

Abdomen. Ventrites 3-5 (Fig. 3G).

Male genitalia. Median lobe (Fig. 13G) with shaft moderately long, subparallel, apex small and narrowly rounded. Ventral margin almost straight. Dorsal sclerites of internal sac in form of a long fig, tapered apically as a long flagellum, and gradually widen towards narrow and rounded basal end extended through basal orifice and bent laterally (Fig. 13 G–H). Right paramere with short apical consriction (Fig. 13J). Left paramere moderately long, with rather short apical constriction (Fig. 13I). Ring sclerite with handle triangular, slightly asymmetrical, pointed apically (Fig. 16C).

Female internal genitalia. Spermatheca sclerotized, fusiform, only slightly dilated apically, straight, with cornu and nodulus of approximately equal length (Fig. 17C). Lengths of spermathecal gland and spermatheca equal. Spermathecal duct not coiled.

Geographical distribution.

This species is known from the slopes of two volcanos, Agua and Atitlán, in Sacatepéquez and Suchitepéquez Departments of Guatemala, respectively (Fig. 22, green flowers).

Way of life.

Specimens were collected by sifting litter in hardwood and cloud forests at middle and high elevations of 1600 and 2200 m, respectively.

Relationships.

The shape of dorsal sclerites of the internal sac (Fig. 13G) of males suggests a distant relationship with Geocharidius erwini (Fig. 13D), described above, whereas the shape of the handle of the ring sclerite (Fig. 16C) of males suggests relationships with the Guatemalan Geocharidius antigua (Fig. 20A), described above, and the Honduran Geocharidius disjunctus (Fig. 20E), described below.