Dysmerus boliviensis Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 9-10

Dysmerus boliviensis Thomas , new species

Fig. 8 , 22 , 32 , Map 3

Diagnosis. Individuals can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: head without median carina ( Fig. 8 ); distinct dorsal pubescence; male scape moderately complex with a dorsal tubercle ( Fig. 8 , 22 ).

Description. Holotype male, deposited in MNKM, with the following label data: “ BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, 3.7km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna 405m. 5-15-XI-2001 17 o 29.949’S, 63 o 33.152’W M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier tropical transition forest”

Body elongate, parallel-sided, convex; length, 2.12mm.

Head 1.40X wider than long; sparsely punctate, punctures longitudinally elliptical, smaller than an eye facet, separated by 2 or more puncture diameters, each subtending a long, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shining; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.50 total length of head measured along midline from front of eyes to front of head capsule, shallowly emarginate, sides not strongly reflexed; angle above antennal insertion obtuse, strongly elevated; antennal scape large, length equal to 0.58 length of head; from dorsal view roughly triangular, with a dark tubercle beyond midpoint; irregular in lateral view ( Fig. 22 ); pedicel small, quadrate; antennomeres III-VIII quadrate, about equal in length; antennomeres IX-X broader and longer than preceding flagellar antennomeres; XI longer than X; eye moderately, evenly convex, about 0.38 length of head.

Pronotum as long as wide; surface sculpture and pubescence as head; roughly rectangular in shape, broadest at apex, thence narrowing slightly to base; width across anterior angles 1.09X width across posterior angles; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles right, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 2.00X longer than combined width; parallel-sided for basal half, then gradually converging; all three cells visible, lateral margin of third cell slightly more prominent than others but scarcely carinate; sides laterally perpendicular to margin.

Male genitalia as in Fig. 32 .

Type material. Paratypes, 3, as follows: 1, same data as holotype ( FSCA) ; 1, “ BOLIVIA: SANTA CRUZ Reserva Privada Potrerillos de Guenda ; 17 o 40.26S 63 o 27.44 W; 400m; 10/ 29-XI-2006; B.K. Dozier coll.” ( MNKM) ; 1, “ BOLIVIA: SANTA CRUZ: 3.7 km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna; 17 o 29.949’S, 63 o 33.152’W; 430m; 10/ 29-XI-2003;UV; B.K. Dozier ” ( FSCA). Four female specimens deposited in the FSCA and MNKM, all from the vicinity of Buena Vista , are identified as this species but are excluded from the type series .

Variation. Length of male paratypes, 1.57mm - 2.12mm. The degree of development of the scape varies slightly, as does the acuteness of the angle above the antennal insertions. Females resemble the males but without the secondary sexual characters.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the type locality.

Distribution. Bolivia (Map 3).

Figures

Figure 7-9. Head and pronotum of males of Dysmerus: 7) D. basalis Casey; 8) D. boliviensis Thomas, n. sp.; 9) D. caseyi (Grouvelle).

Figure 22-27. Oblique view of head and antennal scape of males of Dysmerus: 22) D. boliviensis Thomas, n. sp.; 23) D. genaspinosus Thomas, n. sp.; 24) D. hamaticornis Thomas, n. sp.; 25) D. mexicanus Thomas, n. sp.; 26) D. monstrosus Thomas, n. sp.; 27) D. rondoniensis Thomas, n. sp.

Figure 31-34. Male genitalia of species of Dysmerus: 31) D. basalis Casey; 32) D. boliviensis Thomas, n. sp.; 33) D. caseyi Thomas, n. sp., 34) D. curvicornis Thomas, n. sp.