Dysmerus skelleyi Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 24

Dysmerus skelleyi Thomas , new species

Fig. 18 , Map 5

Diagnosis. Individuals can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: scape with a long ventral process and head with long median carina ( Fig. 17 ).

Description. Holotype, male, in FSCA, with the following label data: “ PERU: Dept. Loreto 160km NE Iquitos, Exploranapo Camp, 2km from Rio Napo on Rio Sucusari”/”Skelley, Castner, et al 27-31-VIII-1992 at light”.

Body elongate, parallel-sided, convex; length, 1.76 mm.

Head 1.47X wider than long; punctures mostly circular, smaller than an eye facet, separated by 1-2 or more puncture diameters, sparse medially, denser laterally and basally; each subtending a short, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shiny; a long median longitudinal carina begins just posterior to clypeal margin and ends at about the midpoint of the eye; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.41 of total length of head measured along midline from front of eyes to front of head capsule, shallowly emarginate, sides not reflexed; angle above antennal insertion right, strongly elevated, terminating in an acute denticle ( Fig. 17 ); antennal scape large, length equal to 0.60 length of head; from dorsal view more or less triangular, dorsally with a small tubercle just behind apex ( Fig. 17 ); in lateral view with a long acute ventral process so that the outline in lateral view is very broadly triangular ( Fig. 17 ); pedicel small, quadrate; antennomeres III-VIII quadrate, about equal in length; antennomeres IX-X broader and longer; XI longer than X; eye strongly, evenly convex, about 0.60 length of head.

Pronotum as wide as long; surface sculpture and pubescence as head; roughly rectangular in shape, broadest at apex, thence narrowing slightly to base; width across anterior angles 1.05X width across posterior angles; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles right, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 1.82X longer than combined width; parallel-sided for basal half, then gradually converging; lateral margin of third cell slightly more prominent than others but scarcely carinate; sides laterally perpendicular to margin.

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honor of Paul E. Skelley, colleague and collector of the only known specimen of this species.

Distribution. Peru (Map 5).

Discussion. The holotype and only known specimen is partially disarticulated and missing the distal six antennomeres of the right antenna.

Figures

Figure 16-18. Head and pronotum of males of Dysmerus: 16) D. politus Thomas, n. sp.; 17) D. rondoniensis Thomas, n. sp.; 18) D. skelleyi Thomas, n. sp.