Dysmerus monstrosus Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 19-20

Dysmerus monstrosus Thomas , new species

Fig. 15 , 26 , Map 4

Diagnosis. Individuals can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: distinct dorsal pubescence; head without a median carina; antennal scape with a dorsal tubercle ( Fig. 15 ) and a strong ventral projection ( Fig. 26 ).

Description. Holotype male, deposited in FSCA, with the following label data: “ BRAZIL: State of Mato Grosso, Varzea Grande Co., Cuiaba, Parque de Exposicao/Roger Williams 23-V-72 blacklight trap”

Body elongate, parallel-sided, convex; length, 1.54 mm.

Head 1.95X wider than long; sparsely punctate, punctures longitudinally elliptical, smaller than an eye facet, separated by one to two puncture diameters, each subtending a long, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shining; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.36 of 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 0.81 length of head; from dorsal view roughly triangular, with a dark tubercle about 0.40 behind apex ( Fig. 15 ); in lateral view with a long posteroventrally directed process ( Fig. 26 ); pedicel small, quadrate; antennomeres III-VIII quadrate, about equal in length; antennomeres IX-X broader and longer; XI longer than X; eye moderately, evenly convex, about 0.54 length of head.

Pronotum 1.10X wider than long; surface sculpture and pubescence as for head; roughly rectangular in shape, broadest at apex, thence narrowing slightly to base; width across anterior angles 1.21X width across posterior angles; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles right, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 1.80X 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.

Type material. Paratype: 1, “ ARGENTINA: Prov. Salta, Dept. Gen. San Martin, Rio Carapari, 8 km. S. of Pocitos/A. Martinez & R.E. Woodruff 16-II-69 blacklight trap” ( FSCA)

Variation. Length of male paratype, 1.66mm, otherwise very similar to holotype. A single female in the FSCA with same data as paratype is identified as this species but is excluded from the type series. It resembles the males but without the secondary sexual characters.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the bizarre modifications of the male scape.

Distribution. Argentina, Brazil (Map 4).

Figures

Figure 13-15. Head and pronotum of males of Dysmerus: 13) D. impolitus Thomas, n. sp.; 14) D. mexicanus Thomas, n. sp.; 15) D. monstrosus Thomas, n. sp.

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.