Latupusillus Opitz, 2017

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Orthopleurinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VI. The New Genera Coadnatus Opitz, Furcadia Opitz, and Latupusillus Opitz, One New Species of Funicula Opitz, and Four New Species of Romanaeclerus Winkler, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (3), pp. 421-433 : 428-430

Latupusillus Opitz , new genus

Type Species. Latupusillus laculatus Opitz , new species.

Diagnosis. In a key to the genera of Orthopleurinae ( Opitz 2009a) , Latopusillus keys to the New World genus Agaphalera Opitz , from which Latupusillus is distinguished by a much smaller antennal capitulum that is shorter than the combined length of the funicular antennomeres and a cupuliform ocular notch.

Synapotypic Characteristic. Ocular notch cupuliform.

Description. Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: Oblong, subovoid, about 2 times longer than broad. Vestiture: Disc of cranium and pronotum profusely vested with pale setae, elytral disc vested with 1° setae and shorter profusely distributed 2° setae. Head: Cranium quadrate, frons wide, indented with minute, widely separated, setiferous punctation; gula small, triangular, sutures oblique, gular process narrow and bifid; labrum short, medial incision broad; mandible short, anterior dens prominent and subacuminate; maxillary and labial terminal palpomeres subsecuriform; eyes small, coarsely faceted, ocular notch cupuliform; antenna ( Fig. 9 ) capitate, capitulum lax, scape large, longer than combined length of pedicel and antennomere 3, funicular antennomeres progressively shorter to capitulum, capitulum shorter than combined length of funicular antennomeres, funicular antennomeres transverse, antennomere 11 suboval. Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 26 ) transverse, convex, lateral margins evenly arcuate, without anterior transverse subapical depression, transverse prebasal depression shallow; prointercoxal process slightly expanded distally; pronotal projections short, not close to prointercoxal process; elytron copiously vested with shallow asetiferous, seriate punctation, 1° setae always adjacent to asetiferous puncture, 2° setae present; epipleural fold narrowing to elytral apex, anterior margin faintly carinate; tibial spur formula 2-2-2, tarsal pulvillar formula 3-3-3, unguis with well-developed denticle. Abdomen: Female pygidium scutiform.

Distribution. This monotypic genus is known from Mozambique.

Etymology. The generic name Latupusillus is a Latin compound name derived from the adjective latus (= broad) and the adjective pusillus (= small). I refer to small, broad size of this somewhat flattened orthopleurine beetle. Gender: Masculine.

Figures

Figs. 1–20. Antennae and male genitalia. Antennae: 1) Coadnatus sakaii; 2) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri; 3) Furcadia sandala, female; 4) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 5) F. sandala, male; 6) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 7); Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 8) Funicula albocapilla; 9) Latupusillus laculatus. Aedeagi and spicular fork: 10) F. albocapilla, phallus; 11) F. albocapilla, tegmen; 12) F. albocapilla, spicular fork; 13) F. sandala, spicular fork; 14) F. sandala, phallus; 15) F. sandala, tegmen; 16) C. sakaii, tegmen, dorsal view; 17) C. sakaii, phallus; 18) C. sakaii, tegmen, ventral view; 19) R. vitellinus, phallus; 20) R. vitellinus, tegmen, ventral view.

Figs. 21–28. Pronota, dorsal view. 21) Funicula albocapilla; 22) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 23) Furcadia sandala; 24) Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 25) Coadnatus sakaii; 26) Latupusillus laculatus; 27) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 28) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri.