Parinesa minuta, Escalona & Slipinski, 2012

Escalona, H. E. & Slipinski, A., 2012, Revision of the Neotropical ladybird genus Parinesa Gordon (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Zootaxa 3198 (1), pp. 29-53 : 49

Parinesa minuta sp. nov.

( Figs 14–16, 120–133, 148)

HOLOTYPE: Panamá, Canal Zone , 100 m, 5.0 mi. NW Gamboa, 09° 10' N 79° 45' W, 23–24–x–1975; Canopy fogging experiment in Luehea seemannii Pyrethrin fog; sample 7B 24–x–1975, ♂ NMNH . PARATYPES: same data as holotype, 2 specimens NMNH .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by its small size (1.1 mm), elytral disc bearing two rows of punctures ( Fig. 16), winged, eyes partially divided, apex of clypeus slightly emarginate ( Fig. 120), well developed anterior lobe of prosternum ( Fig. 125) and flattened protibia ( Fig. 127) with angulate external border.

Description. Measurements (mm, except ratios): BL: 1.1. BW: 0.9. PL: 0.2; PW: 0.6; PL/PW: 0.3; EL: 0.8; EL/W: 0.9; CO: 0.6. Body rounded ( Fig. 16) and convex ( Fig. 14); winged. Color dark brown with clypeus and sides of elytra slightly lighter; ventral surface brown. Head with fine sparse setae, pronotum and elytra with minute setae on lateral sides. Head and pronotum finely microsculptured and punctate, punctures on pronotum smaller and denser than those on head; elytral surfaces polished, finely punctate, punctures denser and coarser laterally near base.

Head ( Fig. 120) slightly convex. Clypeus well produced, apex slightly emarginate ( Fig. 120). Eyes partially divided by ocular canthus. Mentum ( Fig. 122) with apical borders rounded. Maxilla as in Figs 121, 123. Antennal club ( Fig. 124) with the three terminal segments enlarged.

Anterior lobe of prosternum ( Fig. 125) broadly rounded with coarse setiferous punctures; prosternal process sulcate. Mesoventral process slightly convex with coarse punctures. Metaventrite with coarse punctures, denser laterally. Elytra with incomplete lateral stria, disc ( Fig. 16) with two distinctive and convergent rows of punctures. Pygidium ♂, as in Fig. 129. Abdominal process broad ( Fig. 126) with coarse but sparse punctures. Protibia ( Fig. 127) flattened with angulate external border. Mesotibia as in Fig. 128.

Male genitalia ( Figs 130–133): penis curved ( Fig. 132); penis guide ( Fig. 131) narrowing in apical fourth. Parameres ( Fig. 130) narrow to apex, slightly shorter than penis guide.

Etymology. Derived from the Latin minutus, meaning small.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Panama ( Fig. 148).