Acrotrichis malitiosa, Darby, Michael, 2014

Darby, Michael, 2014, Studies of Madagascan Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 3: The genus Acrotrichis including twenty seven new species, Zootaxa 3866 (2), pp. 151-201 : 185-186

Acrotrichis malitiosa sp. n.

( Figs. 24A –H)

Habitus Fig. 24A . Length 0.82 mm. Pubescence longer than other species of similar size. Colour dark brownish black, antennae and legs pale yellow. Antennomeres 3–11 0.32 mm long Fig. 24 B. Breadth across eyes 0.29 mm. Pronotum 0.43 mm wide, 0.24 mm long, lateral margins weakly curved, without a sinuation before the hind angle Fig. 24 D, with a row of marginal setae on the ventral face Fig. 24 E. Elytra 0.46 mm long, 0.45 mm wide, with an epipleural carina. Mesoventral collar broadest medially where the raised anterior margin extends backwards as a narrow parallel sided ridge Fig. 24 F. Metaventral posterior margin and metacoxal plates Fig. 24 G.

Male: not known.

Female: spermatheca Fig. 24 C.

Etymology. Johnson ms name.

Remarks. The long pubescence, particularly on the head, and the presence of the ridge on the mesosternal collar will quickly distinguish this species from all others except bibula from which it may be separated by its narrower shape and the form of the spermatheca.

Type data. Holotype: ♀, Perinet, 12.x.1970, forest litter, leg. P.M.Hammond ( BMNH). (Note: Johnson’s ms refers to a paratype ♀, same data as holotype, but this specimen has not been located).

Figures

FIGURE 24. A. malitiosa. A, habitus; B, side of pronotum viewed at 45 ˚; C, antennomeres 3 – 11; D, spermatheca; E, underside of pronotal margin showing row of setae x 740, F, mesoventral collar x 525; metaventral posterior margin and coxal plates x 380; H, mentum and submentum x 1360.