Nelloptodes keitai, Darby, 2019

Darby, Michael, 2019, Studies of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) in the Spirit Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, 6: New species and records collected by W. C. Block in Kenya and Uganda, 1964 - 1965, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 155, pp. 239-257 : 250

Nelloptodes keitai sp. n.

( Figs 9 A–D)

Description

Habitus Fig. 9A, L . 0.80mm. Shining brown, antennae and pubescence pale yellow. Head without foveolae between eyes. Eyes reduced to points, width across 0.28mm. Antennomeres III– XI L. 0.37mm. Mentum and prementum chaetotaxy as in Fig. 6I . Pronotum L. 0.25mm, W. 0.43mm ( Fig. 9B ). Elytra L. 0.41mm W. 0.43mm, truncate, shallowly foveolate. Proventrum, mesocoxae adjacent. Mesoventrum ( Fig. 9D ), L. 0.19mm, posterior margins rounded at lateral margins. Metaventrum ( Fig. 9D ), L. 0.12mm, distance between metacoxae 0.16mm. Apterous. ♀, spermatheca ( Fig. 9D ). ♂, not known.

Diagnosis: The form of the spermatheca separates N. keitai from the other Kenyan species.

Etymology: Named after Keita Matsumoto my colleague in the Coleoptera Section of the Natural History Museum, London.

Remarks: The naming of this species based on a single specimen is considered to be justified given the unique form of the spermatheca.

Material examined

Holotype, ♀, KENYA: Aberdares National Park , litter, 1150ft., 1.x.1965, leg. W.C. Block, BM 1978-472 ( BMNH, mounted verso).

Figures

Fig. 9. — Nelloptodes keitai sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, pronotum ×465; D, meso- and metaventra ×345.

Fig. 6. — Nelloptodes blocki sp. n.. A, habitus; B, aedeagus; Ca, Cb, spermathecae; D, terminal abdominal tergites and ventrites showing position of spermatheca and lack of claws; E, pronotum ×400; F, meso- and metaventra ×470; G, terminal abdominal ventrites ×600; H, proventrum ×470; I, mentum and prementum ×840.