Mizotrechus neblinensis, Erwin, 2011

Erwin, Terry L., 2011, Rainforest understory beetles of the Neotropics, Mizotrechus Bates 1872, a generic synopsis with descriptions of new species from Central America and northern South America (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Perigonini), ZooKeys 145, pp. 79-128 : 99-100

Tipui trough beetle Mizotrechus neblinensis sp. n. Figs 15 35 40 41

Holotype.

VENEZUELA, Amazonas, Cerro de la Neblina (Smithsonian Basecamp), 140 m, 0.0148°N, 66.1604°W, 10-20 February 1985 (PJ Spangler, PM Spangler, RE Faitoute & WE Steiner)(NMNH: ADP124944, female).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet “neblinensis” is a Latinized noun in apposition, based on a geographic name formed from Pico de Neblina, a tipui on the border of Venezuela and Brazil, the area in which adults of this species have been found, and the Latin suffix „-ensis,“ meaning of, or from that place.

Proposed English vernacular name.

Tipui trough beetle.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus as described above and medium sized for the genus as it is presently understood; adults have castaneous integument, except anterior parts of mandible, baso-lateral corner of labrum, and clypeal suture piceous. Frons with nearly effaced rugae, punctulate. Occiput punctulate. Pronotum nearly quadrate with lateral margins straight to hind angle, hind angle a very small tooth; base densely rugulose. Elytra broad and short, slightly wider than the width of pronotum across anterior third, and with 6 evident shallowly impressed interneurs, 7-8 nearly effaced; margins behind humeri moderately serrulate. Foreleg femur with markedly developed and produced ridge on postero-ventral margin.

Description.

( Figs 15 , 35 ). Size: See Appendix 1. Medium sized for the genus, ABL = 6.4-6.9 mm, SBL = 5.54-6.12 mm, TW = 2.25-2.46 mm. Color: see diagnosis, above. Luster: Head, pronotum, elytra and legs shiny, microsculpture absent. Head: Labrum quadrate and apico- medially emarginate. Eye large, moderately convex. Gena moderately long, straight. Frons, occiput, and gena glabrous. Prothorax: Broad, narrowed slightly toward base, margin narrowly explanate except wider at hind angle, hind angle a very small tooth; surface punctulate, punctures widespread, glabrous. Pterothorax: Elytron moderately convex, disk flat, intervals flat, interneurs striato-punctate, punctures small, shallow, apex oblique and straight, sutural apex narrowly rounded. Metasternum sparsely setiferous in male. Legs: Normal in both sexes; foreleg femur (as in Fig. 22 ) ridged along the posterio-ventral margin and markedly produced at middle of ridge; posterior trochanter narrowly rounded at apex, about half the length of the femur. Abdomen: Abdominal sterna moderately setiferous; sternum IV of female with denser patch of setae at midline. Male genitalia: Median lobe ( Fig. 35 ) short and robust with ostium moderately elongate, over half the length of the median lobe; apex a short blunt distal end, slightly curved in lateral aspect, ventral margin proximal to apex evenly arched and barely curved to apex; endophallus with complexly folded tracheal fields; phallobase hooded, opening more or less five degrees off axis of shaft. Parameres large, left a third longer than the right, both broadly rounded, asetose. Female genitalia: Not investigated; however, it is likely similar to that illustrated on Plate 11 .

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Way of life.

The adult holotype was collected in a flight intercept trap in the rainforest understory. Adults are active in February, in the rainy season.

Other specimens examined.

Paratypes: Guyane, Montagne des Chevaux, Commune de Roura, RN2 PK22, 90 m, 4.7127°N, 52.3966°W, 19 September 2009 (NMNH: ADP124970, male), 31 October 2010 (NMNH: ADP128733, male). Venezuela, Amazonas, Cerro de la Neblina (Smithsonian Basecamp), 140 m, 0.0148°N, 66.1604°W, 10-20 February 1985 (PJ Spangler, PM Spangler, RE Faitoute & WE Steiner)(NMNH: ADP124948, female).

Geographic distribution

. ( Figs 40 , 41 ). This species is currently known from lowland localities, one each in Guyane and Venezuela.

Figures

Plate 4. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect: 13 Mizotrechus marielaforetae sp. n., dorsal aspect, ABL = 5.9 mm, male paratype, ADP 127183, type locality. 14 Mizotrechus minutus sp. n., ABL = 4.4 mm, female paratype, ADP 124920; Guyane, Commune de Sauel, Belvedere de Sauel. 15 Mizotrechus neblinensis sp. n., dorsal aspect, ABL = 6.9 mm, female holotype, ADP 124944; type locality. 16 Mizotrechus novemstriatus Bates 1872, ABL = 7.2 mm, female lectotype, ADP 127163; type locality.

Plate 6. Digital Photo-illustrations, anterior femur, ventral aspect: 19 Mizotrechus minutus sp. n., ADP 124966; type locality. 20 Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 124896; type locality. 21 Mizotrechus chontalesensis sp. n., ADP 127181; type locality. 22 Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n., ADP 124948; type locality. 23 Mizotrechus brulei sp. n., ADP 129205; type locality. 24 Mizotrechus gorgona. sp. n., ADP 128622; type locality.

Plate 10. Digital Photo-illustration, male genitalia, median lobe, left lateral, dorsal, and right lateral aspects: 34 Mizotrechus minutus sp. n., ADP 124902; type locality. 35 Mizotrechus neblinensis sp. n., ADP 124944; type locality. 36 Mizotrechus poirieri sp. n., ADP 124888; type locality.

Plate 11. Figure 37. Digital Photo-illustration, female genitalia: Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 127161; Petite Montague Tortue, Guyane. A. Dorsal aspect. Legend, bc, bursa copulatrix; co, common oviduct; sg, spermathecal gland; sgd, spermathecal gland duct; sp, spermatheca. dorsal aspect; vc, villous canal; lt, laterotergite; gc 1, gonocoxite 1; gc 2, gonocoxite 2. B. Gonocoxite 2, dorsal aspect: Legend, b, base of gonocoxite 2; bl, blade of gonocoxite 2; des, dorsal ensiform seta; ves, ventral ensiform setae.

Figure 40. Distribution symbol map for known localities of Mizotrechus batesi, Mizotrechus bellorum, Mizotrechus belvedere, Mizotrechus brulei, Mizotrechus dalensi, Mizotrechus grossus, Mizotrechus marielaforetae, Mizotrechus minutus, Mizotrechus poirieri, Mizotrechus neblinensis, spp. n.

Figure 41. Distribution symbol map for known localities of Mizotrechus neblinensis, sp. n., Mizotrechus novemstriatus Bates.