Novochares tridentis sp. nov.

Figs 21G-J, 22D

Type material.

Holotype (male): Holotype (male): "BRASIL: Goiás, Sta./ Isabel, R. Araguaia,/ Isla do Bananal/ I,8-11,1961./ B. Malkin leg." (FMNH).

Differential diagnosis.

This species is unique among members of the Novochares sallaei species group by the 3-pronged appearance of the median lobe (Fig. 21G). There are other species with three prongs in the Novochares tectiformis species group (e.g., N. trifurcatus, Fig. 27I) but these species are larger in body size and the form of the aedeagus is much more robust.

Description.

Body length 5.1 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces brown, with paler (orange) clypeus and margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps only slightly longer than width of head, uniformly orange in color. Thorax: Ground punctation on pronotum and elytra relatively dense and very shallowly impressed. Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows (one dorsal and two or three lateral) of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures. Prosternum medially very weakly convex. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite transversely and weakly elevated, posteriorly concave, with low and broad medial longitudinal elevation extending anteriorly. Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively shallow and broad, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Fig. 21G-J) Overall shape pear-like, 2.4 × longer than wide, with outer lateral margins of parameres nearly evenly convex up to apical region; apical region of each paramere rounded, partly membranous, with outer margin laterally pointed; at closest point, dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance 0.6 × greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.46 × as broad as base; neck dorsally concave; arms of dorsal plate of median lobe nearly parallel along basal 1/2, converging along distal 1/2, nearly 0.26 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; each arm acute at apex; notch between arms at base 2 × width of arm at base; gonopore placed near mid-length of dorsal plate of median lobe; ventral plate of median lobe moderately sclerotized, extending to second 1/3 of arms of dorsal plate, ventrally curved at apex; basal piece 0.3 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus oblique at base, with ventral outline of parameres 3.2 × longer than greatest width near mid-length; dorsal outline of aedeagus in lateral view sinuate along basal 3/4, then nearly straight to apex of parameres; ventral outline of aedeagus in lateral view nearly straight, slightly bent at basal 1/3.

Etymology.

Named after the three-pointed appearance of the median lobe of the aedeagus, formed by the lateral arms of the dorsal plate and the median projection of the ventral plate.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Brazil ( Goiás) (Fig. 22D).

Habitat.

Nothing is known about the habitat of this species.