Lithocharodes hansoni sp. nov.

Figs 5a-d, 19E

Material examined.

Holotype: COSTA RICA male; Puntarenas; R.F. Golfo Dulce; 24 km W Piedras Blancas; 20 m elevation; Dec 1991; P. Hanson leg.; KNHM.

Paratypes: COSTA RICA 1 male; Osa Peninsula; Fundación Neotrop.; 10 km W Rincon; 8°42'30"N, 83°31'30"W; Berlese; forest litter; 22 Jun 1997; R. Anderson leg.; KNHM CR1A97 026A ; 1 male; from same location; 8°45'30"N, 83°25'0"W; 20 m elevation; 21 Jun 1997; R. Anderson leg.; KNHM CR1A97 025D .

Diagnosis.

According to the small size of the dorsal plate of the aedeagus, L. hansoni belongs to the L. obscura -group. It differs from L. obscura Irmler, 2021 by the narrow sclerotised edge along the apical orifice and the shape of the parameres that are elongate and slender in L. obscura, but broader with acute top in L. hansoni . The overall characters of both species are also very similar by the black colour, punctation and shape of the head (PS:E ratio approximately three in both species). The head is slightly emarginated in front of neck in L. obscura, but approximately semi-circular in L. hansoni . L. hansoni is slightly shorter with 4.5 mm length than L. obscura with 5.2 mm length.

Description.

Length: 4.5 mm; Colouration: completely black; legs and antennae dark brown.

Head: 0.74 mm long, 0.59 mm wide; eyes moderately large; not prominent; PS:E ratio 3.5; post-ocular sides slightly divergent to posterior angles; posterior angles obtuse; posterior edge approximately semi-circular in front of neck; setiferous punctation moderately deep and dense; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as to 1.5 times as wide as diameter of punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished; antennae with first antennomere elongate; longer than half-length of head; second and third antennomere conical, longer than wide; combined half as long as first antennomere; following antennomeres transverse; apically increasing in width. Pronotum: 0.96 mm long, 0.52 mm wide; widest in front of anterior third; posteriorly, sides slightly convergent; posterior angle combined with posterior margin semi-circular; setiferous punctation deeper and moderately denser than on head; a long wide impunctate mid-line, with irregular line of approximately 18 punctures; on average in lateral part, interstices between punctures 1.5 times as wide as diameter of punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished. Elytra: 0.81 mm long, 0.73 mm wide; humeral angles obtuse; posteriorly, sides nearly parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; posterior margin retreated to suture; setiferous punctation deeper and denser than on head and pronotum; irregularly dense; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as diameter of punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished. Abdomen with fine and moderately dense setiferous punctation; surface without microsculpture; polished; sternite VII of male with posterior margin slightly convex; posterior margin of tergite VII of male straight; meso-tibia with 2, meta-tibia with 3 ctenidia. Aedeagus elongate; 3.6 times as long as wide; dorsal plate small; circular with apical bump; translocated to posterior edge; apex prominent; endophallus transparent; elongate; apical orifice crevice-like; at inner side sclerotised; parameres moderately long; bilobed; inner lobe approximately 0.4 times as long as central lobe; thick at base; in apical half, abruptly narrowed to acute top; in narrow apical part, with few sensillae, outer lobe of same shape as inner lobe, but transparent.

Etymology.

The species name honours the collector of the species, P. Hanson, who collected a lot of species in Central America.

Geography.

South-eastern Costa Rica.

Ecology.

Floor of lowland rain forest.