Stirellus paracatalinus sp. nov.

(Figs 7–8)

Description. Length. Male: 2.4–2.6mm; female: 2.6mm.

Coloration. General color stramineous with dark brown or fuscous marks (Fig. 7 A–C). Crown, pronotum, mesonotum and scutellum usually with dark brown symmetrical markings; anterior half of crown mostly dark brown, posterior part with two pairs of oblong spots (Fig. 7A, B). Frontoclypeus sordid yellow with dark brown arcs, median longitudinal stripe and band across ventral part (Fig. 7D). Forewing translucent with fuscous tint, veins white in basal two thirds, brown distally (Fig. 7 A–C). Femora and tibiae with dark brown marks (Fig. 7C). Abdominal sternites variably infused with dark brown (Fig. 7E).

Morphology. Head subequal in width to pronotum, subconical, anterior margin of crown rounded to face, acutely angled in dorsal and lateral view (Fig. 7 A–C). Crown slightly longer than width between eyes (Fig. 7A, B). Anteclypeus slightly tapered, extending slightly beyond normal curve of genae (Fig. 7D). Pronotum median length nearly as long as median length of crown. Mesonotum and scutellum together nearly as long as pronotum (Fig. 7A, B). Forewing macropterous to submacropterous, usually exposing apex of abdomen in female (Fig. 7 A–C).

Male genitalia. Pygofer side with few macrosetae dorsally, dorsal margin slightly concave, posterior margin truncate (Fig. 8A). Subgenital plate with lateral margin nearly straight through most of length, angled mesad distally and terminating in blunt posteromesal angle, macrosetae uniseriate (Fig. 8C). Style apophysis digitate, bent laterad just distad of preapical lobe and slightly tapered to blunt apex,, outerouter marginmargin serrateserrate ((Fig. 8D, E). Connective Y-shaped, stem broadened posterad, shorter than arms (Fig. 8F). Aedeagal shaft in lateral view bent near base, moderately long, slightly sinuate, very slightly expanded near middle, parallel to aedeagal base, apex attenuate, in dorsal view slightly tapered to bluntly rounded apex (Fig. 8G, H).

Female. Hind margin of seventh sternum shallowly concave medially, angulate laterally, pigmentation similar to that of other sternites (Fig. 7E).

Material examined. Holotype: Ƌ, Mexico: Sinaloa Rt. 40 100km E Mazatlan, 2000m, 24 x 1995, coll. C.H. Dietrich, vacuum, 95-044 (INHS) . Paratypes: 1Ƌ, 1♀, Mexico: Durango 20 mi SE Msequital, 2450m, 7 xi 1995, coll. C.H. Dietrich, sweeping (INHS) .

Etymology. The species epithet is based on the similarity of this species to S. catalinus .

Distribution. Mexico.

Remarks. This species is similar to S. catalinus, but it can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: crown shorter and broader with apical spots enlarged to cover most of distal half; subgenital plate with lateral margin straight through most of length; connective stem broadened distally.