Laximicracis latipes Jordal, 2021

Jordal, Bjarte, 2021, Laximicracis-a new genus of Afrotropical Micracidini beetles (Coleoptera Scolytinae), Zootaxa 4966 (1), pp. 91-96 : 92-93

Laximicracis latipes Jordal , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1E058ED3-32B5-4701-9AFD-02C943F46A8C

( Figs 1–4, 7, 10 )

Type material. Holotype, female: Kenya, Kilifi — Watamu, Arabuko Sokoke Forest , GIS: -3.37, 39.97, UV-trap, 2.III.2017, R. Gerstmeier, leg. Allotype male and paratypes (11): same data as HT. Holotype, allotype and two paratypes in ZMUB , five paratypes NMKE, two each in NHMW and ZSM.

Diagnosis. Frons concave in both sexes, with dense, coarse, short setae in impressed area; female antennal scapus with long tuft of golden setae; antennal club in both sexes strongly elongated, suture obscure. Elytral setae on interstriae 1 in two irregular mixed rows. Protibiae very broad, with five densely placed teeth obliquely set on apical margin.

Description, female. Length 2.5–2.6 mm, 2.6–2.7 × as long as wide, colour black. Frons concave, with dense coarse, short setae in impressed area; antennal scapus elongated, apically not broader than pedicel, with long tuft of golden setae; funiculus 5-segmented; antennal club lightly curved, about 2.3 × as long as broad, procurved suture near anterior margin obscurely indicated; eyes large, separated above by 1.2–1.3 × their width. Pronotum in lateral view gently curved without clear summit, as broad as long, broadest at anterior third, finely asperate and granulated on anterior two-thirds; vestiture consisting of very short coarse setae. Scutellum flat. Elytra with interstrial rows of densely placed erect setae on each interstriae, on interstriae 1 strongly confused; strial setae short, fine, semirecumbent to erect. Legs. Protibiae very broad, lateral edges parallel, with five densely placed denticles obliquely set on apical margin. Metatibiae with one denticle near tarsal insertion, and two closely set procurved denticles at apicolateral corner. All tibiae with long spatulate setae, particularly at lateral margins. Ventral sclerites. Vestiture mainly unifid, coarse; a few setae on the upper part of ventrite 1 bifid.

Male. Similar to female except length 2.4 mm, frons slightly less concave, antennal scapus with only scant setae.

Etymology. The Latin adjective latipes is gender neutral and means wide-legged, referring to the unusually broad protibiae in this species.

Biology and distribution. Only known from the type locality in eastern lowlands of Kenya, regularly collected by UV-light traps in early March 2013. This is the dry season in an otherwise semi-dry mixed Miombo and Cynometra forest.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Legs, male genitalia and proventriculus of Laximicracis latipes.

FIGURES 4–12. Dorsal, lateral and front view of Laximicracis latipes (4, 7, 10), Laximicracis dubia (5, 8, 11) and Laximicracis convexa (6, 9, 12) holotypes.