Prototyrtaeus sandersoni Spiessberger and Ivie

Spiessberger, Erich L. & Ivie, Michael A., 2020, A New Genus and Fourteen New Species of Anopidiina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Diaperinae: Gnathidiini) from the West Indies, The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (4), pp. 667-695 : 686-687

Prototyrtaeus sandersoni Spiessberger and Ivie , new species

zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

( Figs. 8 , 15h , 16l , 17g )

Type Material. Holotype. Jamaica, Brit.; West Indies/ Hardwar Gap,; Portland Par. ; 4000’ 03AUG1956; B&B Valentine/ Hardwood cloud; forest, beating ( WIBF, to be deposited in NMNH) . Paratypes (48). 5: same locality data as holotype ( WIBF). 1: JAMAICA, 4000’; Hardwar Gap ; VII.4.1966; A.T. Howden ( CNCI). 3: same locality data as previous, except, Howden & Becker (1 CNCI, 2 WIBF). 1: same locality data as previous, except VII.5.1966 ( CNCI). 1: JAMAICA, 4000’; Hardwar Gap ; VII.10.1966; A. T. Howden ( CNCI). 1: same locality data as previous, except, Howden & Becker ( CNCI). 1: same locality data as previous, except, VII.12.1966 ( CNCI). 1: same locality data as previous, except, VII.13.1966 ( CNCI). 2: same locality data as previous, except, VII.16.1966 (1 CNCI, 1 WIBF). 1: same locality data as previous, except, VII.17.1966 ( WIBF). 3: JAM., St Andrew P.; Hardwar Gap ; 16.XII.1973; S&J Peck (2 CNCI, 1 WIBF). 1: JAMAICA: St. Andrew; Par., Hardwar Gap ; 4380 ft., 8AUG1985; M. A. Ivie colr. ( WIBF). 1: JAMAICA, Portland; P., Hardwar Gap ; Dec,5,1975 C.W.&L.; O’ Brien & Marshall ( FSCA). 1: JAMAICA: Portland; Par., Hardwar Gap ; 09MAY1950; Acc. No. 49613 5-4 ( INHS). 2: Main Range; Blue Mts. ; 5-7388 ft.; Aug. 17-19/ Jamaica; 1934; Darlington (1 MCZC, 1 WIBF). 1: JAMAICA, 7400’; Blue Mt. Peak ; VII.27- 28.1966; Howden & Becker ( CNCI). 1: JAMAICA:; 6MI. N.MAVIS BANK ; JUNE 1 1966 / B. K. DOZIER; COLL.( FSCA). 1: Mt. Diablo, Jamaica; St. Ann Par. ; IV-3-68/ J.F. Lawrence; Lot. 2553/ Peck & Fiske; Collectors ( MCZC). 1: Whitfield Hall; Blue Mts .; nr 4500 ft.; Aug. 13-20/ Jamaica; 1934; Darlington ( MCZC). 1: JAMAICA: St. Andrew,; Holywell Pk. (Hardwar Gap) ; 18°5.166’N 76°43.622’W; 1,230m. Moss sifting. 22 July; 2015. A.S. Konstantinov ( WIBF). 5: JAMAICA: St. Catherine; Par, 1 mi. N.Flat Brdg; above RioCobre Gorge ; 27JUN1958, MSanderson/ beating &; sweeping veg. (3 INHS, 2 WIBF). 1: JAMAICA: Hardwar; Gap, Portland Par. ; 09MAY1950; Acc. No. 49614 ( WIBF). 5: JAMAICA: Portland; N side of Mossman’ s Peak ; 24.VIII.1980 1550m; A. Norrbom (3 CMNH, 2 WIBF). 3: same locality data as previous, except, 1600m ( CMNH). 2: same locality data as previous except, 26.VIII.1980 1300m (1 CMNH, 1 WIBF). 1: same locality data as previous, except, 1400m ( CMNH). 1: JAMAICA: St. Thomas; Portland Gap 1550m; 24.VIII.1980; A. Norrbom / beating ( CMNH) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by its non-metallic integument; the strongly convex body; the antenna unicolorous and with seven

antennomeres ( Fig. 15h ); the pronotum transverse, widest at base, with the anterior margin beaded; and the broadly rounded intercoxal process of ventrite 1 ( Fig. 16l ). Prototyrtaeus sandersoni can be confused with P. howdeni and P. beckeri. It can be differentiated from P. howdeni by the strongly convex body, the sparsely punctate frons, and small body size (1.3–2.0 mm). It can be differentiated from P. beckeri by lacking a longitudinal elevation along the elytral suture and having at least three long elytral setae ( Figs. 16a, b ).

Etymology. This species is named for Milton William Sanderson (1910–2012), in honor of his contributions to West Indian entomology through his extensive collections in Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. He collected specimens of three of the 14 species of Prototyrtaeus.

Description. 1.3–2.0 mm long, 0.9–1.3 mm wide. Dorsal surface piceous, strongly convex, rounded behind, more declivous in lateral view, without distinct setation, only a few microsetae and a few longer setae along lateral elytral margin, shiny; antenna yellow or light brown. Head not as wide as anterior edge of pronotum, frons sparsely, finely punctate, punctures smaller than eye facet, glabrous; epistomal suture weakly marked; clypeus bearing long, golden setae at the apical corners, not medially; labrum densely setose; antenna with 7 antennomeres ( Fig. 15h ), antennomere 2 slightly wider than 3, antennomeres after 3 gradually widening, 7 forming club of 3 fused antennomeres, rounded to oval, club length subequal to antennomeres 2–6. Pronotum transverse, widest at base, moderately, finely punctate, punctures smaller than eye facet; all margins beaded, anterior margin slightly bisinuate, lateral margin above lateral bead nearly straight, strongly beaded, bead width gradually increasing posteriorly, visible setae in dorsal view projecting laterally, posterior margin arcuate with bead sometimes nearly effaced medially, anterior angles rounded, projecting, posterior angles obtuse. Elytron without striae, finely punctate, 1 long seta behind basal margin or absent, pair of long setae above lateral groove on basal fourth, 1 long seta above lateral groove on apical third (if missing, distinct puncture present) ( Figs. 16a, b ). Metaventrite short, lateral area weakly punctate; metanepisternum weakly punctate. Pro- and mesocoxae rounded (external view), metacoxa transverse, narrowing outwards, femora with short, sparse, golden setae, protibia cylindrical, with sparse, straight, golden setae on dorsal surface, ventrally completely setose, becoming dense, golden brush on apical half, tarsomere 1 slightly enlarged ( Fig. 16e ). Intercoxal process of ventrite 1 broadly rounded ( Fig. 16l ), sparsely punctate, punctures each bearing a very fine, golden seta. Aedeagus ( Fig. 17g ) evenly curved medially, basale and apicale subequal in length, median lobe not exceeding apicale.

Distribution. Jamaica ( Fig. 19 ).

Biology. Nothing is recorded on the biology of this species.

Remarks. The majority of specimens of this species were taken by beating in the hardwood cloud forests around Hardwar Gap and Blue Mountain Peak.

Figures

Figs. 1–9. Prototyrtaeus species, dorsal habitus. 1) P. duartei, new species; 2) P. neiba, new species; 3) P. unomas, new species; 4) P. obrieni, new species; 5) P. pecki, new species; 6) P. gracilicornis, new species; 7) P. howdeni, new species; 8) P. sandersoni, new species; 9) P. beckeri, new species. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 15. Prototyrtaeus species, antennae. a) P. duartei, new species, b) P. neiba, new species, c) P. unomas, new species, d) P. obrieni, new species, e) P. pecki, new species, f) P. gracilicornis, new species, g) P. howdeni, new species, h) P. sandersoni, new species, i) P. beckeri, new species, j) P. darlingtoni, new species, k) P. maestrensis, new species, l) P. felis, new species, m) P. turquinensis, new species, n) P. auranticornis, new species. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 16. Prototyrtaeus species. Lateral view of elytron with: a) Four long setae, b) Three long setae, c) One long seta. First mesotarsomere: d) Distinctly enlarged, e) Slightly enlarged. f) Ovipositor. Abdomen, intercoxal process: g) P. duartei, new species, h) P. neiba, new species and P. unomas, new species, i) P. obrieni, new species, j) P. pecki, new species, k) P. gracilicornis, new species, l) P. howdeni, new species and P. sandersoni, new species, m) P. beckeri, new species, n) P. darlingtoni, new species, o) P. maestrensis, new species, P. felis, new species, P. turquinensis, new species, and P. auranticornis, new species.

Fig. 17. Prototyrtaeus species, aedeagi, ventral and lateral views. a) P. duartei, new species, b) P. neiba, new species, c) P. obrieni, new species, d) P. pecki, new species, e) P. gracilicornis, new species, f) P. howdeni, new species, g) P. sandersoni, new species, h) P. beckeri, new species, i) P. darlingtoni, new species, j) P. maestrensis, new species. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Figs. 18–20. Distribution maps of Prototyrtaeus species. 18) P. duartei, new species, P. howdeni, new species, P. beckeri, new species, P. turquinensis, new species, and P. auranticornis, new species; 19) P. sandersoni, new species, P. neiba, new species, P. unomas, new species, P. darlingtoni, new species, P. maestrensis, new species, P. felis, new species; 20) P. obrieni, new species, P. pecki, new species, and P. gracilicornis, new species.