Brodskyella viraktamathi Ruzzier and Yeshwanth

Ruzzier, Enrico & Yeshwanth, H. M., 2019, Two New Species of Brodskyella Horák, 1989 (Coleoptera: Mordellidae: Stenaliini) from India, The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (4), pp. 1087-1092 : 1089-1091

Brodskyella viraktamathi Ruzzier and Yeshwanth , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6025B3AA-26F9-4019-A166-7A9DF990DFA ( Figs. 2A–I , 3B )

Type Specimens. HOLOTYPE: Male labelled INDIA: Karnataka: Biligiri Hills , 925m, 13.viii.1977, Viraktamath, C. A. leg. ( UASB) . PARATYPE: One female with the same data as holotype ( UASB) .

Description. Length 3.1 mm from vertex of head to tip of elytra. Head: Ground color of integument orange except black area on vertex; mandibles darkened apically ( Fig. 2C ). Head covered by short, dense, recumbent setae. Eyes comparatively small (ocular index 55.4), reaching occiput, not extending to ventral surface of head, finely facetted ( Fig. 2C–G ). Maxillary palpi orange, apical palpomere securiform ( Fig. 2D ), labial palpi orange, apical palpomere ellipsoidal. Mouthparts lacking any visible sexual dimorphism. Antennae moderately long; antennomeres 1–4 cylindrical; antennomere 1 2.4X longer than wide; antennomere 2 2.0X longer than wide; antennomeres 3–4 2.3X longer than wide; antennomeres 5–10 weakly serrate, 1.6X longer than wide, weakly serrate; all antennomeres bright orange; antennomere 11 ellipsoidal, 2.3X longer than wide ( Fig. 2E ). Thorax: Elytra long and slender, 3.0X as long as wide across humeral calli; ground color of integument orange, becoming dark brown towards elytral margins and suture ( Fig. 2A ). Elytra entirely covered by short, recumbent, posteriorly oriented, black setae. Integument of pronotum orange in anterior half and along lateral margins; posteriorly expanded, semitriangular black area present in posterior half of pronotum ( Fig. 2F ). Surface covered by posteriorly oriented, yellowish pubescence. Pronotum subrectangular in dorsal view, 1.2X as long as wide ( Fig. 2F ); anterior margin of pronotum margined, gently curved from median anterior lobe to anterior angles (not visible from above); lateral margin gradually curved, feebly sinuate in lateral aspect; posterior margin emarginate with posterior median lobe protruding backwards; posterior angles obtuse. Ground color of meso- and metathoraces black except reddish brown metacoxal plates; entire integument covered by sparse light yellowish pubescence ( Fig. 2B ). Scutellum triangular, black. Legs: Fore legs bright orange; middle and hind legs reddish brown, gradually darkened apically. Protibia straight; protarsus 0.9X longer than protibia. Mesotibia straight; mesotarsus 0.9X longer than mesotibia. Metatibia with 1 apical ridge and 2 oblique lateral ridges. Metatarsomere 1 with 2 ridges, metatarsomeres 2 and 3 each with 1 ridge. Tibial spurs subequal in length, yellow ( Fig. 2H ). Pygidium: Conical in dorsal view, 2.7X as long as wide at base ( Fig. 2I ). Genitalia: Parameres asymmetrical ( Fig. 3B ). Right paramere U-shaped; dorsal branch apically expanded and rounded; ventral branch apically narrowed, pointed; ventral branch not overlapping dorsal branch in medial view. Left paramere lacking ventral branch; dorsal branch apically expanded and rounded, covered setae; medial process apically expanded, ventrally produced, truncate at apex.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Prof. C. A. Viraktamath (GKVK, Bangalore, India) for his contributions to insect taxonomy in India.

Diagnosis. Brodskyella viraktamathi closely resembles B. holzschuhi in general appearance but differs from it in having the lateral portions of the pronotum entirely orange instead of orange only in the anterior half in B. holzschuhi . The two species can be reliably separated only by the shape of the parameres ( Fig. 3B–D ): the ventral branch of the right paramere in B. viraktamathi is strongly curved and is subequal in length to the dorsal branch, whereas in B. holzschuhi the ventral branch is elongate and only moderately curved and is significantly shorter than the dorsal branch.

Figures

Fig. 2. Brodskyella viraktamathi, holotype. A) Habitus, dorsal and lateral views, respectively, C) Head, frontal view, D) Maxillary palpus, E) Antenna, F) Pronotum and head, dorsal view, G) Head and thorax, lateral view, H) Left hind leg, I) Pygidium.

Fig. 3. Brodskyella species, parameres. A) B. konvickai, B) B. viraktmathi, C) B. angustata, D) B. holzschuhi. Illustrations C and B from Horák (1989).