Normaltica obrieni, Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2002

Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2002, A new genus of flea beetles from the Greater Antilles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Zootaxa 124, pp. 1-24 : 11-15

Normaltica obrieni new species

( Figs. 1­6 , 9, 10 , 18 , 23, 24 , 27, 28 , 30­42 , 47 , 49­53 , 56, 58 , 66­77 )

Description. Body of medium size, length 2.00­ 2.59 mm, oval, relatively convex in lateral view. Color black, with metallic luster and paler appendages. Eight apical antennomeres white.

Antennal callus ( Figs. 1­4 ) relatively well developed, nearly trapezoidal, 1.45 times as wide as long. Supracallinal sulci relatively well developed. Vertex with tiny well developed punctures. Anterofrontal ridge relatively high. Dorsal side of antennomere seven 2.43 times longer than dorsal side of antennomere eight ( Figs. 9, 10 ).

Pronotum ( Fig. 23 ) 1.95 times wider than long, without impressions. Anterolateral callosity slightly angulate at setiferous pore. Basal dilation widely rounded. Punctures relatively large, deep, sparse.

Elytron ( Figs. 31­42 , 58 ) with well developed humeral callus and maximum width near mid length. Punctures relatively large, deep, arranged in striae. Wing well developed with full set of veins including two sclerites between radial cell and RP­mp2 ( Fig. 53 ).

Spermatheca ( Figs. 69 , 75 ) with receptacle 0.6 to 0.8 times as long as horizontal part of pump. Internal side of receptacle as convex as external side. Base of duct facing same direction as receptacle. Tignum ( Figs. 70 , 76 ) robust, as wide anteriorly as posteriorly. Vaginal palpus ( Figs. 71 , 77 ) robust.

Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs. 56 ) parallel sided, weakly convex in lateral view. Etymology. This species is named after C. W. O’Brien who collected the second known female. The species name is a noun in apposition.

Variability. Males of this species have greatly enlarged mouthparts in addition to the head being much wider apically than in females. All three aedeagi are slightly different in the minute details of the shape of the apex (the apex is slightly thicker in the specimen from Mt. Britton trail, in lateral view the apex is abruptly bent ventrally in the specimen from El Yunque Hwy). However, the main characters of the median lobe are the same in all three males of this species. Also, the male from El Yunque is the smallest one. It has interstriae of the elytra more convex compare to other males. The spermathecae of the females collected at El Toro and Luguillo have a sharp border between the pump and receptacle, but this border is very smooth in the specimen collected at Guilarte Forest. The tignum of the El Toro specimen is less robust, and the distance between the apex and deviation is 2.72 times longer that from the deviation to the base, whereas this ratio is 1.44 in the specimens from Guilarte Forest.

Discussion. This species can be easily distinguished from N. iviei with the key following the descriptions. Despite the variability in female genitalia between the specimens from El Toro, Luquillo and Gullarte Forest, I consider them conspecific.

Type material. Holotype. Labels: 1) Puerto Rico: Caribbean National Forest, El Toro trail, 650­800 meters, 18°16'55'’ N, 65°51'10'’ W, 26 June 2002, N. E. Woodley; 2) Holotype Normaltica obrieni sp. nov. des. A. Konstantinov, 2002 ( USNM). Paratype, with same labels as holotype ( USNM). Paratype. Labels: 1) Puerto Rico, Gullarte [Guilarte] For. Res. Hwy. 131&158, July 23, 1979, C. W. O’Brien; 2) Paratype Normaltica obrieni sp. nov. des. A. Konstantinov, 2002 ( USNM). Paratypes,. Labels: 1) Puerto Rico, Carib. N. F. Mt. Britton Trail, July 19, 1979, C. W. O’Brien; 2) Paratype Normaltica obrieni sp. nov. des. A. Konstantinov, 2002 ( USNM, WIBF). Paratype. with the same labels as previous except. El Yunque Hwy, (191) K9H9, GB Marshall ( USNM). Paratype. Labels: 1) Mt. Britton, Loguillo [Luquillo] Forest, P. R. 8.VII.1969, H. & A. Howden; 2) Paratype Normaltica obrieni sp. nov. des. A. Konstantinov, 2002 ( CMCN). Paratype. Labels: 1) Luquillo Forest, East Peak, P. R. 15.VII.1969, H. & A. Howden; 2) Paratype Normaltica obrieni sp. nov. des. A. Konstantinov, 2002 ( CMCN).

Figures

FIGURES 1 — 4. Head of Normaltica obrieni. 1, 2, 4, female. 3, male.

FIGURES 5 — 8. Details of Normaltica. 5, 6, Normaltica obrieni. 5, female. 6, male. 7, 8, Normaltica iviei mandibles.

FIGURES 9 — 11. Antennae of Normaltica. 9, 10, Normaltica obrieni. 11, Normaltica iviei.

FIGURES 16 — 18. Maxillae of Normaltica. 16, 17, Normaltica iviei. 18, apical maxillary palpomere of Normaltica obrieni.

FIGURES 19 — 24. Prothorax of Normaltica. 19 — 22, Normaltica iviei. 23, 24, Normaltica obrieni.

FIGURES 25 — 29. Thoracic structures of Normaltica. 25, 26, 29, Normaltica iviei. 27, 28, Normaltica obrieni. 25, meso­and metathorax, view of internal structures. 26, 27, ventral view of meso­ and metasterna. 28, metendosternite. 29, lateral view of meso­and metathorax. Abbreviations: alr = allocrista, alv = anterior part of longitudinal ventral process, amt = furcal arm, atv = anterior part of transverse ventral process, mest = mesosternum, msc = mesocoxal cavity, msds = mesendosternite, msm = mesepimeron, msst = mesepisternum, mtn = metanotum, mts = metepisternum, mtco = metacoxa, mtst = metasternum, plv = posterior part of longitudinal ventral process, pmp = postmedial projection, pp = prealar projection, ptv = posterior part of transverse ventral process, scg = scutellar groove, sctm = mesoscutellum, stmt = furcal stalk, tmt = tendons of meso­ metafurcal muscles.

FIGURES 30 — 33. Suture region of elytron of Normaltica obrieni.

FIGURES 34 — 36. Internal surface of elytra of Normaltica obrieni. 34, right elytron. 35, left elytron. 36, anterior part of basal patch.

FIGURES 37 — 42. Elytral sensilla patches of Normaltica obrieni. 37, middle part of basal patch. 38, posterior part of basal patch. 39, basal patch. 40, apical patch. 41, 42, apices of elytra. 41. left elytron. 42, right elytron.

FIGURES 45 — 48. Ventral side of apical metarsomeres and claw of Normaltica. 45, 46, 48, Normaltica iviei. 47, Normaltica obrieni.

FIGURES 49 — 54. Details of Normaltica. 49 — 52, leg of Normaltica obrieni. 53, 54 wings. 53, Normaltica obrieni. 54, Normaltica iviei.

FIGURES 55 — 58. Details of Normaltica. 55, 56, male genitalia. 57, 58, habiti. 55, 57, Normaltica iviei. 56, 58, Normaltica obrieni.

FIGURES 66 — 71. Abdomen and female genitalia of Normaltica obrieni, El Toro. 66 — 68, abdomen and its details. 69, spermatheca. 70, tignum. 71, vaginal palpi.

FIGURES 72 — 77. Abdomen and female genitalia of Normaltica obrieni, Gullarte Forest. 72 — 74, abdomen and its details. 75, spermatheca. 76, tignum. 77, vaginal palpi.