Cratocerus culpepperi Grzymala & Will

Grzymala, Traci L. & Will, Kipling W., 2014, Taxonomic review of Cratocerus Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) with the description of six new species, ZooKeys 416, pp. 77-112 : 96-98

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Carabidae

Cratocerus culpepperi Grzymala & Will sp. n. Figs 8, 9h, 10f, 11g, 12b

Type locality.

Peru, Loreto region, Rio Napo, Explomapo Camp, Rio Sucusari, coordinates 3.25S, 72.92W.

Type material.

HOLOTYPE [male, deposited in UNMSM] labeled: "PERU: LORETO Rio Napo / Explomapo Camp, Rio Sucusari/ 100m, 6 June 1992 / 03°15'S, 072°55'W, / T.L. Erwin, E. & F. Pfuno S. // Insecticidal fog of suspended / dry leaves in low canopy and one / tree to 35m(14 sheets) along / Tr. Pestoso in Igapo 500m from / camp Lot 337 A // ADP / 53163 // U.C. Berkeley / EMEC 207,967".

Paratypes. 8 females with same data as the holotype (EMEC207960, EMEC207961, EMEC207962, EMEC207964, EMEC207965, EMEC207966, EMEC207968, EMEC207969), deposited in NMNH. 2 males, labeled: PERU: "LORETO Rio Napo Explomapo Camp, Rio Sucusari 100m, 15 June 1992 03°15'S, 072°55'W, T.L. Erwin, E. & F. Pfuno S. Insecticidal fog of 20m high canopy mixed with dry leaves (8m3)(14 sheets), with 1 sheet nearly pure Guadua (dry and green leaves) Lot 387" (EMEC207963, EMEC654858). All paratype specimens deposited in NMNH except EMEC207960 deposited in UNMSM.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished from congeners by the small overall body size, light brunneous coloration, the five basal pronotal fovea, and the mandibles curved more than 45 degrees in relation to the mandibular midline. This species most closely resembles Cratocerus kavanaughi , but is easily distinguished by the smaller size and the five basal pronotal fovea as opposed to two.

Description.

Size small for the genus, ABL 3.5-4.0 mm, TW 1.4-1.6 mm. Color. Head, labrum, mandibles, prothorax, elytra, and abdominal sternites castaneous; remaining mouthparts, antennae, and legs testaceous. Head. HL 0.4-0.6 mm, HW 0.5-0.7 mm. One supraorbital seta present over each eye. Apices of mandibles strongly curved, apices at more than 45 degree angle to mandibular midline. Apical maxillary palpomere length 3.5 × width at base. Mentum with triangular lateral lobes. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 9h) with distinct median impression, two distinct basal fovea laterad and one basal fovea centered on median impression; one lateral seta located on apicolateral pronotal bead; one posterior seta present on posterior bead and projecting over posterior angle; pronotal anterior margin convex, greatest width anterad of center; pronotal width 1.1-1.2 × pronotal length. Elytral length 1.5-1.6 × combined elytral width. Legs. Protibia with one small, stout spine confined to distal half of lateral margin, only visible with extreme magnification (Fig. 10f). Genitalia, male. Median lobe curved sharply, between forty-five and ninety degrees with respect to basal 1/3, remaining 2/3 with continuing curvature; expanded apically; length average for genus. Left paramere curved and simple (Figure 11g). Genitalia, female. Spermatheca with 1/3 length moderately thin, following 1/3 length extremely thin and filamentous, gradually expanding approximately 1/3 below apex, ended with broad bulb (Fig. 12b).

Etymology.

This species is named in recognition of Meghan Culpepper, currently a PhD student of carabid phylogenetics and biogeography who provided endless amounts of support throughout the duration of this project. Though this species is one of the smallest within the genus Cratocerus , the red hue of the integument and morphological characters mentioned above make it one of the most distinctive. Miss Culpepper is equally unique and we name this species for her.

Distribution.

This species is currently only known from Peru (Fig. 13).

Ecology.

Specimens examined in this study were all collected from insecticidal fogging of suspended dry leaves in the canopy and a tree during the month of June.