Acrotrichis lauta sp.n.

(Figs. 21A –I)

Habitus Fig. 21A. Length 0.93 mm. Colour black and shining, antennae yellow, the two basal antennomeres darker. Antennomeres 3–11 0.35mm long Fig. 21 C. Distance between eyes 0.33 mm. Chaetotaxy of mentum and submentum Fig. 21 I. Pronotum 0.54 mm wide, 0.33 mm long, sides moderately rounded with a slight sinuation at the hind angles Fig. 21 B. Elytra 0.48 mm long, 0.52 mm wide, slightly tapering posteriorly. Mesoventral collar sloping at the shoulders and with a slight median excision Fig. 21 G. Posterior margin of metasternum and metacoxal plates Fig. 21 E. Lateral teeth of the pygidium large, apical tooth small.

Male: ventrite six with 9/10 spines arranged in a row along the margin of the excision Fig. 21 F; ventrite seven Fig. 21 E; aedeagus with sharply pointed tip Fig. 21 D.

Female: not known.

Etymology. Johnson ms name.

Remarks. lauta is the only Madagascan species known to date with an aedeagus pointed like that of the African species A. coiffaiti and A. depressifrons, but it is immediately separated from them by the more elongated elytra narrowed posteriorly, the pronotum lacking an iridescent lustre, and the pronotal side edge being slightly sinuate at the hind angles.

Type data. Holotype: ♂, Perinet, 12.x.1970, forest litter, leg. P.M.Hammond (BMNH).