Tobochares anthonyae sp. nov. Figs 7A-C, 11F, 13

Type material examined.

Holotype (male): "Venezuela: Bolívar: 6°13'4.6"N, 67°14'26.4"W; 60 m; ca. 25 Km E of El Burro; rocky morichal; 12.i.2009; leg. Short et al.; VZ09-0113-01X" (MIZA). Paratypes (3 exs.): Venezuela: Bolívar: " 6°13'4.6"N, 67°14'26.4"W; 60 m; ca. 25 Km E of El Burro; rocky morichal; 7.viii.2008; leg. Short, García, Joly; AS-08-077" (1, SEMC); same data as holotype (2, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

The general habitus and coloration of T. anthonyae is similar to that of several species in the Tobochares communis group; nevertheless, the elytral punctation T. anthonyae is relatively distinct: all kinds of punctures are relatively large, similar in size and degree of impression, the serial punctures are aligned in rows and slightly impressed, forming shallow longitudinal grooves, and the interserial punctures are somewhat irregularly distributed in a single row (Fig. 7A). The relatively large punctures, similar in size and degree of impression may resemble those of T. communis, but in this species the serial punctures are not impressed to form grooves (Fig. 6A), as they are in T. anthonyae . In addition, the overall shape of the aedeagus, especially the shape of the median lobe of T. anthonyae is unique among members of the Tobochares communis group: the median lobe gradually and slightly narrows towards a broadly rounded apex, and the gonopore is located near the apex of the median lobe (Fig. 11F).

Description.

Size and form: Body length 1.8-2.0 mm. Body elongate oval, moderately convex (Fig. 7B). Color and punctation: Dorsal and ventral surfaces of body, dark brown, with slightly paler margins of pronotum (Fig. 7A, B); mouthparts yellowish brown; antennae light brown; legs orange with yellow tarsi (Fig. 7C). Ground punctation on head, pronotum and elytra rather shallowly marked. Head: Eyes in dorsal view with anterior margin oblique (anteriorly directed; e.g., Fig. 2D), and outer margins slightly bulging from outline of head; in lateral view, eyes not anteriorly emarginate (e.g., Fig. 2E). Thorax: Elytra with all kinds of punctures similar in size and degree of impression (Fig. 7A); serial punctures aligned in rows, slightly impressed, forming shallow longitudinal grooves; interserial punctures somewhat irregularly distributed in a single row (Fig. 7A). Metafemora mostly glabrous on anterior face, with hydrofuge pubescence along basal third of antero-dorsal margin (Fig. 7C). Elevation of mesoventrite forming a low longitudinal bulge (Fig. 7C). Metaventrite with distinct median, longitudinal, narrow glabrous area extending along posterior half (Fig. 7C). Abdomen: Abdominal ventrites uniformly and very densely pubescent. Aedeagus (Fig. 11F). Basal piece 0.3 × the length of a paramere; greatest width of a paramere nearly 0.5 × greatest width of median lobe; outer margins of parameres nearly straight, only slightly curved inwards along apical region; apex of paramere rounded; median lobe roughly triangular, widely rounded at apex; gonopore situated at apical fourth of median lobe.

Etymology.

Named after Becky Anthony, program and meetings manager at the Entomological Society of America (ESA), in recognition of all her hard work in service to the society and the entomological community.

Distribution.

Only known from a single locality just south of the Orinoco River along the northwestern edge of the Guiana Shield. See Fig. 13.

Life history.

The specimens were collected along a stream that was flowing over exposed granite.