Maechidius dendrolagus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1B512828-B4EA-44C2-94CE-3C778DBB5C4C

Figs 35, 116, 212, 302, 375, 469, 543, 611–613

Differential diagnosis

The new species differs from all congeners primarily in the shape of the aedeagus.

Etymology

The species is named after Dendrolagus S. Müller, 1840 (tree-kangaroo), an enigmatic genus of marsupial endemic to New Guinea, adjacent islands and Australian Queensland.

Type material

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • ♂; “Collection Naturhistorisches Museum Basel // Papua New Guinea Madang Prov. L. Cizek lgt.// Salemben village 145°24’E 4°42’S 16.XII. 2000, 750 m”; NHMB.

Paratype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 1 ♂; same labels as for holotype; NHMB .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Male holotype, total body length 8.45 mm. Head 1.70 mm long, across eyes 2.05 mm wide. Pronotum 1.75 mm long, maximum width 2.80 mm. Elytral length 5.00 mm, maximum combined width 3.80 mm. Paratype is 8.00 mm long.

With general features of the pauxillus group. Dorsal surface opaque except on anterior and lateral margins of labroclypeus. Frons with paired hump. Male labroclypeus (Fig. 116) deeply U-shaped emarginate on anterior margin. Anterolateral angles of labroclypeus acute, strongly protruding, raised up at angle of nearly 90° to frons in lateral view. Lateral margins of labroclypeus sinuous in both dorsal and lateral views. Head dorsum except on margins of labroclypeus covered with microscopic velvety pubescence. Head punctures irregularly shaped, very deep, moderately dense. Head with moderately long, appressed elongate scale-like setae. Setae becoming distinctly longer, suberect to erect and stronger clavate on humps of frons (Fig. 116). Antenna 9-segmented, club 3-lamellate. Pronotum transverse, slightly sinuous on anterior margin with protruding anterolateral angles. Basal margin of pronotum broadly rounded to slightly sinuous, posterolateral angles almost right-angled. Lateral margin of pronotum in dorsal view gradually widened towards middle, deeply emarginate postmedially, crenulate all along (Fig. 212). Lateral margin of pronotum sinuous in lateral view. Two flat humps on anterior margin opposite to those on frons (Fig. 116). Pronotal punctures ovoid, variably large, very deep, dense. Pronotal dorsum and hypomeron covered with microscopic velvety pubescence. Pronotal setae minute, rising from anterior margin of each puncture, generally not surpassing midlength of corresponding puncture. Few slightly longer scale-like setae scattered over pronotal disc, not surpassing length of corresponding punctures. Posterolateral angles of pronotum with long scale-like clavate setae. Setae on pronotal humps also long, erect, scale-like, clavate. Hypomeron flange-like produced, slightly emarginate and very long setose opposite to compound eye. Antennal pocket deep. Scutellar shield elongate, narrowly rounded apically. Elytron with glabrous elevated broadly interrupted tracks of two (in holotype) or three (in paratype) longitudinal carinae, including sutural one. Elytral punctures irregularly shaped, deep and dense (Fig. 302) and generally smaller than those on pronotum. Setae minute, arising from anterior margin of each puncture, not surpassing midlength of corresponding punctures. Much longer suberect scale-like clavate setae arranged in irregular longitudinal rows across elytra. Male pygidium flattened dorsally, dense and deep punctate (Fig. 469). Intervening spaces covered with microscopical velvety pubescence. Setae of pygidium minute on anterior half, becoming longer, suberect and scale-like in apical half. Male protibia with inconspicuous longitudinal dorsal carina, with two acute distal teeth (Fig. 375). Male protibial terminal spur strongly curved. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 543. Male aedeagus as in Figs 611– 613.

Sexual dimorphism

Female is unknown.

Ecology

Occurs in lowland rainforests at about 750 m altitude.

Distribution

Hitherto only known from Madang Province of East New Guinea.