taxonID	type	description	language	source
241B87D78D5FFFA7FF0BFCCE9951F82C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Coccinellinae with small and compact bodies, median portion of prosternum developed as a chin piece covering the mouthparts, lateral portions reduced (Figs 1 d), the ventral side of the body excavated to receive the legs, including the elytral epipleuron with cavities for the reception of the femoral apices (Fig. 1 e), the protibiae broad and flattened (Fig. 1 o), the middle and hind tibiae excavated for the reception of the tarsi, and the abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete (Gordon & Almeida 1991; Escalona & Ślipiński 2012). In addition, it must be noted that the dorsal pilosity is reduced to a few hairs, on the front and clypeus and sometimes on the pronotum, the antennae with ten antennomeres, normally with a club composed of five antennomeres (Figs 1 f-g), the eyes not very elongated and frequently with large facets (between eight and twelve in the eye diameter) (Figs 1 b, d), the cryptotetramerous tarsi (Fig. 1 i), the terminal maxillary palpomere barrel-shaped (Fig. 1 l), the abdomen with five ventrites, the symmetrical male genitalia and C-shaped spermatheca with an accessory gland. Gordon & Almeida (1991) additionally mentioned the protarsi with sucker-like bristles and ventrite 5 with a serrated posterior margin (Fig. 1 m), characteristics that appear occasionally in the included genera.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5FFFA7FF0BFCCE9951F82C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The tribe Argentipilosini presents some similarities to Cryptognathini, especially the compact, shiny body with sparse dorsal pubescense, the leg structure with dilated protibiae, tarsi that fit into grooves in the tibiae and femora that fit into cavities on ventral surface of the body, the prosternum that cover mouthparts from below, and the abdomen with five ventrites; however, in Cryptognathini the last maxillary palpomere is securiform, the prosternum without a chin piece, the eyes are vertically elongated and always with fine facets (around 25 at their maximum diameter), and the size is on average larger. On the other hand, Escalona & Ślipiński (2012) elucidated differences between the tribe Sticholotidini and Argentipilosini; in Sticholotidini the epipleuron not excavated for the reception of the legs; the normal, not expanded protibiae and the complete abdominal postcoxal lines (in some genera from the Antilles the postcoxal lines are not complete), and prosternum not forming a chin piece (Gordon 1977, 1991).	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA4FF0BFF3E9974FB84.taxon	materials_examined	Type species: Microscymnus calvus Champion, by original designation. The genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913, was established to include a single species M. calvus Champion, 1913, from Mexico, British Honduras (Belize), and Guatemala. Currently, the genus includes two species distributed in Mexico, Central America, and Brazil. Based on the original description and the examination of specimens of the genus, the following diagnosis can be established.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA4FF0BFF3E9974FB84.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Coccinellidae of small size, compact, rounded, convex and shiny, without dorsal pubescence except sparse head hairs (Figs 2 a – d); transverse head, rounded eyes with small facets, about 15 of them in the diameter of one eye (Fig. 1 a), clypeus strongly projected diagonally, exceeding the length of the antennal scape, clypeal apex broadly emarginate, leaving the labrum visible (Fig. 1 a, c), antennae with 11 antennomeres (Fig. 1 h), terminal maxillary palpomere barrel-shaped (Fig. 1 k); anterior part of prosternum forming a very small trapezoidal chin piece, over the prosternum surface, considerably narrower than the width of the clypeus, which almost completely hidden the mouthparts at rest, widely separating the procoxae (Fig. 1 c, p – r, 2 e), mesoventrite in front of coxa strongly reduced, mesoventral process as wide as mid-coxal diameter, meso-metaventral junction visible, straight, metaventral postcoxal lines separate medially, semicircular and reaching the lateral edge of the ventrite, discrimen well-marked, except on the base, meso- and metaventrite, ventrite 1 and epipleuron deep excavated to receive legs in repose (Fig. 2 e, i); femora and tibiae excavated to receive the tarsi, protibiae broadly dilated at the outer margin (Fig. 1 n), tarsi cryptotetramerous (in Champion’s original description, 1913, they are described as trimerous, however, in the attached figure they appear to be cryptotetramerous) (Fig. 1 j), abdomen with five ventrites (Fig. 2 f). A quite unique characteristic among American taxa is the presence in some species of a curved punctures striae on each elytron, forming opposing parentheses “ () ” (Fig. 2 a), a structure also observed in some species of the genus Parinesa.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA2FF0BFBF19A07FA8E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Microscymnus characterized by the presence of a curved striae of dots in the middle of each elytron, forming a parenthetical pattern “ () ”; and by body size of approximately 2 mm (Fig. 2 a). The other two known species of the genus, M. calvus Champion, 1913 and M. ovatus (Nunenmacher, 1934), differ in the absence of elytral striae and their smaller size, not exceeding 1.3 mm.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA2FF0BFBF19A07FA8E.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Species dedicated to the collector of the types series, Rob Westerduijn (Netherlands), a specialist in neotropical Chrysomelidae.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA2FF0BFBF19A07FA8E.taxon	description	Measurements (mm, n = 9): LT 1.9 – 2.1, LP 0.35 – 0.4, AP 1.1 – 1.25, LE 1.55 – 1.7, AE 1.5 – 1.7, GD 1.1 – 1.2. Description of the male holotype. Color pattern (Figs 1 a, 2 a – d). Head yellowish-brown, antennae and mouthparts yellow, eye canthus yellowish-brown and eyes gray. Pronotum reddish-brown, with a diffuse pattern of darker brown spots, one near middle of base and four in a semicircle around it. Scutellar shield black. Elytra black, with a diffuse reddish-brown lateral margin, interrupted in zones, around 1 / 6 of width by lateral margin and 1 / 8 of length of elytron at the apex. Ventral side yellowish-brown, except for hypomera, inner part of epipleuron and lateral and apical margins of the abdomen yellow. Legs yellow. Pilosity yellow white. Morphology. Body round oval, convex, lateral margins of elytra and apex regularly rounded, maximum width about half length of elytra (Figs 2 a – b). Frons almost flat, 1.6 times eye width, eyes rounded, 1.1 times longer than wide, with fine facets, with slightly more than 15 facets in diameter of eye, with a wide and short eye canthus, rounded at apex, of the length of around four or five facets. Clypeus with a strongly emarginate anterior margin, lateral angles roundly produced anteriorly, excavated laterally in front of eye canthus to receive antennal scape, scape does not reach lateral margin of the clypeus (Figs 1 a, c). Antennae with 11 antennomeres, scape and pedicel large, elongate, antennomeres 3 – 5 elongate, 6 subquadrate, 7 and 8 transverse, three terminal antennomeres forming a club, antennomere 9 trapezoidal, penultimate large, trapezoidal, of subequal length to the terminal one, terminal antennomere large, slightly elongate, with sides subparallel, truncate apically (Fig. 1 h). Epipleuron almost horizontal, slightly visible from side in the basal 1 / 3, heavily excavated to receive the middle and hind femora (Figs. 2 e, i). FIGURE 1. Microscymnus westerduijni sp. nov. (a, c, h, j, k, n, p – r); Argentipilosa sp. (b, d, e, g, l, m, o); Parinesa sp. (f, i); a – b: head (front view); c – d: head and chin piece; e: epipleuron; f – h: antennas; i – j: tarsi; k – l: maxillary palps; m: sternite 8 male; n – o: protibiae; p: prosternum and chin-piece; q: pronotum and chin piece (lateral); r – s: chin-piece. Scales in mm. Prosternum with a very small trapezoidal chin piece (Fig. 1 c, p – r). Metaventral postcoxal lines separate medially, semicircular and reaching the lateral edge of the ventrite (Fig. 2 i). Abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete, in a regular curve, descending to almost touch posterior edge of the ventrite and then ascending to less than half of it, not reaching lateral edge (Fig. 2 f). Punctures on head the same diameter as eye facets, separated by half to one diameter; pronotal punctures slightly larger than those on head, separated by one diameter on average; elytral punctures very small, half or less size of those on pronotum, separated by two diameters on average; space between dorsal punctures smooth, without reticulation, giving it a very shiny appearance, except on head where there is noticeable microreticulation; on the underside punctures are similar to that of the elytra, present especially on the prosternum, meso-, and metaventrite. Pilosity present on legs, antennae, mouthparts and abdomen very sparse and short; absent on the rest of the dorsum and ventral side. Male terminalia. Apex of ventrites 5 and sternite 8 rounded (Figs 2 f – g). Tegmen 2.7 times longer than wide, phallobase short, subquadrate (Fig. 2 l). Penis guide 2.5 times longer than wide, with sides regularly rounded from the base to the apex, apical part pointed with rounded apex (Fig. 2 l); in lateral view with sides parallel in basal half, in apical half tapering toward apex, apex pointed; tegminal strut about as long as tegmen; parameres about 1 / 4 shorter than penis guide, narrow, straight, of constant width, with apical hair as long as 2 / 3 of length of paramere (Fig. 2 m). Penis J-shaped, narrow and slightly tapering towards apex, where it thickens slightly and has a short sinuosity and then a short flexible submembranous flagellum (Figs 2 j – k). Female terminalia. Apex of ventrite 5 and sternite 8 rounded (Fig. 2 h). Spermatheca C-shaped, cornu thick and of constant width, nodulus and ramus inconspicuous, accessory gland present (Fig. 2 n). Variation. The female has a dark brown head, an almost entirely black pronotum, and reduced reddish-brown parts of the elytra. The extent of black coloration is variable, sometimes covering entire dorsum, except for reddish-brown anterior angles of pronotum and very dark brown head. In a likely immature specimen, the dorsal color is dark brown with reddish-brown areas. Pronotal spots are frequently indistinguishable. Geographic distribution. Perú, Provincia de Loreto.	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
241B87D78D5CFFA2FF0BFBF19A07FA8E.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype: male, “ Perú, Loreto, / Picoruyacu, 150 m, / 16 - 19 - VIII- 2010, Leg. R. / Westerduijni. Understory / of altered forest ”, “ ♂ 2155 ” [MUSM]. Paratypes (8 exx.): 1 ♂ “ Perú, Loreto, vicinity / of Picoruyacu, 150 m, / 29 - 31 - I- 2006, Leg. R. / Westerduijn, altered / forest ”, “ ♂ 2155 ” [MUSM]; 1 specimen, same data, without sex label [MUSM]; 1 ♂ “ Perú, Loreto, Padre / Isla, 100 m, 23 - III- 2006, / Leg. R. Westerduijn, / Understory altered forest /. Road behind airport ”, “ ♂ 2155 ” [MUSM]; 1 ♀, same data except for “ ♀ 2155 ” [MKRB]; 3 specimens, same data, without sex label, one of them without genitalia [MUSM]; 1 specimen, “ Perú, Loreto, / Alpahuayo, 100 m / 3 - I- 2006, Leg. R. / Westerduijn, Understory / White sand forest ” [MKRB].	en	González, Guillermo (2026): Notes on the genus Microscymnus Champion, 1913 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 5796 (1): 191-197, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5796.1.11
