Corticaria dioscorida, Rücker, 2012

Rücker, Wolfgang H., 2012, Description of a new Corticaria from Socotra Island (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52, pp. 249-252 : 250-251

Corticaria dioscorida sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 )

Type locality. Yemen, Socotra Island, Al Haghier Mts., Scant Mt. env., 12°34.6′N, 54°01.5′E, 1450 m.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( NMPC), labelled: ‘ YEMEN, SOCOTRA Island / Al Haghier Mts. / Scant Mt. env. / 12°34.6′N, 54°01.5′E, 1450 m / J. Bezděk leg., 12-13.xi.2010 ’. PARATYPES: 1♀, same label data as holotype ( NMPC) ; 1 J 5 ♀♀ and 2 unsexed specimens, same label data, but P. Hlaváč leg. ( NMPC, WRCN) ; 1 ♀ same label data, but J. Hájek leg. ( NMPC) .

Description. Body length 1.5–1.9 mm. Coloration of head, pronotum and appendages yellowish brown, coloration of elytra maroon to brown.

Head broader than long, maximum width/length ratio 1: 0.5; microsculptured, with fine and sparsely distributed punctures; recumbent setation short. Eyes small, hemispherical, coarsely facetted; diameter of eye ca. 0.06 mm. Temples short, their length corresponding approximately to size of two facets, ca. 0.03 mm. Antenna with eleven antennomeres; antennal club trimerous. Length of antenna 0.57 mm.

Pronotum broader than long, maximum width: length ratio 1: 0.78; microsculptured, matt; punctures sparse, hardly visible. Sides flat, each with five distinct teeth in anterior three quarters, two small teeth subbasally, and acute angles forming additional teeth ( Fig. 1 ); all teeth bearing single long seta (length ca. 0.06 mm). Pronotum subbasally with large shallow depression in middle; pronotal disc distinctly convex. Setation short and recumbent; with row of long, backward directed setae along sides.

Elytra broadly rounded, widest in basal third, maximum width: length ratio 1: 1.29; convex. Lateral margin very narrow, visible only in basal fifth in dorsal view. Humeral bulge not developed. Surface microsculptured, weakly shiny. Punctation fine, indistinct; odd puncture rows formed by coarse punctures, each puncture with one very short seta (visible using 80x magnification); even puncture rows formed by sparse very fine punctures, each puncture with long seta (length ca. 0.10 mm) ( Fig. 1 ). Hind wings poorly developed, micropterous and thus beetle unable to flight.

Male. Length of aedeagus ca. 0.79 mm, width ca. 0.09 mm. Length of median lobe ca. 0.26 mm, tegmen ca. 0.53 mm. Sides of median lobe parallel, apex lanceolate, preputial sac with tiny acerate tooth ( Fig. 2 ).

Female. Without conspicuous external differences from male.

Differential diagnosis. A conspicuous Corticaria , characterised by distinctly toothed sides of the pronotum, in which it resembles Corticaria arenosa Rücker, 2011 from the United Arab Emirates ( RÜCKER 2011). However, Corticaria dioscorida sp. nov. can be easily separated from that species by broadly rounded and distinctly convex elytra, contrary to rather subparallel and flat elytra of C. arenosa (cf. RÜCKER 2011: Fig. 1 ).

Etymology. The new species is named after the ancient name of Socotra Island – Dioscoridou (in Greek) or Dioscoridus (in Latin).

Collection circumstances. The type specimens of Corticaria dioscorida sp. nov. were sifted from litter under shrubs and trees in high altitudes (above 1400 m) of the Haghier Mountains together with, e.g. Nanocaecus hlavaci Schawaller & Purchart, 2012 (cf. SCHAWALLER & PURCHART 2012).

Distribution. So far known only from the type locality in Al Haghier Mountains, Socotra Island.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Corticaria dioscorida sp. nov. 1 – habitus; 2 – aedeagus.