Papuacryptus, Gimmel & Leschen, 2022

Gimmel, Matthew L. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2022, Revision of the genera of Picrotini (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Cryptophaginae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1), pp. 61-109 : 100

Papuacryptus gen. nov.

( Fig. 66 )

Type species. Papuacryptus striatopunctatus sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis. This genus may be distinguished from all other Picrotini by the punctation of the elytron being arranged into regular longitudinal rows ( Fig. 66 ; all other Picrotini have confused elytral punctation). Additionally, Papuacryptus possess an antennal club composed of three antennomeres, no pronotal platforms or knobs, and abdominal ventrites 1–2 connate.

Description. Length 1.40–1.48 mm. Body form ( Fig. 66 ) elongate, parallel-sided, prothorax quadrate, transverse, only slightly narrower than elytra, shining dorsally, with moderately dense decumbent setae and with sparse suberect setae dorsally; unicolorous. Head with tempora virtually absent; vertex with temporal depression present immediately anterior to ridge; band of reticulate sculpture present. Frontoclypeus not projecting laterally; raised portion of frons between antennal insertions not constricted, about as wide as antennal club. Transverse ridge above antennal insertions absent. Eye large, rounded, contacting antennal cavity; interfacetal setae present. Antennal club consisting of 3 antennomeres; antenna inserted into small cavity; antennomere 9 slightly narrower than antennomere 10. Maxillary palps short, palpomere 4 slightly longer than 3; palpomere 4 narrow, nearly subulate. Gena without antennal groove; genal spines obtuse, rounded. Gular sutures absent. Pronotum not explanate and not constricted at base, slightly narrower than elytra, parallel-sided; anterior angles feebly extending anterior to cervical foramen of prothorax, without a distinct flat glandular surface or platform; lateral carina present and complete, lacking teeth, crenulations or setigerous tubercles, with lateral glabrous space weakly indicated, width of lateral bead narrower than antennal funicle; disc with weak basolateral impressions; paramedial carinae absent, paralateral plicae present; posterolateral angles sharp, right. Prothoracic hypomeron fused to prosternum, suture obscured but longitudinal glabrous puncture present just anterior of anterolateral corner of procoxal cavity. Prosternum with anterior margin on same plane as disc; prosternal process with lateral beads present, parallel, connecting across apex, process slightly expanded apically, broadly rounded and with minute setae, margin apparently not crenulate; procoxal cavity without anterolateral notch. Scutellar shield clearly visible, transverse, with widely rounded apex. Elytron without humeral tooth; subbasal impression absent, subapical impression absent; subapical gape present; punctation in 9 distinct rows (not counting sutural or marginal row), moderately dense and moderately impressed, with a few scattered punctures in strial intervals; vestiture dual with a few short to medium-length, suberect setae present laterally and on disc (shorter on disc), arising from punctures on strial intervals, decumbent setae arising from strial punctures, uniformly directed posteriorly. Hind wing well developed. Mesoventrite with mesoventrital cavity shallow and impunctate, flanked by distinct carinae. Mesanepisternal pit apparently absent. Metaventrite without postcoxal lines; discrimen absent, posterior notch of metaventrite absent. Metendosternite not studied. Tarsi (presumably) 5-5- 5 in female, 5-5- 4 in male; tarsi moderately slender, tarsomere 5 as wide as preceding tarsomeres in lateral view; pro- and mesotarsomere 4 asetose; mesotarsomere 3 not or weakly lobed, setose; mesotarsomeres 1–3 subequal, mesotarsomere 5 about as long as mesotarsomeres 1–4 combined. Abdominal ventrites 1–2 connate; intersegmental crenulations absent; ventrite 1 with intercoxal process broadly rounded, with acuminate postcoxal lines extending nearly to posterior edge; medio-basal thickenings of ventrites 3–5 absent; apex of ventrite 5 without crenulations.

Remarks. We have examined two male specimens which were not dissected. Details of the mandible and internal characters of the abdomen were not examined.

Etymology. The generic name is in reference to the geographic origin of the only described species, and “ -cryptus ”, a common generic ending in Cryptophagidae . The gender is masculine.

Biology. The single species has been collected by leaf litter sifting in a secondary growth Nothofagus forest.

Distribution. Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea. Included species (1). Papuacryptus striatopunctatus sp. nov.

Figures

Figs 64–72. Habitus of species of Picrotini. 64 – Ostreacryptus n. sp. 4 (Australia: NSW, Tas, Vic); 65 – Ostreacryptus n. sp. 5 (New Zealand); 66 – Papuacryptus striatopunctatus sp. nov.; 67 – Paragnetaria slipinskii sp. nov.; 68 – Picrotus thoracicus Sharp, 1886; 69 – Picrotus n. sp. 1 (New Zealand); 70 – Thortus amoenus (Broun, 1912); 71 – Thortus ovalis Broun, 1893; 72 – Thortus n. sp. 1 (New Zealand: Auckland Islands). Scale bars = 1 mm. Abbreviations: pc = paramedial carina.