Orthoscelis, 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 : 92-93

Orthoscelis gen. nov.

( Figs 52–55 , 96 , 103 )

Type species. Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis. This genus is easily recognized among Picrotini by having abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 connate ( Fig. 96 ), the antennal club composed of three antennomeres, and by the anterior pronotal angles weakly or strongly projected but rounded and obtuse. Two of the four known species ( Figs 53, 54 ) have a flat glandular surface at the anterior angles (the other two, including O. transversus , have only a slight swelling; Figs 52 , 55 ). Additionally, the elytra of known species are uniformly colored. Three of the species (including O. transversus ) have well-developed lateral carinae on the prosternal process which converge posteriorly to a point.

Description. Length 1.30–1.65 mm. Body form ( Figs 52–55 ) elongate and parallel-sided to subfusiform, prothorax slightly to distinctly narrower than elytra, shining dorsally, with dense decumbent setae and usually with many medium-length to long, sparse, suberect to erect setae dorsally and (especially) laterally; unicolorous. Head with tempora usually present (absent in 1 undescribed species), when present short, less than one-fourth length of eye; vertex with temporal depression present or absent 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 or wider than antennal club. Transverse ridge above antennal insertions absent. Eye usually large, rounded (medium-sized and flattened in 1 undescribed species), contacting antennal cavity; interfacetal setae present, often sparse, long, and restricted to posterior portion of eye. Antennal club consisting of 3 antennomeres; antenna inserted into small cavity; antennomere 9 subequal in width to antennomere 10. Mandible with apex bifid, subapical serrations present. Maxillary palpomere 4 distinctly longer than 3; palpomere 4 not subulate. Gena without antennal groove; genal spines obtuse, rounded to sharp. Gular sutures present, incomplete, not reaching occipital foramen. Pronotum weakly explanate laterally, not constricted at base, slightly to distinctly narrower than elytra, usually widest at posterior angles; anterior angles present, blunt, projecting anterior to cervical foramen of prothorax, with or without a distinct flat glandular surface or platform, if without then with slight swelling near anterior angle; lateral carina present and complete, smooth and lacking teeth, crenulations, or setigerous tubercles, with lateral glabrous space present, width of lateral bead wider than discal puncture and (usually) narrower than antennal funicle, sometimes wide; disc with weak to distinct basal transverse impression (weak, paired discal impressions in 1 undescribed species); paramedial carinae absent, paralateral plicae present; posterolateral angles sharp, right to slightly acute, somewhat projecting. Prothoracic hypomeron separated from prosternum by suture (suture often difficult to trace). Prosternum with anterior margin on same plane as disc; prosternal process with lateral beads usually distinct, convergent to sharp point at apex, or parallel and connected around apex (1 undescribed species), process slightly expanded apically, narrowly rounded, usually crenulate with minute setae; procoxal cavity with or without anterolateral notch. Scutellar shield clearly visible, transverse to weakly obtusely triangular. Elytron without humeral tooth; subbasal and subapical impressions absent; subapical gape present; punctation confused, dense and weakly impressed; vestiture dual with a numerous long, erect or suberect setae present on disc and (especially) laterally, decumbent setae directed straight posteriorly, not forming undulate pattern. Hind wing well developed. Mesoventrite with mesoventrital cavity usually shallow and glabrous or weakly punctate (deep, glabrous and bowl-like in 1 undescribed species) and usually flanked by sharp carinae. Mesanepisternal pit present, glabrous. Metaventrite with short, weak postcoxal lines; discrimen present, more than 1/2 length of metaventrite, posterior notch of metaventrite present. Metendosternite with anterior tendons approximate. Tarsi 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 setose, mesotarsomere 3 not or weakly lobed, with few setae, mesotarsomeres 1–4 of equal lengths, mesotarsomere 5 longer than or equal to mesotarsomeres 1–4 combined. Abdominal ventrites 1–2 connate ( Fig. 96 ), medial calli usually absent (present in O. transversus ), lateral calli absent, intersegmental crenulations usually absent (present in 1 undescribed species); ventrite 1 with intercoxal process narrowly rounded, usually without postcoxal lines (long, acuminate, inwardly curved lines in 1 undescribed species); medio-basal thickenings of ventrites 3–5 absent; apex of ventrite 5 without crenulations. Abdominal spiracles on segment VII with openings absent, texture granulate and atrium rounded and saclike. Aedeagus ( Fig. 103 ) with tegminal strut absent, tegminal arms fused at apex, with suture; parameres separate and articulated to phallobase, inner surface concave, length about 2× longer than wide; apices multisetose; attachment point to phallobase not constricted, interparameral process present (may be acute, subacute or blunt at apex); basipenis 2–3× longer than distipenis, with median carina; distipenis ovoid (about as long as wide) to elongate (2× longer than wide), outer rims strongly to weakly crenulate, lateral lobes narrowly to widely separated, symmetrical; internal sac with a pair of very long, fused endophallites divergent proximally and extending nearly the length of the internal sac.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from a combination of the Greek prefix “ ortho- ”, meaning “straight” or “right”, in reference to the transversely quadrate pronotum with straight sides, and “ -scelis ”, a common genus ending in Cryptophagidae . The gender is masculine.

Biology. Members of this genus have mainly been collected by Malaise, flight intercept, and window traps, by spraying trees with pyrethrum, and sweeping vegetation.

Distribution. Australia.

Included species (1+3). Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov.; three undescribed species from Australia.

Figures

Figs 46–54. Habitus of species of Picrotini. 46 – Notocryptus n. sp. 10 (Australia: NSW, Tas); 47 – Notocryptus n. sp. 11 (Australia: NSW, Qld, Vic); 48 – Notocryptus n. sp. 12 (Australia: NSW, Qld, Vic); 49 – Notocryptus n. sp. 13 (Australia: Qld); 50 – Odontosomatula carltoni sp. nov.; 51 – Odontosomatula n. sp. 1 (New Zealand); 52 – Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov.; 53 – Orthoscelis n. sp. 1 (Australia: NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic); 54 – Orthoscelis n. sp. 2 (Australia: ACT, NSW, Tas, Vic). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 55–63. Habitus of species of Picrotini. 55 – Orthoscelis n. sp. 3 (Australia: NSW, Qld, Vic); 56 – Ostreacryptus basalis (Grouvelle, 1919); 57 – Ostreacryptus clarkae Leschen, 2001; 58 – Ostreacryptus helmsi (Reitter, 1880); 59 – Ostreacryptus insignis (Reitter, 1880); 60 – Ostreacryptus nigroapicalis (Blackburn, 1903); 61 – Ostreacryptus n. sp. 1 (Australia: WA); 62 – Ostreacryptus n. sp. 2 (Australia: Tas); 63 – Ostreacryptus n. sp. 3 (Australia: ACT). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 95–97. Abdomens and aedeagus viewed with partial transmitted light. 95–96 – abdomen. 95 – Antarcticotectus silvanus (Broun, 1880); 96 – Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov. 97 – aedeagus, dorsal and right lateral views, Antarcticotectus silvanus. Abbreviations: bp = basipenis; dp = distipenis.

Figs 98–103.Aedeagus, dorsal view. 98 – Austroscelis gibbipennis (Blackburn, 1892); 99 – Bellascelis pecki sp. nov.; 100 – Cordosomatula magnabagishae sp. nov.; 101 – Humerocryptus n. sp. 1; 102 – Notocryptus australis (Redtenbacher, 1868); 103 – Orthoscelis transversus sp. nov. Abbreviations: aet = anterior extension of tegmen; as = apical serrations; bk = basal kink of internal sac; ep = endophallites; ics = inner concave surface; ip = interparameral plate; lf = lateral fold; os = ostium; pg = primary gonopore.