Pocadius coxus Cline, 2008

Cline, Andrew R., 2008, Revision of the sap beetle genus Pocadius Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae, Zootaxa 1799 (1), pp. 1-120 : 47-49

Pocadius coxus Cline new species

(Figs. 11, 52, 94, 137, 180)

Specimens examined. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( SNEC): BRAZIL: Rondonia; 9km NE Cacaulandia ; XII-1996 to I- 1997; K. Vulinec & D. Mellow / HOLOTYPE; Pocadius ; coxus; A. R. Cline des. 2004 .

Diagnosis. Similar to P. maquipucunensis in overall shape and coloration, but differs from it and other species by: procoxae light tan in color; terminal antennomere with medial and lateral elliptical depressed regions; antennomere 3 elongate, 0.5 length of pedicel; dorsum with granular surface sculpture but shining; sharply oblique posterior face of prosternal process in lateral view; ejaculatory rods elongate with medial swellings; and basal piece of internal sac sclerites with two lateral arms and medial “t-shaped” section.

Description. Length 3.6mm, Width 2.1mm, Depth 1.35mm. Body moderately convex, shining, dark brown to black with venter and legs lighter, procoxae light tan in color. Pronotum and elytra margins with moderately long fimbriae. Dorsal and ventral pubescence golden and moderately long.

Head surface deeply, densely, irregularly punctate, punctures larger on vertex with interspersed smaller punctures, becoming predominantly smaller towards orbits and fronotclypeal region. Large punctures 4–5X diameter of eye facet, small punctures 2X diameter eye facet; interspaces alutaceous to granular. Pronotal surface with large punctures equal to large punctures on head, interspersed with relatively few small punctures, 0.5–0.75 diameter large ones; interspaces alutaceous to granular, 0.5–1 diameter apart. Scutellar surface with shallowly impressed punctures aggregated in anterior 0.33, interspaces granular. Elytral surface with serial rows of small punctures equal to those on pronotum, serial large punctures 2X diameter small ones. Small serial punctures giving rise to erect moderately long setae, serial large punctures giving rise to semi-erect shorter setae; interspaces wide between punctures of a row and between different rows. Within a row, small punctures separated by 2 diameters, and large punctures by 0.5–0.75 diameter. Large rows separated by 1 large puncture diameter; interspaces alutaceous to finely microreticulate. Pygidium densely punctate, punctures equal to smaller ones on pronotum; interspaces narrow, 0.25–0.5 diameter, granular.

Venter with similar golden pubescence as dorsum. Mentum with large shallow punctures, equal to larger ones on head; interspaces granular to finely microreticulate. Prosternum and epimeron deeply irregularly punctate, punctures 1.5X those on mentum, interspaces alutaceous to granular with microreticulation, prosternal punctures separated by 0.5–1 diameter, those on epimeron by 0.25–0.5 diameter. Mesoventrite with shallow punctures aggregated near metasternal border, subequal to those on prosternum, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 0.5–1 diameter. Metaventrite irregularly punctate with moderate faint punctures on disc similar to those on mesoventrite, interspaces granular with microreticulation on disc, appearing rugose, becoming more microreticulate laterally, punctures separated by 1–2 diameters. Abdominal sternite 1 with faint punctures, equal to those on mesoventrite, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 1–2 diameters. Hypopygidium with deep punctures, interspaces granular with microreticulate regions, punctures separated by 0.25–0.5 diameter.

Head slightly wider than long (W:L = 1.35:1). Antennal club compact, oval, slightly asymmetrical with terminal antennomere longer than 9–10 combined. Antennomeres 4–8 compact, 6–8 disc-like and 4–5 trapezoidal. Antennal scape asymmetrical, hemispherical, 1.2X length of pedicel. Pedicel subcylindrical. Antennal segment 3 elongate, 0.5 length of pedicel. Antennal club large, subequal to segments 1–8 combined. Elevated region of mentum with anterior angles faint, anterior margin broadly angulate, overall pentagonal, convex in lateral view.

Pronotum widest near posterior angles (L:W = 1:1.8), anterior margin broadly trapezoidal, lateral margins arcuate anteriorly. Scutellum large, triangular, apex narrowly rounded. Prosternal process in lateral view with steep convexity over procoxae with sharp declivity and flattened region posterior to coxae; posterior face prominent and oblique. Mesoventrite extending to midway between mesocoxae, evenly concave for reception of metaventrite. Metaventrite much wider than long (W:L = 3:1). Metepisternum with distinct medial constriction, oblique line dividing anterior 0.125. First abdominal sternite with broad process between metacoxae. First sternite 2X’s longer than sternite 2. Sternites 2–3 subequal, 4 slightly larger than 1 or 2. Hypopygidium subequal to sternite 1.

Protibia with apical tooth prominent, subequal to tarsomere 1 and part of 2 combined. Outer apical notch absent. Inner apical spine subequal to tarsomere 1 and part of 2 combined. Protibia not heavily armed. Mesotibia more heavily armed than protibia with dense stiff setae and slender spines along lateral edge. Outer apical process elongate and robust, larger than protibial process. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Metatibia with armature similar to mesotibia, inner apical spine slightly longer.

Male genitalia well-sclerotized. Anal sclerite with apex acute and fimbriate (Fig. 11). Spiculum gastrale with wide lateral flanges, long stiff setae originating from apex (Fig. 52). Tegmen evenly rounded (Fig. 94), longer than wide (w:l = 1.0:2.9), lateral row of setae visible from median fossa to around apex, oblong shallow concavity in apical 0.33. Median lobe large and robust, 0.75 length of tegmen, apex narrowly rounded, apical opening well-developed (Fig. 137). Ejaculatory rods not fused to basal piece, elongate and straight with medial swelling. Basal piece of internal sac sclerites with two lateral arms and a medial “t-shaped” section (Fig. 180).

Variation. No variation observed

Seasonality/Habitat. Collected during December/January in lowland tropical forest.

Distribution. Known from type locality in western Brazil.

Notes. No host data available.

Etymology. Specific epithet denotes the distinctive light colored procoxae.