Altisessor viridis, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 43

Altisessor viridis Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 59, 61

Diagnosis. Distinguished from congeners by pale antennomeres IX- XI, dark femora and tarsi, entirely pale tibiae, and body with metallic green sheen ( Fig. 58 ).

Description. Length: 4.5 mm; width: 2.0 mm. Body elongate, parallel-sided, somewhat cylindrical; surface microreticulate, yet appearing glossy. Color black with metallic green sheen, except as noted: palpi, antennal base, and tibia pale yellow; antennal club pale-white ( Fig. 58, 61 ).

Head interocular width = 5 x ocular width; vertex and epistome puncture size = 0.9 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 2-3 x their diameter; epistome anterior margin truncate. Eye facets moderate in size. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, length = 0.8 x width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = 1.5 x length, expanded medially, width = terminal maxillary palpomere. Mentum with triangular plate broad, short, width = 2 x length. Genal lobe reduced to smooth ridge.

Pronotum transverse, width = 1.75 x length; puncture size and distribution as those on vertex, setae minute, if present; base with slight indentation at each side of base, lacking large punctures; anterior edge with marginal bead only behind eyes; base slightly sinuate, lacking marginal bead. Scutellum transverse, length = 0.5 x width. Elytral striae present, puncture size = 1.2 x pronotal disc punctures, separated by 2-3 x their diameter; interval punctures fine, obscured in microreticulation; base lacking marginal bead. Wings present, fully developed.

Prosternum length = 1.3 x intercoxal width; sternal plate flat, coarsely punctate; sternal lines continuous around coxal cavity; base concave. Mesosternum broad, width = 2 x length, with transverse row of coarse punctures, base slightly concave, lines continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum with lines meeting medially; continuous around mesocoxal cavity; coarsely punctate at anterolateral angles, fine scattered punctures medially and posteriorly. Abdomen with coxal lines not connecting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures scattered, coarse. Male genitalia unknown (unique holotype is female).

Distribution. From Havana Province, Cuba.

Type Material. The female holotype of Altisessor viridis Skelley ( Fig. 58, 61 ) has the following label data: “/E.E.A. de Cuba. No. 9274/ [red paper] HOLOTYPE Altisessor viridis P.E. Skelley /” ( NMNH). According to S. Peck (pers. comm.), the abbreviation “E. E. A.” is short for Estacion Experimental de Agricultura, Havana Province.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin viridis for green, owing to the green color of the body.

Remarks. This species and A. gundlachi are the only members of Altisessor from Cuba (see Remarks under A. gundlachi for additional comments).

Figures

Figure 1. West Indian maps. 1a) Map of West Indian countries mentioned in the text. 1b) Map indicating species occurring on specific islands with distribution of Notaepytus flavitarsis (Lacordaire) indicated by the white triangles.

Figure 57-61. Altisessor spp., dorsal and ventral habitus. 57, 60) A. hottensis, holotype. 58) A. gundlachi, holotype. 59, 61) A. viridis, holotype.