Coptodera elektra, Gamboa, Sara & Ortuño, Vicente M., 2015

Gamboa, Sara & Ortuño, Vicente M., 2015, A new fossil species of the genus Coptodera Dejean, 1825 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiinae) from Baltic amber, Zootaxa 3981 (4), pp. 592-596 : 593

Subfamily Lebiinae Bonelli 1810

Tribe Lebiini Bonelli 1810

Subtribe Pericalina Hope 1838 Coptodera Dejean 1825

Coptodera elektra n. sp.

( Figure 1 )

Description (based on a single specimen—holotype). Length (from head to elitral apex): 3.8 mm. Colour brownreddish. Body partially covered by a metallic look patina (probably due to taphonomic processes).

Head: Markedly transverse, wider than long (L/W ratio: 0.43). Very large and convex compound eyes. Short tempora. Transverse microsculpture. Two superficial fossae in the anterior region of the head. Two supraocular setae, being the anterior one over the midline of eyes and the posterior one at the level of the posterior edge of eyes. Two setae on the clypeus. Labrum with six antero-marginal setae, being the lateral setae longer. Filiform antennae with eleven antennomeres, pubescent from 3th to 11th (the 3th one lacking pubescence in it basal half part), being more densely pilose in their ventral side. Antennomeres bearing a crown of distal setae except from the first one (with only one long seta in its inner face) and the second one (shorter than the rest and without setae). Mandibles trigonal and curved apically. Mentum edentate. Complete and conspicuous labial-prebasilar suture. Prebasilar bearing one pair of setae. Palpiger with a single seta.

Pronotum: Subrectangular, transverse, almost twice as wide as it is long (L/W ratio: 0.61) and slightly wider than the head. Disc very slightly convex, divided lenghtways by a distinct but shallow medial sulcus. Transverse microsculpture. Anterior margin slightly convex, being its anterior angles round shaped. Basal margin slightly convex. Lateral margins curved, with its maximum width at the level of the anterior marginal setae, slightly sinuous in basal third. Posterior angles obtuse, blunt and dorsally projected. Lateral channel wide, shallow and gradually spread to the posterior angles. Bassal fossae deep but with poor defined outline. Two setae on each side, at basal angle and before the middle.

Elytra: Elytra manifestly wide (L/W ratio: 2.26), somewhat convex and glabrous. Elytra and lateral channel explanated towards the apical third. Rounded shoulders. Basal ridge hardly visible but complete. Sutural angle rounded. All striae are visible and complete, from the base to the apex, and barely punctate. Scutellary striole faintly marked on the base of the first interstria. Lateral umbilical series with 13 setigerous pores as follows: humeral area with five equidistant setae, four medial setae and subapical area with four equidistant setae. Interstriae flat and with micropunctures. Two visible discal setae in the third interstria of each elytron, beside the third stria. One apical seta over both elytra. Scutellar pores located at the base of first stria. Last visible abdominal sternite with four setae close to posterior margin. Metaepisternum elongate, twice longer than wide Metepimeron obliquely truncate at posterior margin, as is common in Lebiini .

Wings well developed.

Legs: Fore-tibia with markedly developed upper spur on inner surface. Tarsomeres with dorsal surface setose. First tarsomere as long as second, third and fourth tarsomeres together on all legs. Fourth tarsomere slightly biolbated. Tarsal claws pectinates.

Type series. Holotype: 1 female, preserved in a piece of Baltic amber (1.5 cm x 0.54 cm x 0.35 cm) (Eocene) deposited in Department of Life Sciencies. Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. University of Alcalá (UAH) (Collection V.M. Ortuño).

Etymology: Specific epithet refers to Elektra , derivated from the Greek Ἠλέκτρα, which derives from ηλεκτρον (elektron), meaning "amber”.

State of preservation. Although the specimen is slightly damaged, the state of preservation good, so morphological and taxonomic studies are possible. Dorsal side of the fossil, specially the elytra, appears slightly deformed due to polishing process. The curved surface, as a result of amber preparation, produces some optical distortions. Left elytron shows a slight fracture in its apical portion. The genitalia and other soft tissues are not observed, but the specimen has been determinated as female, regarding the fact protarsi are not swollen and as four abdominal apex setae are presented.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Coptodera elektra n. sp. Photographs: a) piece of amber (scale bar: 1 cm); b) dorsal view; c) ventral view. Drawings: d) specimen in dorsal view; e) specimen in ventral view (scale bar: 1 mm).