Gelae baen Miller and Wheeler

Miller, Kelly B. & Wheeler, Quentin D., 2004, Two New Genera of Agathidiini from the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions (Coleoptera: Leiodidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (4), pp. 466-487 : 478-479

Gelae baen Miller and Wheeler , new species

( Figs. 13–14 , 28 )

Material Examined. Holotype, # in CNCI labeled ‘‘ MEX.Oax. 8 km S Suchixtepec

10.VIII.1986 H.&A.Howden/ HOLOTYPE Gelae baen Miller and Wheeler, 2003

[red label with black line border].’’ Thirty-six additional paratypes were examined with the same label information.

Type Locality. Mexico, Oaxaca, 8 km S Suchixtepec.

Diagnosis. This species is a member of a group of four similar species that also includes G. rol , G. donut and G. cognatum , each of which have the labrum very large and subquadrate ( Figs. 28–31 ), the eyes strongly protuberant ( Figs. 28–31 ), the head strongly narrowed posterad of the eyes ( Figs. 28–31 ), the metasternum very broad medially (MTL/ MTW. 0.35) and the male genitalia very similar in being very broad medially, having reduced lateral lobes and having a broad, platelike operculum that is apically emarginate ( Figs. 13–20 ). In general, these species exhibit a dorsal color pattern where the pronotum or the pronotum and elytra are yellow marked with a diffuse medial brown macula on the pronotum and darker coloration around the margins of the elytra ( G. donut is dorsally almost entirely brown in most specimens). Gelae baen differs from these species in having the dorsal surfaces of the head, pronotum and elytra relatively coarsely punctate. The male median lobe in ventral aspect is relatively slender compared to the other species ( Fig. 13 ) and the apex is very strongly attenuated to a sharply pointed apex ( Fig. 13 ).

Description. Body moderately large (TBL ¼ 2.45–3.26 mm), robust (PNW/TBL ¼ 0.47–0.51), laterally broadly rounded, weakly contractile.

Head brown; pronotum yellow with large, diffuse, medial brown macula; elytra brown, dark brown along margins; venter and legs yellow-brown; antennae and palpi yellow.

Head moderately broad (MDL/PHW ¼ 0.67–0.73), dorsally flattened; constricted immediately posterad of eye; very finely and sparsely punctate, surfaces shiny and smooth between punctures; eyes large, rounded, protruding; fronto-clypeal suture continuous, but fine, medially; clypeal margin moderately protruding, extending beyond level of anterolateral margins of frons ( Fig. 28 ); labrum broad, transversely rectangular; antennae (ratios: length I:II:III ¼ 1.3:1.0:1.1, width VII:VIII:IX ¼ 1.0:1.0:2.4).Pronotum broad (PNL/PNW ¼ 0.55–0.58), laterally not strongly produced,lateral margins nearly straight, anterolateral angle subquadrate, posterolateral corner distinctive, more angulate than anterolateral corner; punctation similar to that of head. Elytra robust (SEL/ELW ¼ 0.91–1.07); lateral margins broadly rounded; relatively coarsely punctate over entire surface, without distinct sub-sutural series of coarser punctures; sutural stria prominent,extending about 1/2length of elytron.Mesosternum strongly concave posteriorly, with prominent lobe extending ventrally between mesocoxae, anterior portion moderately narrow. Metasternum broad medially (MTL/MTW ¼ 0.39–0.40).

Male tarsi 5–5–4; pro- and mesobasotarsomeres only slightly expanded and with small ventral field of adhesive setae; metafemur slender, unmodified; metasternal fovea small, located slightly anterad of middle, with small pencil of fine, dense setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect robust, broad, expanded medially on dorsal margin, ventral margin relatively straight, apical portion slender, apex distinctly curved dorsad ( Fig. 14 ); in ventral aspect broad, lateral margins approximately parallel, apical portion broad, broadly acuminate, apex pointed, orifice very large ( Fig. 13 ); operculum broad, apically bifid, medial emargination narrow ( Fig. 13 ); lateral lobes short, broad, apically broadly rounded, without setae ( Figs. 13–14 ).

Female tarsi 5–4–4.

Etymology. This species is named baen , a whimsical arrangement of letters pronounced like the English word ‘‘bean.’’

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality in Oaxaca.

Figures

Figs. 13–20. Gelae spp., median and lateral lobes of aedeagus. Figs. 13–14) G. baen; 13) ventral; 14) lateral. Figs. 15–16) G. donut; 15) ventral; 16) lateral. Figs. 17–18) G. rol; 17) ventral; 18) lateral. Figs. 19–20) G. cognatum; 19) ventral; 20) lateral.

Figs. 24–32. Gelae and Decuria species, heads, dorsal. 24) G. fish; 25) G. belae; 26) G. parile; 27) G. parvulum; 28) G. baen; 29) G. donut; 30) G. rol; 31) G. cognatum; 32) D. newtoni. Bars ¼ 0.25 mm.