Ptenidium (Peruvium) robustum, Darby, 2020

Darby, Michael, 2020, Eight new species of Ptenidiini and Discheramocephalini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Ecuador, European Journal of Taxonomy 599, pp. 1-19 : 5-6

Ptenidium (Peruvium) robustum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:74D1C558-2EF0-4AF3-A998-F7E7053

Fig. 2 A–E

Etymology

Named after the robust appearance of the species.

Material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR • ♂; Napo, Cosanga ; 2100 m a.s.l.; 7 May 2017; droplet; J. McClarin leg.; QCAZM.

Paratype

ECUADOR • 1 ♂, no data [presumed to be Napo, Cosanga]; J. McClarin leg.; BMNH .

Description

SIZE. Habitus length 0.95 mm ( Fig. 2A ).

COLOUR. Dark brown/black, shining appearing polished, glabrous, legs dark red/brown, antennae yellow, club markedly darker.

HEAD. Smooth, shining, with a small tuft of setae on disc ( Fig. 2E ), width across eyes 0.33 mm; antennomeres III–XI length 0.26 mm, the two basal segments forming a scape and IX–XI a loosely jointed club; mentum chaetotaxy of usual Ptenidium type, sides rounded and narrower anteriorly, prementum with 5–6 setae; labrum setose with shallow circular depressions.

PRONOTUM. Length 0.31 mm, width 0.52 mm, broad, widest before rounded hind angles, without setae in lateral margins and foveae on anterior and posterior margins, traces of setae only on posterior margin at angles.

ELYTRA. Length 0.61 mm, width 0.52 mm, widest just anterior to middle, leaving only tip of abdomen exposed.

SCUTELLUM. Small, triangular, without basal depressions/foveae.

PROSTERNUM. Very narrow in front of procoxae, which are separated by parallel-sided keel with distinct longitudinal depression ( Fig. 2D ).

MESOVENTRITE. Glabrous, without reticulation; mid keel with depressed medial channel; keel side margins extending posteriorly as carinae meeting side borders of mesocoxal cavities, median area depressed, forming a longitudinal channel; mesoventrite posterior margin almost straight to lateral margins ( Fig. 2D ).

METAVENTRITE. Length 0.20 mm, width 0.46 mm, disc with a triangular patch of short setae, anterior margin with raised border before posterior margin of mesocoxal cavities, metepisternal sutures not visible, posterior margin between metacoxae straight, length 0.17 mm, coxae without coxal plates.

WINGS. Of usual ptiliid type.

MALE GENITALIA. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2 Ba–Bb).

FEMALE GENITALIA. Not known.

Remarks

This species is only likely to be confused with P. gibbosum Darby, 2016 from Bolivia amongst the subgenus Peruvium species which also have a longitudinal depression down the proventral intercoxal keel and the males of which have a small tuft of setae on the head ( Darby 2016c), but the broad pronotum, shape of the aedeagus and absence of protuberances on the head quickly distinguish it.

Figures

Fig. 2. Ptenidium robustum sp. nov. A. Habitus. B. Lateral (Ba) and dorsal (Bb) views of the aedeagus. C. Mentum and prementum ×725. D. Venter ×400. E. Tuft of setae on the head ×520.