Ecitonides constanceae, Shaw & Rodríguez-Melgarejo & Matsumoto & Wasel & Piper, 2023

Shaw, Josh Jenkins, Rodríguez-Melgarejo, Maryzender, Matsumoto, Keita, Wasel, Sophia & Piper, Ross, 2023, A new species of Ecitonides Wasmann, 1894 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from Peru and phylogenetic placement of the genus based on molecular data, Zootaxa 5346 (2), pp. 186-196 : 188-191

Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov.

( Figs 1–4 )

Type material. Holotype, male, “ PERU 270m, Madre de Dios, Estación Biológica Los Amigos , -12.569170, - 70.100110 ” // “ 21–30.VI.2019 G. Bittencourt leg., General collecting, BMNH (E) 2019-96” // “ NHMUK014374061 [QR code]” // “DNA Voucher JJS22-5 NHMD” // “HOLOTYPE Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. Jenkins Shaw et al. 2023” [red label] ( MUSM) .

Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to E. spectabilis Borgmeier , due to their similar size, general shape and structure of the head, pronotum and elytra. However, Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. differs from E. spectabilis in the position of the eyes (eyes not distinctly interrupting the outline of the head in dorsal view in E. spectabilis ) and absence of distinct tubercles on the abdominal segments (distinct on abdominal segments III to V of E. spectabilis ).

Differential diagnosis. Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. differs from E. verrucosus Bruch , in the total body length (5.3 mm in E. verrucosus ) size and shape of the tubercles on the head, pronotum and elytra (smaller and sparser in E. verrucosus ), the shape of the labrum (bidentate in E. verrucosus ) and shape of the antennomeres (antennomeres transverses in E. verrucosus ). From E. tuberculosus Wasmann , differs in the total body length (6.3 mm in E. tuberculosus ) size and shape of the tubercles on the head, pronotum and elytra (smaller and sparser in E. tuberculosus ). From E. volans Assing , differs in the total body length (5.9 mm in E. volans ), the shape and length of the head (longer and tapering posteriorly in E. volans , the shape of the pronotum (widest in posterior third in E. volans ), shape of the elytra (not sinuate laterally and with elytral suture gaping posteriorly in E. volans ), shape and structure of the aedeagus. From E. fraterculus Borgmeier , in the total body length (5 mm in E. fraterculus ). From E. brevicornis Wasmann , in the size and shape of the tubercles on the head, pronotum and elytra (smaller in E. brevicornis ), the longer antennae, the position of the eyes (not so visible when viewed from above in E. brevicornis ), shape of the head (tapering posteriorly in E. brevicornis ), shape of the pronotum (widest in posterior half in E. brevicornis ). From E. soesilae Makhan, 2021 in the shape of the pronotum, formation of tubercles on the elytra and in the total body length (7.2 mm in E. soesilae ).

Description. TL = 10.1, HL = 2.16, HW = 1.14, PL = 1.57, PW = 1.51, EL = 1.70, LA = 1.96. Dorsal view as in Fig. 1A . Ventral view as in Fig. 1B .

Head elongate, 1.9 x longer than wide, widest at tubercles protruding from under eyes in dorsal view ( Fig. 2A ). Head covered in tubercles; dorsal tubercles flattened in lateral view ( Fig. 2B ). Intervals between tubercles with distinct microsculpture. Lateral margin of head very weakly converging posteriad. Medial area of labrum tridentate ( Fig. 2D ). Maxillary palpomere (MP) 4 densely setose, aciculate, distinctly thinner and shorter than MP3. Labial palpomere (LP) 3 aciculate, distinctly thinner and shorter than LP2. Eyes kidney-shaped in lateral view ( Fig. 2B ). Anterior edge of mentum with pair of golden macrosetae. Gular sutures united along length. Antennomeres 1 to 10 elongate ( Fig 2E ); antennomere 11 slightly transverse, about half the length of antennomere 10. Antennomere 1 distinctly wider than remaining antennomeres and approximately as long as antennomeres 2 to 4 combined. Neck slightly thinner than head, except at point of attachment to head where it is approximately a quarter of width of head.

Pronotum as long as wide ( Fig. 2C ), widest just in front of middle. Entire dorsal surface covered in large tubercles, which are more or less symmetrical either side. Intervals between tubercles with distinct microsculpture. In lateral view, middle area of pronotum distinctly elevated compared to sides. Prothorax ventrally; division into basisternum and furcasternum not obvious due to extensive tubercles and setae. Presumed furcasternum acutely pointed. Protibiae with distinct indentation on inner margin. Protarsomeres 1 to 4 transverse, equal in length; protarsomere 5 elongate, approximately equal to combined length of protarsomeres 1 to 4. Claws large, almost as long as protarsomere 5. Mesoscutellum rounded apically, with distinct microsculpture. Elytra widest in posterior quarter, lateral margins somewhat sinuate. Tubercles of each elytron arrange in five rows. Hind wings apparently well developed. Mesoventral process acutely produced. Meso- and metatarsi very similar to protarsi.

Abdominal segments III to VII each with two pairs of paratergites, the outer paratergite very thin from segment IV. Tergites III to VI with distinct tubercles and surface granulation. Tergite VII and VIII without tubercles. Segments IX to X with tufts of long black/golden setae.

Male. Sternite VIII emarginate ( Fig. 3A ). Aedeagus long and rather slender, with rounded apex ( Fig. 3B ), curved in lateral view ( Fig. 3C ), without parameres.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution and natural history. The type locality, Los Amigos Biological Station, is situated 100 km west of Puerto Maldonado in Madre de Dios department in southeastern Peru ( Figs. 4 A, B, C ), near the confluence of Madre de Dios and Los Amigos rivers. This locality is placed in a tropical humid forest at 270 m. a.s.l. The holotype was collected at an MV light sheet ( Fig. 4C ).

Etymology. The species is name after the daughter of author Ross Piper. This specific epithet is a noun in genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view. Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 2. Morphological details of Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. A. Close up of head in dorsal view. B. Close up of head in lateral view. C. Close up of pronotum. D. Drawing of labrum. E. Antenna. Scale bars: A–C, E = 1.0 mm; D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Ecitonides constanceae sp. nov. A. Male sternite VIII. B. Aedeagus in dorsal view. C. Aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 4. A. Distribution maps of all species of Ecitonides. B. Surrounding habitat of E. costanceae sp. nov. C. Light sheet at which the E. costanceae sp. nov. was collected.