Ruthmuelleria grootdrifensis, Jałoszyński, Paweł & Ślipiński, Adam, 2014

Jałoszyński, Paweł & Ślipiński, Adam, 2014, Ruthmuelleria, a new genus of Carinodulini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Microweiseinae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 3784 (3), pp. 275-280 : 279-280

Ruthmuelleria grootdrifensis sp. n.

( Figs. 1–9 )

Type material. Holotype: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (West Cape): ♂, three labels: "S.Afr.: SW Cape / Grootdrif farm / 32.24 S - 18.27 E " [white, printed], " 27.10.1981; E-Y: 1903 / sifted from very dry litter / leg. Endrödy-Younga" [white, printed], " RUTHMUELLERIA / grootdrifensis / Jałoszyński & / Ślipiński, '13 / HOLOTYPUS " [red, printed] ( TMSA). Paratypes: 2 exx., same data except for yellow paratype labels ( TMSA, MNHW).

Diagnosis. This is the only species of Ruthmuelleria and can be identified on the basis of generic diagnosis.

Description. BL 0.99–1.11 mm. Body ( Fig. 1 ) elongate, flattened, light brown.

Head ( Figs. 1 , 3–4 ) broadest at moderately large and convex eyes, HL 0.18–0.23 mm, HW 0.14–0.15 mm; vertex transverse, frontoclypeus subtrapezoidal, anterior margin concave. Dorsum of head with fine, dense punctures and short recumbent and sparse setae. Antenna short, with large, one-segmented club, AnL 0.18–0.20 mm, antennomere I nearly 3x as long as broad; II much shorter and slightly narrower than I, about 2.5x as long as broad; III 1.5x as long as broad; IV only slightly elongate; V–VII each strongly transverse; VIII 1.7x as long as broad, apex obliquely truncated.

Pronotum ( Figs. 1 , 5 ) elongate, anterior angles indistinct, posterior angles slightly obtuse; PL 0.26–0.30 mm, PW 0.23–0.25 mm; pits located near anterior corners and along posterior pronotal margin, pit openings fully visible only in lateral and latero-posterior view; sublateral carinae narrow. Pronotal disc covered with fine but distinct punctures separated by spaces subequal to diameter of puncture, vestiture composed of sparse, short, nearly recumbent setae.

Elytra ( Fig. 1 ) oval, broadest slightly anterior to middle; EL 0.53–0.58 mm, EW 0.34–38 mm, elytral base broadly V-shaped; punctures and setae similar to those on pronotum.

Legs ( Figs. 6–7 ) short, coxa subglobose; trochanter elongate, subtriangular; femur broadest near distal third; tibia slightly curved; tarsus robust, tarsomeres I–II subequal in length, III slightly longer.

Male genitalia as in Figs. 8–9 .

Distribution. South Africa, W Cape ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality, Grootdrif farm.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Ruthmuelleria grootdrifensis sp. n. (1) Dorsal habitus of male; (2) Distribution map.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Ruthmuelleria grootdrifensis sp. n. (3) Head capsule, dorsal view (mouthparts omitted); (4) Head capsule, ventral view; (5) Prothorax, dorsal view; (6) Prothorax, ventral view.

FIGURES 7 – 9. Ruthmuelleria grootdrifensis sp. n. (7) Pterothorax and abdomen, ventral view; (8 – 9) Male genitalia.