Euryptychus antilliensis Otto, 2023

Otto, Robert L., 2023, The false click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Eucnemidae) of the Dominican Republic. Part I: A look into the past, Insecta Mundi 2023 (973), pp. 1-23 : 13-14

Euryptychus antilliensis Otto , new species

Fig. 12–14

Holotype. Embedded in an egg-shaped Dominican Republic amber piece, 20 mm × 12 mm × 5 mm. Amber piece is clear dark yellow/orange with numerous small air bubbles, micro fractures, debris and one additional large undescribed insect (fly).

Diagnosis. Smaller size (5.0 mm) and robust form will separate the new eucnemid species from any known species of Euryptychus . Short, simple mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsomere IV will also distinguish the species from any species of Phlegon Laporte. Strongly angulated metacoxal plate is a strange, unique feature only known from this species compared with any known encountered species in the group.

Description. Length, 5.0 mm. Width, 2.5 mm. Habitus moderately elongate, widest at humeral region and tapering towards the elytral apex; uniformly dark brownish; antennae and legs dark brownish; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with long brown recumbent setae ( Fig. 12 ). Head: Closely, deeply punctate, subspherical with convex frons; median ridge present on frons; surfaces shiny; apical margin of frontoclypeal region truncate, about 2.0–2.5 times wider than base; mandibles slender, somewhat punctate. Antennae ( Fig. 13 ): Capitate, 2/3–3/4 as long as body. Scape elongate, about 4.0 times longer than pedicel, lateral ridge present; flagellomere I nearly as long as II and III combined; II–VI transverse; flagellomeres VII–IX each elongate and longer than pedicel–flagellomere VI combined; flagellomere IX longer than either VII or VIII. Pronotum: Closely, deeply punctate; surface shiny; wider than long, with moderately sized hind angles; basally wider, gradually narrowing towards cranium; lateral sides with one ridge; disc simple, with small median groove above scutellum; hypomeron simple, without antennal grooves. Scutellum: Slightly rugose, short, trapezoidally-shaped. Elytra: Faintly indicated striae present; interstices slightly elevated, very closely punctate. Legs: First tarsomere slightly shorter than 2–5 combined on mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; lateral surfaces of mesothoracic and metathoracic tibiae with single spines; metatarsomeres I–IV simple; metatarsomeres IV very short; metatarsomere V elongate with simple claws. Venter ( Fig. 14 ): Punctate; metaepisternum parallel-sided; metacoxal plates medially angulated, 5.0 times wider than laterally.

Etymology. Specific epithet is derived from the term Greater Antilles, a group of islands in the Caribbean Ocean that includes Hispaniola.

Figures

Figures 11–14. Dominican amber Eucnemidae. 11) Idiotarsus poinari Otto sp. nov., ventral view (distorted). 12) Euryptychus antilliensis Otto sp. nov., dorsal view. 13) Euryptychus antilliensis Otto sp. nov., antenna and pronotum. 14) Euryptychus antilliensis Otto sp. nov., ventral view. (Scale: 11–14 = 2.0 mm).