Notomicrus interstinctus, Baca & Short, 2021

Baca, Stephen M. & Short, Andrew Edward Z., 2021, Review of the New World Notomicrus Sharp (Coleoptera, Noteridae) I: Circumscription of species groups and review of the josiahi group with description of a new species from Brazil, ZooKeys 1025, pp. 177-201 : 177

Notomicrus interstinctus sp. nov. Figs 5c, d , 7 , 9

Type locality.

Brazil: Amapá, Calcoene, 2.50019, -50.97712.

Material examined.

Holotype, male: " BRAZIL: Amapá: Calcoene / 2.50019°, -50.97712°; 5 m / Colcoene (1 km W) on BR-156/ 22.vii.2018; leg. Short; Marshy/ savannah; BR18-0722-01A" [White label, typed print] " HOLOTYPE / Notomicrus / Notomicrus interstinctus / Baca & Short, 2020" [Red label, black border, typed print] (ex. INPA) . Paratypes: Same data as holotype, except with " PARATYPE / Notomicrus / Notomicrus interstinctus / Baca & Short, 2021" [Blue label, black borders, typed print] (4 males, 5 females exs. SEMC, INPA); Brazil: Amazonas, Manacapuru Municipality , -3.23037, -60.64269, 35 m, 9.vi.2017, leg. Benetti, margin of large marsh/river, lots of vegetation; BR17-0609-01A; with " PARATYPE / Notomicrus / Notomicrus interstinctus / Baca & Short, 2021" [Blue label, black borders, typed print] (3 males, 6 females exs. SEMC, INPA) .

Measurements.

TL = 1.50-1.63 (Holotype = 1.50 mm, mean = 1.56 mm, SD. = 0.045, males 1.50-1.63 mm, females 1.50-1.63 mm); TLPn = 1.38-1.48 (Holotype = 1.40 mm, mean = 1.42 mm, SD = 0.039, males = 1.40-1.45 mm, females = 1.38-1.48 mm); GW = 0.72-0.80 mm (Holotype = 0.72 mm, mean = 0.75 mm, SD. = 0.027, males = 0.72 mm-0.76 mm, females = 0.73-0.80 mm; HW = 0.41-0.45 mm (Holotype = 0.41 mm, mean = 0.43 mm, SD. = 0.013, males = 0.41-0.42 mm, females = 0.42-0.45 mm); EW = 0.18-0.22 mm (Holotype = 0.18 mm, mean = 0.20 mm, SD. = 0.013, males = 0.18-0.19 mm, females = 0.19-0.22 mm), TL/GW = 1.99-2.26 (Holotype = 2.08, mean = 2.07, SD. = 0.074, males = 2.06-2.26, females = 1.98-2.11); HW/EW = 2.04-2.33 (Holotype = 2.28, mean = 2.19, SD. = 0.088, males = 2.16-2.33, females = 2.04-2.26)

Diagnosis.

Notomicrus interstinctus can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: (1) Size large TL = 1.53-1.63 mm; (2) elytron dark with contrasting yellow band at mid-length, apices yellow (Fig. 5c, d ); (3) eyes very large relative to head capsule (HW/EW = 2.04-2.33; Fig. 5c ); (4) aedeagus as in Fig. 7 ; median lobe not broadly expanded on right side in dorsal aspect, attenuated to apex in lateral aspect, with small, round apical club oriented laterally to left; left lateral lobe with row of setae along entire dorsal margin, only somewhat denser at apex; right lateral lobe glabrous, without small tuft of setae at apex; (5) protarsal claws as in Fig. 9a, b ; anterior protarsal claw strongly bent, bifurcate, branching at mid-length, ventral margin somewhat expanded ventrally near base.

Description.

Holotype. As described for N. josiahi , except the following. Size large, TL = 1.53 mm. Body very broad, elongate-oval, strongly attenuated posteriorly, TL/GW = 2.08; lateral outline of elytron evenly and gradually curved to apex from point of greatest width, as in Fig. 5c, d .

Color. Dorsal surface of head brown, lighter near clypeus; pronotum yellow; elytron dark, nearly black in anterior and posterior thirds, with lighter contrasting brownish-yellow transverse band near mid-length of elytron, elytral apex also lighter, brownish-yellow; elytron with surface moderately iridescent. Ventral surface of head and prosternum light brownish-yellow; rest of venter yellowish-brown; legs yellow.

Structures. Eyes large relative to head capsule (HW/EW = 2.28). Posterior lobes of noterid platform with angles acute, apices rounded (as in Figs 3a , 5d ). Pro- and mesotarsal claws as in Fig. 9 .

Sculpture. Elytron with punctation as described in N. josiahi , but denser overall and less restricted to posterior half, with punctures along lateral margin and puncture rows more widely distributed and denser.

Aedeagus. Aedeagus as in Fig. 7 . Median lobe in lateral aspect, strongly curved at base, distally weakly curved, nearly straight; dorsal and ventral margins subparallel to mid-length, then attenuated to apex; apex with small club, sharply bent dorsally and left; left lateral lobe in lateral aspect, elongate, dorsal margin curved with dense row of fine setae (Fig. 7d ). Right lateral lobe in lateral aspect oblong, rounded distally.

Females. As males, except eyes slightly smaller (HW/EW = 2.04-2.16); profemur with posteroventral margin smooth, lacking weak angle at mid-length; pro- and mesotarsomeres unmodified, slender, lacking adhesive discs; pro- and mesotarsal claws unmodified, claws of respective tarsi subequal in length, slender, weakly curved.

Variation.

The most notable variation was in size and color, with some specimens darker overall than others, with the yellow bands sometimes smaller.

Differential diagnosis.

Notomicrus interstinctus is easily distinguished by the combination of large eyes and elytral color pattern, darkened in anterior and posterior thirds with a yellow transverse band. This color pattern is unique among known species of Notomicrus . This species is also unusual in that it is one of the few known species (along with N. brevicornis , N. josiahi and members of the Notomicrus tenellus group), with males that present bifurcated anterior protarsal claws. The aedeagus, color pattern and more subtly the denser punctation, easily differentiates this species from N. josiahi . The aedeagus of N. interstinctus is similar to that of the N. traili group with the median lobe attenuated and the apex enlarged and bent in a left-dorsal direction, but other external characters, such as the color pattern, tarsal claws and large eyes, readily distinguish this species from the Notomicrus traili group. The elytral punctuation is somewhat similar to that of some members of the N. meizon group, being somewhat densely punctate posteriorly, with punctures fine, but the aforementioned combination of characters will differentiate N. interstinctus from these species as well.

Etymology.

Notomicrus interstinctus sp. nov. derives its name from the Latin adjective Notomicrus interstinctus , meaning checkered or variegated. This refers to the color pattern of the elytra of this species. It is treated as an adjective in the nominative singular.

Distribution.

Known from northern Brazil, Amazonas and Amapá states (Fig. 10 ).

Ecology.

The species seems to be a generalist in terms of habitat, but seems to prefer vegetated environments. It was collected from a very shallow open marshy area (Fig. 11c ) in the Brazilian state of Amapá and the vegetated margins of a river in Amazonas (Fig. 11b ).

Taxonomic comments.

Notomicrus interstinctus appears very similar to specimens misidentified as N. traili Sharp, 1882 by Guimarães and Ferreira-Jr (2019). This was due to the similarities of the size, punctation and shape of the aedeagus. The records from this work would potentially add to the distribution above, as most appear to be from the same regions of the Amazon Basin as the Amazonas specimens. Verification will be needed to confirm these individual records and these are not formally attributed to N. interstinctus here. Observations of the lone female syntype of N. traili (NHM) indicate that the species is as described by Young (1978), with males attributable to N. traili , appearing as in Fig. 2 , with the head and elytra brown, without a pattern.

Figures

Figure 2. Representative prolegs of Notomicrus species groups (left proleg, anterior aspect) a Notomicrus josiahi group (N. josiahi) b Notomicrus nanulus group (N. nanulus) c Notomicrus meizon group (Notomicrus sp.) d Notomicrus meizon group, alternative setal spacing of dorsal (outer) protibial margin (Notomicrus sp.) e Notomicrus traili group (N. cf. traili) f detail of structures of importance. F 1 Se = setae of anteroventral margin of profemur; F 1 Sp = protuberance of posteroventral margin of profemur; PtCA = anterior protarsal claw; Ptm- 5 = protarsomere V; SeDA = first robust seta of dorsoapical angle; SeMl = robust seta at mid-length of anterodorsal margin of protibia; SeM = First seta of anterodorsal margin of protibia; arrows indicate points for relative lengths (see key): i = anteroapical angle, ii = robust seta at mid-length, iii = first seta of marginal row.

Figure 3. Representative prosterna of Notomicrus species groups a N. josiahi group (N. josiahi) b N. nanulus group (N. nanulus) c N. meizon group (N. sp. nr. malkini) d N. traili group (N. cf. traili).

Figure 5. Notomicrus josiahi species group, dorsal and ventral habitus a, b Notomicrus josiahi Miller, 2013 (paratype) c, d Notomicrus interstinctus sp. nov. (paratype).

Figure 10. Distribution map of Notomicrus josiahi group species.

Figure 11. Habitats of N. josiahi group species a Type locality of N. josiahi, Venezuela: Amazonas (collection code VZ 09 - 0116 - 01 A); Localities of N. interstinctus b Brazil, Amazonas (collection code BR 17 - 0609 - 01 A) c type locality, Brazil, Amapa (collection code BR 18 - 0722 - 01 A).

Figures 6, 7. Aedeagi of Notomicrus josiahi species group 6 N. josiahi 7 Notomicrus interstinctus sp. nov. a median lobe, left lateral aspect b median lobe, dorsal aspect c median lobe, right lateral aspect d left lateral lobe, medial surface / aspect e right lateral lobe, medial surface / aspect. Scale bars: 100 µm

Figures 8, 9. Pro- and mesotarsal claws of Notomicrus josiahi species group 8 N. josiahi 9 N. interstinctus sp. nov. a anterior protarsal claw b posterior protarsal claw c anterior mesotarsal claw d posterior mesotarsal claw. All anterior aspect. Scale bars: 25 µm.