Chileanthicus pumilio, Kejval, 2009

Kejval, Zbyněk, 2009, Taxonomic revision of the genus Chileanthicus Werner (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) 2180, Zootaxa 2180 (1), pp. 1-82 : 69-70

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2180.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5321654
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3949251E-FFE9-7722-FF63-DEC6FA98FCEF
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Chileanthicus pumilio
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Chileanthicus pumilio sp. nov.

( Figs 187–189 View FIGURES 183–191 , 229 View FIGURES 220–231 , 238 View FIGURES 232–241 )

Type locality. Australia, South Australia, Balcanoona Homestead , 30°35'30"S 139°32'40"E GoogleMaps .

Description (female, holotype). Head brown black; pronotum reddish brown, darkened antero-laterally; elytra brown black with slight bronze reflection; legs, antennae and palpi rufous brown.

Head 1.1 times as long as wide, widely rounded posteriorly in dorsal view; tempora parallel, posterior temporal angles rounded but distinct. Eyes small, moderately convex. Dorsal surface slightly glossy, densely and rather distinctly punctured ( Fig. 187 View FIGURES 183–191 ); punctation nearly simple, coarser punctures barely discernible, with indication of somewhat less densely punctured, glossy, median longitudinal line. Setation generally short, fine, subdecumbent to appressed, with a few, quite inconspicuous erect setae. Antennae very short, not reaching base of pronotum, distinctly enlarged in apical third ( Fig. 188 View FIGURES 183–191 ); antennomere III 1.5 times as long as wide, about as long as IV; antennomere X as long as wide, XI 1.8 times as long as wide.

Pronotum 1.1 times as long as wide, about as wide as head including eyes, widely rounded anteriorly in dorsal view. Pronotal disc less conspicuous, evenly shaped, its dorso-lateral sides rounded, lateral outlines nearly straightly narrowing towards base in dorsal view. Dorsal surface slightly glossy, densely, evenly punctured; punctation and setation as on head.

Elytra 1.7 times as long as wide, conjountly rounded apically. Surface rather moderately glossy, rather densely punctured and setose ( Fig. 187 View FIGURES 183–191 ); punctation homogeneous, simple, finer than on head. Setation slightly longer than on head, appressed setae evenly directed posteriad, mostly brownish, with whitish setae forming two, narrow transverse bands ( Figs 187 View FIGURES 183–191 , 238 View FIGURES 232–241 ), widely interrupted medially; erect setae short, scattered, inconspicuous.

Metafemora unidentate ( Fig. 189 View FIGURES 183–191 ); subapical process pointed apically, facing inner side of tibia. Setation uniformly short and fine.

Both sternite and tergite VII simple.

Body length. 3.1–3.5 mm (holotype 3.5 mm).

Type material. Holotype: ♀, S.AUST. Balcanoona HS 30°35'30"S 139°32'40"E July 1997 pitfalls L. Jansson site x6 Scientific Exploration Grp // S. Aust. Museum specimen ( SAMA) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype ( SAMA) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, S.AUST. Balcanoona Hsd 20 km SE 30°38'35"S 139°28'30"E X8 Pitfalls July 1997 L. Jansen Scientific Exploration Group // S. Aust. Museum specimen ( SAMA) GoogleMaps .

Additional material. 2 ♀♀, Sas, Murray Bridge, Lea leg. ( SAMA) .

Differential diagnosis. C. pumilio sp. nov. differs from most Australian species by the combination of unidentate metafemora, rather rounded (not angled) lateral sides of pronotum, and dark unicolourous, simply, finely punctured elytra. Within the group of species showing these characters (or similar conditions), it can be recognized by the small size, widely rounded head base, by the nearly uniform setation of the elytra (silvery setose bands less conspicuous, narrow, setae evenly pointing posteriad, Figs 187 View FIGURES 183–191 , 238 View FIGURES 232–241 ), and by the rather short and in the terminal third distinctly enlarged antennae ( Fig. 188 View FIGURES 183–191 ).

Etymology. From Latin pumilio (dwarf, pygmy), named in reference to small body size.

Distribution. Australia (South Australia).

Remarks. The two additional specimens from Murray Bridge bear the identification label “var of 4- maculatus” by Lea, and a card with two mounted ant specimens. They are undoubtedly identical to the two “unusually small” specimens of C. quadrimaculatus recorded by Lea (1922) as being “taken at Murray Bridge, from a nest of the ant, Ponera lutea ” ( Lea 1922) . I have little doubt about their identity, as they are even smaller in size than the types, and show only moderate differences in the body proportions.