Psammocoryza vanemdeni Hogan

Hogan, James E., 2006, Psammocoryza vanemdeni, a new genus and species of scaritine beetle from the Atlantic coast of Brazil (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Clivinini), Zootaxa 1337, pp. 61-68 : 64-67

Psammocoryza vanemdeni Hogan , new species

( Figs. 1–7 )

Type material: Holotype: Female, deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, UK. “Barra de Serinhaem, Pernambuco, 25.v.1937, O. Schubart, Br.867”, “Nordstrand”, “gen.n. S2, van Emden det. 1949”, “F.van Emden Bequest B.M. 1960–129”, “gen. nr. Schizogenius det. S.W.Nichols 1984”. In good condition; articles 2–5 of both hind tarsi missing; left antenna with articles 8–11 missing. Head darkened in colour due to maceration in KOH. Paratype: Male, also deposited in the Natural History Museum, London. “Barra de Serinhaem, Pernambuco, 25.v.1937, O.Schubart, Br.864”, “Nordstrand”, “F.van Emden Bequest B.M. 1960–129”. Specimen incomplete: head, pterothorax and right elytron missing.

Description. Due to the poor condition of the male paratype the description is based on the female holotype unless otherwise stated. Small clivinine carabid beetle (length of elytra 1.92mm).

Colour uniform pale testaceous (pale brownish-yellow).

Head capsule, dorsal surface: large, slightly narrower than pronotum. Surface dull due to coarse isodiametric microsculpture. Clypeus tri-tuberculate at anterior margin, central tubercle extending a small distance posteriorly onto clypeus as a carina, lateral tubercles also extended posteriorly onto clypeus as carinae but longer, almost reaching clypeal suture. Antero-lateral angles of clypeus sharp and carinate, almost reaching level of anterior tubercles. Single central pair of clypeal carinae almost continuous with second pair of carinae of frons, slightly converging anteriorly, terminating just before anterior margin of clypeus either side of central tubercle. One pair of clypeal setae. Clypeal suture deeply impressed lateraly, absent medially. Supra-antennal plate carinate laterally, rounded. Frons with seven pairs of paired longitudinal carinae; first, fourth and fifth pairs nearly parallel; second pair weakly developed, stronger basally; third pair convergent anteriorly, continued almost unbroken onto clypeus; fourth pair weakly developed, narrower and lower than carinae one, three and five; fifth pair interrupted for a short distance at level of eye, then continued to clypeal suture; sixth pair shorter than carinae one to five, curved inwards around insertion of anterior supra-orbital seta and terminating a short distance beyond; seventh pair also short, touching the dorsal margin of the eye then continued to clypeal suture. On the right hand side only the fifth carina is interrupted for a short distance. The form of the carinae may therefore show some individual variation. Two pairs of supra-orbital setae; anterior pair located close to eye, adjacent to carina six; posterior pair at base of carina five. Neck marked dorsaly with coarse longitudinal rugosity. Head capsule, ventral surface: Buccal fissure wide and extended to below level of submentum. Gula narrow, at narrowest point 0.2 times maximum width of mentum; surface smooth and shining, in contrast to the microsculptured genae.

Eyes large and prominent, not enclosed by genae.

Antennae ( Fig.1 ) pubescent from article three; articles four to ten moniliform. Antennal scape slightly longer than articles two and three combined, with long, sub-apical dorsal seta. Pedicel with long ventral seta.

Mouthparts. Labrum bilobed, slightly emarginate at middle; dorsal surface with seven setae, lateral margins with six pairs of curved setae, reflexed forwards. Mandibles prominent, hooked at apex; inner margin straight, inner margin of right mandible with small tooth, probably analagous to the anterior retinacular tooth of the right mandible of Clivina Latreille ( Ball 2001) . Maxilla ( Fig.3 ) with lacinia setose along inner and outer margin, apex slightly hooked; terminal article of palpus elongate, swollen at base. Labium ( Fig.2 ): Mentum with triangular central tooth; one pair of paramedian anterior setae and one pair of paralateral posterior setae. Base of mentum with a pair of large ringed pores. Mentum and submentum separated by suture. Submentum with one pair of paramedian and one pair of paralateral setae. Prementum: Glossal sclerite of ligula with two long apical setae; penultimate article of labial palpus with two setae; terminal article elongate, swollen at base.

Thorax. Pronotum transverse, surface dull and non-reflective due to coarse isodiametric microsculpture. Anterior angles sharp, projected slightly forwards; posterior angles rounded, each with small tooth. Median line deeply impressed and complete, extended from anterior to posterior border. Disc with six pairs of distinct sub-parallel lateral carinae; carinae five and six closer together than others and terminated at level of posterior pronotal seta. Marginal border of pronotum thick and continued to peduncle. Two pairs of lateral setae, posterior pair recessed from margin. Prosternum between coxae produced into a sharp ridge. Mesothorax pedunculate with scutellum dorsaly.

Elytra with eight striae; intervals flat except at extreme base. Intervals three, five and seven each with eleven setigerous punctures on disc; base of interval three with additional setigerous pore. Base of interval three and four with small tubercle. Shoulder with small raised tooth. Lateral channel with umbillical series of punctures interrupted for a short distance at middle.

Wings fully developed, venation not studied.

Legs. Metacoxae separated slightly by posterior extension of metasternum. Profemora ( Fig.5 ) large and flattened on inner and outer side; basaly with conspicuous row of eight round tubercles. Protibiae externaly with four spines; the three distal spines long and thin, not widened basaly; proximal spine very short and wide. Apical spurs rounded at tip. Meso and metatibiae lacking external spines; apical spurs short and thin. Tarsi thin and elongate, mesotarsi 0.75 times length of mesotibiae. Tarsal claws small, shorter than terminal article. First tarsomere long, first tarsomere of protarsi longer than remaining four combined.

Abdomen. Pygidium with numerous very small setae and margin entire in both sexes. Pygidium of male with very fine file-like striae along midline, not visible in female. Abdominal sternites three to six of both sexes each with one pair of paramedian setae; sternite seven of both sexes with 2 pairs of setae.

Female genitalia. Gonocoxite ( Fig.4 ) straight, apex rounded, with row of pores externally; setae absent.

Male genitalia. Phallus ( Fig.7 ) evenly arcuate; endophallus without enlarged collar setae. Parameres unequal, left paramere larger and wider than right, each bearing a single long apical seta. Genital ring sclerite closed.

Measurements. Head width including eyes 0.73mm. Head length from neck to antero-lateral angle of clypeus 0.83mm. Length of pronotum along mid-line 0.70mm. Length of left elytron excluding peduncle 1.92mm (female holotype), 1.78mm (male paratype). Total body length from antero-lateral angle of clypeus to apex of elytra, including peduncle, 3.64mm.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the distinguished carabidologist and dipterist Professor F. I. van Emden (1898–1958).

Geographical distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Natural History. The type locality is coastal and sand grains adhering to the type specimens suggest Psammocoryza inhabits marine beaches. This hypothesis is supported by the elongate form of the pro-tibial teeth which is similar to those of other psammophilous Scaritinae such as species of Halocoryza , Lophocoryza and Acanthoscelis Dejean. Pale testaceous coloration and coarse isodiametric microsculpture are also seen in other coastal carabidae ( Erwin 2004) .

The author thanks Dr Roger Booth and Max Barclay (Natural History Museum, London) for arranging the loan of specimens, Menaka Rambukwella (Oxford University Museum) for discussions on digital imaging and Darren Mann (Oxford University Museum) for advice on dissection techniques.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Psammocoryza vanemdeni Hogan, new genus and species, holotype, female. 1, habitus, latero-dorsal aspect (total length of specimen 3.64 mm); 2, labium, ventral aspect, showing palpi and ligula; 3, left maxilla, ventral aspect; 4, ovipositor styli, dorsal aspect, Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 7. Psammocoryza vanemdeni Hogan, new genus and species. 5, holotype, female; 6 – 7, paratype, male. 5, left fore leg, right lateral aspect; 6, parameres, dorsal aspect; 7, phallus, with endophallus inverted, left lateral aspect. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.