Parvapila lyncispinnae, Cosandey, 2023

Cosandey, Vivien, 2023, Parvapila lyncispinnae new genus and new species (Coleoptera, Melandryidae) from South Africa, Alpine Entomology 7, pp. 269-273 : 269

Parvapila lyncispinnae sp. nov.

Figs 1-2 , 3-9

Type material.

Holotype (housed in NHMUK): NHMUK-ENTO-0119356; 1♂; RSA, Western Cape, Grootvadersbosch N.R., 33°59.39'S, 20°48.32'E, 25-26.I.2004; 350 m, sifting, lgt. P. Hlaváč.

Paratypes (3): NHMUK; NHMUK-ENTO-0119357 - NHMUK-ENTO-0119359; 1♂, 2♀; same data as holotype. - 1♂; OKZC; South Africa, Western Cape, Kogelberg NR, Platbos for., 34°20.1'S, 18°56.0'E, 14.i.2020, P. Bulirsch lgt. - 18♂ and ♀; NHMUK, TMSA, PBPC, OKZC; South Africa, Western Cape, Marloth NR, Duiwelsbos for., 33°59.6'S, 20°27.6'E, 25.x.2019, P. Bulirsch lgt. - 5♂ and ♀; NHMUK, OKZC: South Africa, Western Cape, Marloth NR, Koloniesbos for., 33°59.5'S, 20°27.1'E, 26.x.2019, P. Bulirsch lgt. - 14♂ and ♀; NHMUK, OKZC: South Africa, Western Cape, Marloth NR, Duiwelsbos indig. forest, 33°59.6'S, 20°27.6'E, 22.x.2013, P. Bulirsch lgt. - 10♂ and ♀; NHMUK, OKZC: South Africa, Western Cape, Marloth NR, Wamakersbos, ca. 33°59.5'S, 20°28.6'E, 23.i.2020, P. Bulirsch lgt.

Diagnosis.

For now, Parvapila lyncispinnae is the only known species of this genus. It can be easily distinguished from other Orchesiini by characters given in the diagnosis of Parvapila .

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the shape of the sternite IX of males, which bears two patches of setae, recalling the tufted ears of the Eurasian lynx.

Description.

Length: 1.48-2.51 mm; width: 0.78-1.28 mm; depth: 0.57-0.91.

Body (Figs 3-5 ) oval, ca. twice longer than wide, widest at middle; sides regularly arcuate in dorsal view; body convex in lateral view, slightly elongated posteriorly. Body yellowish to orange-reddish. Pubescence regular and dense, yellowish.

Head with strong setiferous punctation; surface covered by homogeneous transverse microreticulation. Clypeus with strong and rough punctation; surface lacking microreticulation. Antennae long, reaching posteriorly ca. middle of body; antennomeres progressively widening toward apex, not forming distinct club; length ratios of antennomeres: 22-16-13-8-11-12-10-11-14-13-29; antennomere I and XI ca. twice longer than wide, antennomeres II, III, V, VI, and VII slightly elongate, antennomeres IV, VIII, and X slightly transverse, antennomere IX as long as wide. Basal maxillary palpomere small, as long as wide; second article transverse; penultimate article transverse, three times wider than long; distal maxillary palpomere 1.2 times longer than wide, widest at base, with inner margin slightly concave, outer margin widely rounded.

Pronotum ca. 0.4 times as long as wide, widest at base; surface covered by fine punctation, two times denser anteriorly than at base; elytral surface covered by microreticulation formed of transverse to polyhedral meshes. Elytra 1.5 times longer than wide; homogeneously covered with small granules except for elytral base, and with dense confluent rough punctation; lacking microreticulation, shining; pubescence long and dense directed posteriad. Scutellar shield small, 0.07 mm wide, ca. twice longer than wide, with rounded posterior margin, surface smooth and shining, bearing a few hairs. Metaventrite shining, homogeneously covered by shallow microreticulation and fine punctation and pubescence. Length of both metatarsal spurs subequal, almost as long as metatarsomere I; first metatarsomere seven times longer than wide; length ratio of metatarsomeres: 38-12-9-11.

Abdomen bearing dense pubescence on ventral side; surface smooth, shining, finely punctured, without microreticulation.

Male: Metaventrite (Fig. 6 ) with a deep oval medial depression occupying slightly more than posterior half of metaventrite and three to four times longer than wide, widest at middle, with margins clearly edged; inner area of medial depression bearing long pubescence; metaventral area anterior of depression with long erected hairs.

Sternite IX (Fig. 8 ) 0.51 mm long, formed by two tubular pieces joining anteriorly and linked by a thin membrane, strait on anterior 2/3, diverging in apical third, prolonged by quadratic membranous pieces with pubescent tips. Aedeagus (Fig. 9 ) 0.43 mm long; phallobase slightly sinuate around its midlength, 0.6 times as long as total aedeagal length; parameres straight, divergent posteriad, in basal half not distinct from median lobe; median lobe extremely thin, narrowed posteriad.

Female: Metaventrite (Fig. 7 ) with shallow lineiform groove directed longitudinally occupying 0.6 times of metaventral length, surrounded by strong hairs directed posteriad.

Figures

Figures 1, 2. Parvapila gen. nov. 1. Scutellar shield; 2. Metanepisternum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 3 - 9. Parvapila lyncispinnae sp. nov. 3 - 5. Habitus; 6. Male metaventrite; 7. Female metaventrite; 8. Male sternite IX; 9. Aedeagus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.