Dysmerus trinidadensis Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 28

Dysmerus trinidadensis Thomas , new species

Fig. 21 , 30 , Map 6

Diagnosis. Individuals can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: distinct dorsal pubescence; head with longitudinal median carina that ends at level of antennal insertions ( Fig. 21 ); male scape without strong tubercle dorsally ( Fig. 30 ); head above antennal insertions strongly produced anterolaterally, lobe-like ( Fig. 21 ).

Description. Holotype male, deposited in FSCA, with the following label data: “ TRINIDAD: Simla, Arima-Blachissuese Rd., 12-VII-75 J. Price blacklight trap”.

Body elongate, parallel-sided, convex; length, 1.64 mm.

Head 1.90X wider than long; sparsely punctate, punctures longitudinally elliptical, much smaller than an eye facet, separated by one to two puncture diameters, each subtending a long, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shining; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.36 of total length of head measured along midline from front of eyes to front of head capsule, shallowly emarginate, sides not strongly reflexed; angle above antennal insertion acute, strongly elevated,acutely produced anterolaterally; a longitudinal, median carina begins at about the antennal insertions and extends posteriorly to about the midpoint of the eyes ( Fig. 21 ); antennal scape large, length equal to 0.72 length of head; from dorsal view roughly triangular with the inner apical angle strongly curved medially and acutely produced, without a dark dorsal tubercle ( Fig. 21 ); in lateral view roughly triangular ( Fig. 30 ); pedicel small, quadrate; antennomeres III-VIII quadrate, about equal in length; antennomeres IX-X broader and longer; XI longer than X; eye abruptly convex, about 0.50 length of head.

Pronotum 1.15X wider than long; surface sculpture and pubescence as head, punctures slightly larger than on head; roughly rectangular in shape, broadest at apex, thence narrowing slightly to base; width across anterior angles 1.11X width across posterior angles; not impressed medially; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles right, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 2.40X longer than combined width; parallel-sided for basal half, then gradually converging; all three cells visible, lateral margin of third cell slightly more prominent than others but scarcely carinate; sides laterally perpendicular to margin.

Type material. Paratype, 1, as follows: “ BRAZIL: Santa Catharina, Nova Teutonia Sept F. Plaumann” ( MCZC).

Variation. Length of male paratype, 1.76mm, otherwise very similar to holotype.

Five females, two with same data as the paratype ; one, “ BRAZIL: Santa Catharina, Nova Teutonia Nov. F. Plaumann” (all MCZC) ; one, same data as holotype and one, same data as holotype except date is 18-VII-75 (both in FSCA) ; are identified as this species but are excluded from the type series. They resemble the male but without the frontal carina and with simple antennal scape..

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of this species.

Distribution. Brazil, Trinidad (Map 6).

Figures

Figure 19-21. Head and pronotum of males of Dysmerus: 19) D. sulcicollis Grouvelle; 20) D. symphilus Thomas, n. sp.; 21) D. trinidadensis Thomas, n. sp.

Figure 28-30. Oblique view of head and antennal scape of males of Dysmerus: 28) D. skelleyi Thomas, n. sp.; 29) D. sulcicollis Grouvelle; 30) D. trinidadensis Thomas, n. sp.