Dysmerus rondoniensis Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 22-24

Dysmerus rondoniensis Thomas , new species

Fig. 17 , 27 , 40 , Map 5

Diagnosis. Individuals can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: distinct dorsal pubescence; median carina present on head ( Fig. 17 ); head above antennal insertions strongly produced, lobe-like ( Fig 17 ); male scape with a dorsal tubercle ( Fig. 17 ).

Description. Holotype male, deposited in FSCA, with the following label data: “ BRAZIL: Rondonia, 62km SW Ariquemes, nr Fzda. Rancho Grande 8-20-XI-1994 J.E. Eger, L.B. & C.W. O’Brien, blacklight trap”

Body elongate, parallel-sided, convex; length, 1.58 mm.

Head 1.75X wider than long; sparsely punctate, punctures longitudinally elliptical, much smaller than an eye facet, separated by one to two or more puncture diameters, each subtending a long, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shining; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.33 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 obtuse, strongly elevated, with a rounded tubercle directed anterolaterally; a short longitudinal, median carina begins behind the antennal insertions and extends posteriorly to about the anterior fourth of the eyes; antennal scape large, length equal to 0.67 length of head; from dorsal view roughly rectangular with the inner apical angle strongly curved medially and acutely produced, with a dark tubercle about 0.60 behind apex ( Fig. 17 ); in lateral view roughly triangular ( Fig. 27 ); pedicel small, quadrate; antennomeres III-VIII quadrate, about equal in length; antennomeres IX-X broader and longer; XI longer than X; eye moderately, evenly convex, about 0.50 length of head.

Pronotum 1.05X 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 1.10X width across posterior angles; shallowly, longitudinally impressed medially; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles right, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 2.04X 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.

Male genitalia as in Fig. 40 .

Type material. Paratypes, 1, as follows: 1, “ BRAZIL: Rondonia, 62km SW Ariquemes, nr Fzda. Rancho Grande 1-X-1994 U. Schmitz blacklight trap” ( FSCA)

Three females in the FSCA, two with same data as the holotype and one, “ BRAZIL: Rondonia, 62km SW Ariquemes, nr Fzda. Rancho Grande 11-X1-1994 C.W. O’Brien blacklight trap”, are identified as this species but are excluded from the type series. They resemble the male but without the frontal carina and with a simple antennal scape.

Variation. Length of male paratype, 1.63mm, otherwise very similar to holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the state of Rondonia in Brazil, the only know place where this species has been found.

Map 4. Distribution of Dysmerus species.

Distribution. Brazil (Map 5).

Figures

Figure 16-18. Head and pronotum of males of Dysmerus: 16) D. politus Thomas, n. sp.; 17) D. rondoniensis Thomas, n. sp.; 18) D. skelleyi Thomas, n. sp.

Figure 22-27. Oblique view of head and antennal scape of males of Dysmerus: 22) D. boliviensis Thomas, n. sp.; 23) D. genaspinosus Thomas, n. sp.; 24) D. hamaticornis Thomas, n. sp.; 25) D. mexicanus Thomas, n. sp.; 26) D. monstrosus Thomas, n. sp.; 27) D. rondoniensis Thomas, n. sp.

Figure 38-40. Male genitalia of species of Dysmerus: 38) D. mexicanus Thomas, n. sp.; 39) D. politus Thomas, n. sp.; 40) D. rondoniensis Thomas, n. sp.