Dysmerus politus Thomas, 2009

Thomas, Michael C., 2009, A review of the genus Dysmerus Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (74), pp. 1-30 : 20-22

Dysmerus politus Thomas , new species

Fig. 16 , 39 , Map 5

Diagnosis. Individuals of this species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of the following character states: head with short median carina ( Fig. 16 ); integument smooth and shiny; inconspicuous dorsal pubescence; and male scape simple, strongly curved ( Fig. 16 ).

Description. Holotype, male, in FSCA, with label data as follows: “ 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, 2.01 mm.

Head 2.50X wider than long; punctures shallowly impressed, longitudinally elliptical, smaller than an eye facet, separated by 1-2 or more puncture diameters, sparse medially, denser laterally and basally; each subtending a short, pale seta; surface between punctures smooth and shiny; a short median longitudinal carina begins just posterior to the antennal insertions and ends with a small tubercle at about the midpoint of the eye; clypeus prolonged, comprising 0.26 of total length of head measured along midline from front of eyes to front of head capsule, shallowly emarginate, sides not reflexed; angle above antennal insertion obtuse, very strongly elevated, carinate margin of clypeus extends onto the elevation above the antennal insertion, forming an acute tubercle; antennal scape large, length equal to 0.70 length of head; from dorsal view strongly curved medially, apical portion of scape flattened laterally and distally rounded ( Fig. 16 ), dorsally without a dark tubercle; 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 0.57 length of head.

Pronotum slightly wider than long (1.13:1.00); surface sculpture and pubescence as head; roughly rectangular in shape, broadest at apex, thence narrowing slightly to base; width across anterior angles 1.15X width across posterior angles; sides steeply descending from sublateral line to margin; anterior angles acute, not produced; posterior angles right, not produced.

Elytra 1.84X longer than combined width; parallel-sided for basal half, then gradually converging; lateral margin of third cell slightly more prominent than others but scarcely carinate; sides laterally perpendicular to margin.

Male genitalia as in Fig. 39 .

Female, allotype, in FSCA, with same label data as holotype, length 1.78mm. Proportions as follow: head, 1.92X wider than long ; clypeus 0.21 length of head; eye, 0.50 length of head; pronotum as wide as long, 1.09X as wide apically as posteriorly; elytra 1.77X longer than wide. All else as in male except for the simple scape.

Type material. Paratypes: 10, as follows: 8, “ BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, 3.7km SSE Buena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna 405m. 5-15-XI-2001 17 o 29.949’S, 63 o 33.152’W M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier tropical transition forest” ( FSCA) ; 2, “ BRAZIL: Rondonia, 62km SW Ariquemes , nr Fzda. Rancho Grande 8-20-XI-1994 J.E. Eger, L.B. & C.W. O’Brien, blacklight trap ” ( FSCA) .

Map 3. Distribution of Dysmerus species. Variation. The paratypes range in length from 1.52 mm to 2.00 mm. Otherwise, they are very similar to the holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the glossy integument of this species.

Distribution. Brazil, Bolivia (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 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.