Latupusillus laculatus Opitz, 2017

Opitz, Weston, 2017, Classification, Natural History, and Evolution of the Orthopleurinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Part VI. The New Genera Coadnatus Opitz, Furcadia Opitz, and Latupusillus Opitz, One New Species of Funicula Opitz, and Four New Species of Romanaeclerus Winkler, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71 (3), pp. 421-433 : 430

Latupusillus laculatus Opitz , new species ( Figs. 9 , 26 , 32 , 37)

Type Material. Holotype: ♀. MOZAMBIQUE, Sofala Pro. 30 km S. Caia (Catapu), 18.02 S – 35.12 E. A second label reads: 4.12.2006, E-Y: 3742, light trap, leg. Gussmann, Müller ( TMSA) . Paratypes: 2 specimens. MOZAMBIQUE, Sofala Pro. 30 km S. Caia (Catapu), 18°02 ′ S 35°12 ′ E., 4.12.2006, E-Y: 3742, light trap, Gussmann & Müller ( TMSA, 1; WOPC, 1) .

Diagnosis. This species is readily identified by its elytral color ( Fig. 32 ).

Description. Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 32 . Color: Cranium castaneous; antennae and mouthparts testaceous except mandibles black; prothorax castaneous, pterothoracic venter and mesoscutellum castaneous; elytra bicolored, basal 1/4 black, middle region testaceous and apical region mostly black, but with 2 large testaceous maculae proximate to sutural margin; legs testaceous; abdomen castaneous. Head: Antennal capitulum ( Fig. 9 ) small, capitular antennomeres transverse, capitulum shorter than combined length of funicular antennomeres, antennomere 11 suboval; maxillary and labial terminal palpomeres subsecuriform; eyes much narrower than frons (EW/ FW = 15/30). Thorax: Pronotum transverse (PW/ PL = 80/60), lateral margins evenly arcuate, disc vested profusely with minute, setiferous punctation; asetiferous elytral punctation shallow,punctures aseriate and distributed throughout disc, interstitial spaces smooth and shiny. Abdomen: Pygidium scutiform.

Variation: Size: Length 3.5–4.0 mm; width 1.5–2.0 mm. Except for size, the type specimens are quite homogeneous.

Natural History. The type specimens were collected during December in a light trap.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality in Mozambique ( Fig. 37).

Etymology. The specific epithet laculatus is a Latin adjective meaning “checkered”. The name describes the coloration of the elytral disc.

Figures

Figs. 1–20. Antennae and male genitalia. Antennae: 1) Coadnatus sakaii; 2) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri; 3) Furcadia sandala, female; 4) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 5) F. sandala, male; 6) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 7); Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 8) Funicula albocapilla; 9) Latupusillus laculatus. Aedeagi and spicular fork: 10) F. albocapilla, phallus; 11) F. albocapilla, tegmen; 12) F. albocapilla, spicular fork; 13) F. sandala, spicular fork; 14) F. sandala, phallus; 15) F. sandala, tegmen; 16) C. sakaii, tegmen, dorsal view; 17) C. sakaii, phallus; 18) C. sakaii, tegmen, ventral view; 19) R. vitellinus, phallus; 20) R. vitellinus, tegmen, ventral view.

Figs. 21–28. Pronota, dorsal view. 21) Funicula albocapilla; 22) Romanaeclerus quadratus; 23) Furcadia sandala; 24) Romanaeclerus vitellinus; 25) Coadnatus sakaii; 26) Latupusillus laculatus; 27) Romanaeclerus dimidius; 28) Romanaeclerus gerstmeieri.

Figs. 29–32. Habitus. 29) Coadnatus sakaii; 30) Funicula albocapilla; 31) Furcadia sandala; 32) Latupusillus laculatus.