Microplinthus kaumarya Meregalli, 2020

Meregalli, Massimo, 2020, Revision of the Nepalese genus Microplinthus Zherichin, 1987 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae), with description of 25 new species, Zootaxa 4794 (1), pp. 1-63 : 33-36

Microplinthus kaumarya Meregalli n. sp.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B6B3721A-CEF5-4676-AA7F-5AE6F1B3C452

Fig. 16

Material examined. Holotype ♀: “ Nepal, District Karnali, Tal / von Gotichaur, 2800 m NN / 12/ 13.06.1997 / Trockenhang, leg. Grill, HF / 29°12’10”N 82°18’56”E ” ( NMEG)

Diagnostic description. Length 4.12 mm. Body oblong, dark brownish, integument matt, reticulate. Vestiture composed of short and sparse setae, on elytra also larger, spatulate setae, sparsely aligned on intervals, more frequent on declivity, moderately erect and weakly recumbent at apex. Rostrum stout, in dorsal view sides sharply broadened basally, then linearly convergent to apex; in lateral view strongly curved, more basally than in apical half, sculpture composed of 5 raised irregular longitudinal lines, separated by relatively deepened rows formed by punctures merged in oblong and obliquely impressed foveas and pits. Antennal scape slender, moderately thickened in apical third, funicle antennomeres 1 and 2 slender, conical, subequal in length, almost twice as long as wide, 3–5 globose, 6 and 7 transverse, 7 wider; club oval. Eye oblong, with about 45 ommatidia. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, sides irregularly and scarcely curvilinear, very feebly broadened between base and apical third, more strongly constricted apicad; median keel present in apical half, scarcely raised and barely differentiated, matt, surface irregularly and shallowly punctured, punctures smaller in anterior part, interspaces of punctures in part as wide as punctures, in part smaller, weakly convex. Elytra oblong, intervals linear, moderately convex, with low humps, higher towards declivity; striae as wide as intervals, clearly delimited, with spaced punctures regularly impressed, interspaces between punctures as wide as half the puncture or as the length of the puncture, and as high as intervals. Femur robust, thickened medially, with a small obtuse inner tooth, scarcely narrowed towards articulation with tibia; tibia slender, inner margin almost straight, apex long obliquely indented externally. Tarsomere 3 with weakly developed lobes; claws with distinct inner tooth. Ventrites with sides distinctly narrowed from 2 to 5, 1–2 relatively densely and broadly punctured, ventrite 5 densely punctured. Female sternum VIII with short apodeme, arms very short, weakly divergent, curved outwards, bifurcate at apex, branches of ventrite thick, horizontal, lamina slightly transverse, lateral sclerification triangular, thicker basad.

Differential remarks. See description of M. karnalicus for the differences from its sister species.

Origin of the name. This species name derives from kaumarya, a Sanskrit word meaning “princess”. In Nepal the derived name Kumari indicates is the tradition of worshiping young prepubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy.

Distribution. Mid-western Nepal, Karnali Province ( Fig. 29 ).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Microplinthus kaumarya, Holotype ♀. Body (A, B); rostrum (F, G); antenna (C); pronotum (E); elytra (D); femur (L); foretibia (H); apex of foretibia (M); tarsus (K); claws (N); ventrites (J); female sternum VIII (I). Bar: 2 mm.

FIGURE 29. Distribution map of some species of Microplinthus. Map data: Google Earth, Maxar Technologies, used according to Google Earth Terms of Service..