Michyrus yvineci Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, 2020

Skelley, Paul E. & Gasca-Álvarez, Héctor Jaime, 2020, Michyrus, a new genus of pleasing fungus beetles with coarsely faceted eyes (Coleoptera: Erotylidae), Insecta Mundi 2020 (836), pp. 1-8 : 5-7

Michyrus yvineci Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez , new species

Figures 10–15 .

Diagnosis. A member of the genus Michyrus , notably differs from the other species of the genus ( M. thomasi ) in many characters including the pronotal disc finely, densely punctate; elytral striae punctures moderate in size and weakly impressed; prosternal hypomeron coarsely punctate; procoxal lines more narrowly separated anteriorly, not connecting across middle; mesoventrite lacking transverse groove; and abdominal ventrite I with distinct coxal line.

Description. Length: 8.2 mm; Width: 4.1 mm. Body elongate-elliptical, widest at elytral third ( Fig. 11 ), dorsally convex in lateral view ( Fig. 13 ); with microreticulations, appearing dulled; dorsally punctate; body black, elytra with orange marking at humerus and apex, and all appendages brown.

Head width between eyes = 3× eye widths ( Fig. 14 ); ocular striae reach middle of eye; vertex and epistome puncture size = facet, separated by 1× diameter. Antennae reach middle of pronotum; antennomere III as long as next 2 antennomeres combined; antennomeres IX–XI symmetrical; antennomere XI transversely oval.

Maxilla with terminal palpomere securiform, length = 0.5× width. Labium with terminal palpomere elongate, sides arcuate to narrow rounded apex. Terminal palpomere of labium width = 0.25× maxilla terminal palpomere width. Mentum with plate pentagonal, strong carina forming plate, length = width, all sides nearly equal in length, sides straight and converging to base; ridge medial extension keel-like.

Pronotum with pronotal disc finely, densely punctate, punctures becoming slightly coarser laterally, reaching lateral margins; sublateral coarse puncture size = 0.75× ocular facet diameter, separated by> 1 diameters. Scutellar shield pentagonal, length = 0.5× width. Elytra with strial punctures moderate in size and weakly impressed, puncture size on disc = 0.5× ocular facet diameter; intervals with fine to minute punctures.

Prosternum weakly keeled and strongly pinched anteriorly, weakly rugose medially, smooth and impunctate laterally in front of coxa ( Fig. 12, 15 ); prosternal plate apparently lacking pores; procoxal lines weakly sinuate, slightly concave at middle, length = 0.75× sternal length, lines converging and narrowly separated anteriorly, anterior separation = 0.3× basal width of sternal process, lines weakly curved inward anteriorly and not connecting across middle, surpassing coxae anteriorly, length = basal width; prosternal plate apical width = third basal width; base shallowly concave; prosternal hypomeron coarsely punctate

Mesoventrite with disc flat, smooth, lacking transverse groove. Metaventrite with coxal lines meeting at middle, not recurved; lines extend 0.33× distance to posterior lateral angle; entire surface of metaventrite with scattered minute punctures. Abdominal ventrite I with coxal line; all ventrites coarsely punctate over entire surface. Female genitalia with spermathecal head kidney-shaped, tail narrow, tightly curved ( Fig. 10 ). Male unknown.

Material examined. Holotype female holotype of Michyrus yvineci label data: “[3 labels each with black border] / Nouragues Inselberg / 27/01/2013 SEAG Leg. 97 // Guyane / piege vitre / Dét. J. H. Yvinec // Ischyrus 6364 / F Col. JHY N° 6364 /” ( MNHN). More precisely the type locality is French Guiana: Cayenne , Commune de Régina , Réserve naturelle des Nouragues , Camp Inselberg , Petit Plateau et Grand Plateau, 4°5′N – 52°41′W (J. Yvinec, in lit.)

Etymology. This species is named for Jean-hervé Yvinec, a private researcher focusing on the exciting erotylids of French Guiana, who provided photographs of this unique species.

Figures

Figures 6–10. Miscellaneous structures. 6–8) Michyrus thomasi Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, holotype female. 6) Head and prothorax, ventral view. 7) Antenna, ventral view. 8) Abdomen, ventral view. 9–10) Female genitalia. 9) Michyrus thomasi Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, paratype. 10) Michyrus yvineci Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, holotype. Photographs 6–9 by PES, 10 courtesy Jean-hervé Yvinec.

Figures 11–15. Michyrus yvineci Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, holotype female. 11) Dorsal habitus. 12) Ventral habitus. 13) Lateral view. 14) Head and pronotum, anterior view. 15) Head and prothorax, ventral view. Photographs courtesy Jean-hervé Yvinec.