Akamboja minimum, Roza & Quintino & Mermudes & Silveira, 2017

Roza, André Silva, Quintino, Hingrid Yara Souza, Mermudes, José Ricardo Miras & Silveira, Luiz Felipe Lima Da, 2017, Akamboja gen. nov., a new genus of railroad-worm beetle endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest, with five new species (Coleoptera: Phengodidae, Mastinocerinae), Zootaxa 4306 (4), pp. 501-523 : 505-515

Akamboja minimum sp. nov. Roza, Quintino, Mermudes & Silveira

( Figs 1–22 and 41 )

Etymology. minimum is an adjective, and means small in Latin. It is a reference to the small size of the species compared to the others of the genus. Name in apposition.

Diagnosis. Eyes occupying two thirds of head width, in lateral view ( Fig. 4 ). Apical maxillary palpomere 3.5x longer than subapical ( Fig. 4 ). Vertex occupying? of head in dorsal view ( Fig. 5 ). Elytron reaching the anterior margin of the third abdominal segment ( Fig. 1 ).

Description, male.

Measurements (n=31): Total length: 3.3–3.8 mm (aver. 3.6 mm). Head length: 0.5–0.6 mm (aver. 0.5 mm). Head width: 0.5–0.7 mm (aver. 0.6 mm). Pronotum length: 0.4–0.6 mm (aver. 0.5 mm). Pronotum maximum length: 0.4–0.6 (aver. 0.5 mm). Elytron length: 1.1–1.3 mm (aver. 1.2 mm). Elytron maximum width: 0.3–0.4 mm (aver. 0.3 mm). Elytral spot length: 0.2 mm.

Morphology: Eyes occupying two thirds of head width, in lateral view ( Fig. 4 ). Vertex occupying? of head in dorsal view ( Fig. 5 ). Apical maxillary palpomere 3.5x longer than subapical ( Fig. 4 ). Head wider than long. Elytron 3.5 to 4x longer than wide ( Fig. 1 ), reaching the anterior margin of the third abdominal segment, apical spot occupying the apical sixth of the elytron ( Fig. 1 ).

Coloration. Body overall light brown. Pronotum dark to light brown. Elytron almost black to light brown, apex pale yellow, sometimes light brown. Wing venation black to light brown.

Immatures and females. Unknown

Biology and distribution. Akamboja minimun sp. nov. seems to occur only during spring and summer. It inhabits low altitudinal areas of Teresópolis, on the Serra dos Órgãos, in the Serra do Mar mountain range, from 250 to 860 m. It is found on lower montane forest and partially the montane forest.

Remarks. This species resembles Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov., but can be distinguished by its shorter size and elytron (the elytron of Akamboja minimum sp. nov. reaches the anterior margin of the second abdominal segment, while in Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov. it reaches the posterior margin of the third), bigger vertex (smaller in Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov.) and its occurrence in low altitude (high altitude occurrence in Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov.). Akamboja minimum sp. nov. occurs in lower montane forest (below 800 m) and partially on the montane forest (beginning in 600 m), while Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov. occurs only in montane forest (from 1280 m to 1442 m).

Type material. Holotype (male): BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro . Teresópolis. Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. PVE Pt. 4A, 22° 28’ 36.1” S, 42° 59’ 31.3” W, 563m, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ) Paratypes (all males): BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro . Teresópolis. Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. PVE Pt. 2A, 22° 31’ 0” S, 43° 0’ 23.6” W, 252m, 3 males, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PVE Pt. 2B, 22° 30’ 2.1” S, 43° 0’ 22.2” W, 248m, 4 males, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PVE Pt. 3A, 22° 29’ 40.8” S, 42° 59’ 53.9” W, 360m, 1 male, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PVE Pt. 4A, 22° 28’ 36.1” S, 42° 59’ 31.3” W, 563m, 10 males, XII.2014, R.

Monteiro col. (DZRJ); idem, 2 males, III.2015, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PVE Pt. 4B, 22° 28’ 35.1” S, 42° 59’ 29” W, 544m, 1 male, III.2015, R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ) ; PVE Pt. 5A, 22° 28’ 38.3” S, 42° 59’ 45.6” W, 699m, 2 males, XII. 2014, R. Monteiro col. ( MZSP) ; PVE Pt. 5B, 22° 28’ 37.6” S, 42° 59’ 45.5” W, 691m, 5 males, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ) ; idem, 2 males (MZSP); PVE Pt. 6B, 22° 28’ 11” S, 43° 0’ 5.3” W, 868m, 1 male, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. (dissected) ( DZRJ) . Rio de Janeiro. Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Malaise 2, 22°57.269’S, 43°17.923’W, 814m, 3 males, Silveira, Mermudes & Clarckson col ( DZRJ) .

Akamboja cleidae sp. nov. Roza, Quintino, Mermudes & Silveira ( Figs 23–26 and 42 )

Etymology. The name is in honor of the biologist Cleide Costa, a great researcher who largely contributed to the knowledge of bioluminescent beetles, including phengodids. Singular genitive, feminine.

Diagnosis. Eyes occupying half head width, in lateral view ( Fig. 25 ). Last maxillary palpomere 4.5x longer than the previous one ( Fig. 25 ).

Description, male.

Measurements (n=23): Total length: 4.2–4.8 mm (aver. 4.5 mm). Head length: 0.6–0.7 mm (aver. 0.65 mm). Head width: 0.6–0.7 mm (aver. 0.6 mm). Pronotum length: 0.5–0.6 mm (aver. 0.6 mm). Pronotum maximum length: 0.5–0.6 (aver. 0.6 mm). Elytron length: 1.5–1.9 mm (aver. 1.7 mm). Elytron maximum width: 0.3–0.4 mm (aver. 0.4 mm). Elytral spot length: 0.2–0.3 mm (aver. 0.25 mm).

Morphology: Eyes occupying half head width, in lateral view ( Fig. 25 ). Vertex occupying? of head in dorsal view ( Fig. 26 ). Last maxillary palpomere 4.5x longer than the previous one ( Fig. 25 ). Elytron 4– 5x longer than wide, reaching the second or third abdominal segment, elytral apical spot occupying the sixth to seventh part of the elytron ( Fig. 23 ).

Coloration. Body overall light brown. Pronotum dark to light brown. Elytron almost black to light brown, apex pale yellow, sometimes light brown. Wing venation black to light brown.

Immatures and females. Unknown

Biology and distribution. Akamboja cleidae sp. nov. seems to occur only during spring and summer, except for one specimen collected during autumn. It inhabits high altitudinal areas of Teresópolis, on the Serra dos Órgãos, São José do Barreiro, on the Serra da Bocaina, Paranapiacaba , on the Serra de Paranapiacaba (all part of the Serra do Mar mountain range) and Itatiaia, on the Itatiaia massif on Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range, from 950 to 1850 m. It is found on montane forest, high montane forest and ombrophilous dense forest.

Remarks. This species occurs on both the Serra do Mar and the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain ranges, always on higher altitudes than both Akamboja minimum sp. nov. and Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov. (species that resemble Akamboja cleidae sp. nov.), on montane and high montane forest. It presents significant differences between the specimens in each region. The specimens of Itatiaia and Bocaina have larger body and longer elytron, about 1.2x the size of specimens from the Teresópolis’ sampling. In Teresópolis the species seems to occur from 900m to 1400m of altitude. At Itatiaia and Bocaina it occurs on higher altitudes, beginning from 1400 and reaching almost 1900m. In addition, the populations have a disjunct distribution, isolated by an unsuitable environmental matrix consisting of lowland forests, whereas the populations herein recognized occur in montane forests. Wiens and Graham (2005) suggested that such distribution should be taken as an evidence of allopatric speciation and phylogenetic niche conservatism of climatic ranges.

However, evidence was not enough to recognize populations as two or three different species. Future studies should address the question of species identity and delimitation. It is also noteworthy that one specimen of Akamboja cleidae sp. nov. has the branches of the antennomere IX of the left antenna separated, while the right one is fused. We interpret this as an atavic malformation.

Type material. Holotype (male): BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro. Teresópolis. Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. PVE Pt. 10B, 22° 26’ 51” S, 43° 0’ 46.4” W, 1444 m, 1 male, XII.2014 , R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ). Paratypes (all males): BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro. Teresópolis . Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. PENSA RIO Pt. 2, 22° 25’ 59,6” S, 44° 37’ 39,7” W, 1280 m, 2 males, 29.V.2013 , R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); idem, 1 male, 26.X.2013, R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ); PENSA RIO Pt. 3, 22° 26’ 55,6” S, 43° 0’ 44,3” W, 1250m, 1 male, 31.VIII.2013 , R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ); PVE Pt. 7A, 22° 27’ 29.1” S, 42° 59’ 11.4” W, 957m, 1 male, XII.2014, R.

Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PVE Pt. 9B, 22° 26’ 57.8” S, 43° 0’ 13.7” W, 1236 m, 2 males, XII.2014, R. Monteiro col. ( MZSP) ; Itatiaia. Parque Nacional de Itatiaia. PENSA RIO Pt . 3, 22°25’42.6’’ S, 44°37’42,2’’ W, 1442 m, 2 males, 7.VII.2013, Monteiro e Macedo col. (MZSP); idem, 1 male, 16.I.2014, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); PENSA RIO Pt .5, 22° 25’ 01,0” S, 44° 38’ 32,9” W, 1846 m, 6 males, 9.VIII.2013, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); idem, 1 male, 12.X.2013, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); idem, 2 males, 26.XII.2013, R. Monteiro col. (DZRJ); idem, 2 males, 12. II.2015, R. Monteiro col. ( DZRJ); São Paulo. São José do Barreiro. Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina . Cachoeira do Lajeado , 22° 42’ 48,9” S, 44° 37’ 17,6” W, 1557 m, 1 male, 10–13.XII.2011, J. Nessimian & A. Oliveira col. ( DZRJ) ; Paranapiacaba. Rebio Alto da Serra Paranapiacaba. 23°46’38,4’’S, 46°18’45,3’’W, Malaise, 1 male, 13VIII–19.IX.2009, Lamas, Nihei e Eq. col ( DZRJ) ; Idem, 1 male (MZSP).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Akamboja minimum sp. nov. 1 habitus, dorsal. 2 habitus, lateral. 3 antenna, lateral. 4 head and pronotum, lateral. 5 head and pronotum, dorsal. 6 head, ventral.

FIGURES 7 – 8. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 7 head, frontal. 8 clypeus and mandibles, frontal.

FIGURES 9 – 10. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 9 maxillary palpi, last palpomere. 10 antenna, two last segments.

FIGURES 11 – 12. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 11 head, ventral. 12 tentorial pit, close.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Akamboja minimum sp. nov. 13 meso and metathorax, lateral. 14 meso and metathorax, ventral. 15 elytron, dorsal. 16 hind wing, dorsal.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 17 protarsus, first tarsomere, comb, ventral. 18 protarsus, first tarsomere, comb, ventral, close.

FIGURES 19 – 20. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 19 protarsus, claw, ventral. 20 tooth of claw, close.

FIGURES 21 – 22. Akamboja minimum sp. nov., Scanning electron micrographs. 21 aedeagus, frontal. 22 aedeagus, tip, dorsolateral.

FIGURES 41 – 43. Map of Akamboja gen. nov. species distribution. Red dots mark the regions of occurrence of the species. Blue highlight marks the Serra do Mar mountain range high altitudinal areas. Yellow highlight marks Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range high altitudinal areas. Green highlight marks Tijuca Massif high altitudinal areas. The regions limits are approximated based on maps of project radambrasil (1983). 41 Akamboja minimum sp. nov. distribution. 42 Akamboja cleidae sp. nov. distribution. 43 Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov. distribution.

FIGURES 23 – 30. Akamboja cleidae sp. nov. 23 habitus, dorsal. 24 habitus, lateral. 25 head and pronotum, lateral. 26 head, dorsal. Akamboja monteirorum sp. nov., 27 habitus, dorsal. 28 habitus, lateral. 29 head and pronotum, lateral. 30 head, dorsal.