Parvapila, Cosandey, 2023

Cosandey, Vivien, 2023, Parvapila lyncispinnae new genus and new species (Coleoptera, Melandryidae) from South Africa, Alpine Entomology 7, pp. 269-273 : 269

Parvapila gen. nov.

Type species.

Parvapila lyncispinnae sp. nov., by present designation and monotypy.

Diagnosis.

Parvapila has a distinct scutellar shield unlike most of the Orchesiini : Eucinetomorphus , Lederia Reitter, 1880, Lederina Nikitsky & Belov, 1982, Lyperocharis Broun, 1914. It can be distinguished from the three Orchesiini genera with visible scutellar shield, Orchesia , Hylobia Broun, 1880, and Microscapha by the following combination of characters: scutellar shield small with rounded posterior margin (Fig. 1 ), suture dividing metanepisterna and metaventrite evanescent posteriad (Fig. 2 ), and metacoxae directed antero-laterally.

Etymology.

The name of this genus refers to its small ( “parva” lat.) and convex shape ( “pila” lat.: ball).

Description.

Body oval, small, ca. 1.5-2.5 mm long. Body convex in lateral view; sides regularly curved in dorsal view. Pubescence on head directed anteriad, on dorsal surface of pronotum, elytra and abdomen directed posteriad.

Head embedded in pronotum and directed downward, hardly visible in dorsal view; delimited posteriorly by carina. Neck surface with strong microreticulation. Distance between dorsal margin of eyes two times eyes width. Antennae long, as long as ca. half of body length, antennomeres progressively widening apicad, without distinct antennal club; insertion point of antennae hidden by lateral margins of frons. Maxillary palpi with strongly transverse articles II and III, apical article cultriform.

Pronotum transverse, regularly convex in lateral view, without impressions; lateral margins with lateral bead in posterior half, anterior and posterior margins not edged; anterior angles broadly rounded, posterior angles orthogonal with rounded tip, pointing posteriad. Scutellum visible, with rounded posterior margin. Elytra elongate; humeral stria marked, forming small gutter with completely edged lateral border. Epipleura well marked on most of elytral length, evenly narrowed posteriad. Elytra fused. Hind wings not developed. Prosternal process triangular, wide. Mesoventral process thin and elongate, triangular. Metaventrite separated from metanepisterna by incomplete suture, evanescent posteriad. Metanepisterna ca. 3 times longer than wide. Metacoxae directed antero-laterally and narrowed.

Legs robust, with wide, short tibiae. Metatarsal spurs and metatarsomeres wide.

Male: Metaventrite with a medial depression.

Figures

Figures 1, 2. Parvapila gen. nov. 1. Scutellar shield; 2. Metanepisternum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.