Orthaltica terminalia Prathapan & Konstantinov

Prathapan, Kaniyarikkal Divakaran, Konstantinov, Alexander S., Shameem, K. M. & Balan, A. P., 2013, First record of leaf-hole shelters used and modified by leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), with descriptions of two new Orthaltica Crotch species from southern India, ZooKeys 336, pp. 47-59 : 50-51

Orthaltica terminalia Prathapan & Konstantinov sp. n. Figs 1, 16-22

Description.

Body length 1.20 - 1.50 mm, width 0.75 - 0.84 mm. Body shiny brownish-black (Figs 16, 17). Antennomeres (except most apical) and legs (except base of some femora) yellowish-brown. Vertex with 4 long and 6 short setae. Supracallinal sulci slightly curved; orbital sulci absent; suprafrontal sulcus poorly developed; and suprantennal sulcus shallow. Antennal calli narrow and elongate (Fig. 18), relatively widely connected, with two large setiferous pores. Frontal ridge parallel-sided, ending before reaching anterofrontal ridge. Anterofrontal ridge of uniform height, but sloping abruptly towards clypeus. Labrum as wide as distance between outer edges of antennal sockets. Setiferous pores on dorsal surface of labrum small, more than two, but not possible to count. Antennomere 3 slightly shorter than 4 and 5 separately.

Pronotum about as wide basally as apically, with sides evenly curved. Lateral margins slightly uneven and lacking a prominent denticle; bearing two long setae (Fig. 17). Antebasal transverse impression distinct (Fig. 16). Pronotal surface sparsely covered with slightly elongate punctures, their diameter smaller than distance between punctures.

Elytra sparsely pubescent (Figs 16, 17), with erect setae mainly near apices. Elytral punctures arranged in striae located in relatively deep grooves. Humeral calli distinct. Pro- and middle tibiae lacking spurs. Claws appendiculate.

Apex of aedeagus narrowing abruptly (Fig. 19), base above basal opening narrower than medial width, and apex slightly up-curved in lateral view.

Spermatheca with long thin pump (Fig. 21) which is not distinctly separated from receptacle. Tignum straight widening gradually anteriorly (Fig. 22). Apical abdominal segment attached to basal third of vaginal palpus (Fig. 20).

Type material.

Holotype, male. 1) India Karnataka, Kudremukha N. P., 13°14'42"N, 75°6'44"E, 12.v.2011, 110m. D. Prathapan & K. Shameem Coll. Terminalia paniculata ; 2) Holotype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012 (USNM). Paratypes: 45 specimens, the same labels as holotype. 1 specimen 1) India Karnataka, Guddayanadoddi, 12°43.233'N, 077°33.576'E, 29.vii.2011 905m; 2) Terminalia arjuna ; 3) Orthaltica sp. 2 K D Prathapan det. 2012; 4) Paratype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012. 12 specimens 1) India Kerala, Calicut Univ. Campus, 3.vii.2012, Shameem K. Coll. Ex Terminalia paniculata ; 2) Paratype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012. 8 specimens 1) India Kerala, Trichur VellaniPacha, 27.x.2010, Prathapan K. D. Coll; 2) 230 Terminalia arjuna ; 3) Orthaltica sp. 2 K D Prathapan det. 2012; 4) Paratype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012. 1 specimen 1) India Kerala, Aathirappilly, 10°18'44.7"N, 076°42'19.6"E, 26.x.2010, 570m; 3) Orthaltica sp. 2 K D Prathapan det. 2012;4) Paratype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012. 9 specimens 1) India Kerala, Kallar, 17.viii.2010, Prathapan Coll.; 2) Terminalia paniculata ; 3) Orthaltica sp. 2 K D Prathapan det. 2012; 4) Paratype Orthaltica terminalia n. sp. Prathapan & Konstantinov 2012. (5 - BMNH, 53 - NPC, 5 - PKDC, 5 - UASB, 9 - USNM).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, based on the host plant name.

Host plants.

Terminalia cuneata Roth (Accession no. 6576) and Terminalia paniculata Roth (Accession no. 6484) ( Combretaceae ).

Remarks.

Orthaltica terminalia can be easily distinguished from all known Indian Orthaltica species using the key below. Orthaltica syzygium can be distinguished from the most similar species using the following characters: body shiny black (Fig. 16); vertex with four long and six short setae (Fig. 18); elytra sparsely pubescent (Figs 16 & 17); apex of aedeagus narrowing abruptly (Fig. 19); spermatheca with thin elongate pump (Fig. 21). Orthaltica minuta indica (Medevedev) is not included in the key as there is no character to separate it from Orthaltica dakshina (Basu & Sengupta). Both species are from the same locality (Doddabetta in Tamil Nadu) and further research may prove them to be synonymous.

Key to the Indian species of Orthaltica