Mizotrechus edithpiafae, Erwin, 2011

Erwin, Terry L., 2011, Rainforest understory beetles of the Neotropics, Mizotrechus Bates 1872, a generic synopsis with descriptions of new species from Central America and northern South America (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Perigonini), ZooKeys 145, pp. 79-128 : 92-93

Piaf’s trough beetle Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n. Figs 8 22 30

Holotype.

Locality unknown. Specimen, (BMNH: ADP128624, male), labeled ( Bates’ handwriting) "Mizotrechus / Ger Bates."

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet “edithpiafae” is an eponym, based on the full name of Edith Piaf, the famous French singer, 19 December 1915-11 October 1963, whose voice had an incredible range of diversity, as is that found in the carabid species richness of Guyane, and who sang a variety of "torch songs", and here I play on the word “torch”, the same word that applies to what is used to ignite the trees of the unique tropical rainforests of South America, an Armageddon in our own times.

Proposed English vernacular name.

Piaf’s trough beetle.

Diagnosis

. With the attributes of the genus as described above and large sized for the genus as it is presently understood. Adults with darkly infuscate integument, elytra slightly paler, except anterior parts of mandible, baso-lateral corner of labrum, and clypeal suture black. Frons and occiput smooth above and behind eye asp. n.rsely and finely punctulate. Pronotum quadrate and highly convex with lateral margins narrowly explanate and basally straight before slightly denticulate hind angles; base shallowly and regularly microrugose. Elytra very broad and short, apex not prolonged, wider than the width of pronotum across anterior third, and with 8 well- impressed irregularly punctulate interneurs, intervals not convex; margin behind humerus rough, intervals between microsetae blunt. Foreleg femur with markedly dentate ventral margin.

Description.

( Figs 8 , 22 ). Size: See Appendix 1. Large for genus, ABL = 8.4 mm, SBL = 7.16 mm, TW = 2.94 mm. Color: see diagnosis, above. Luster: Head, pronotum, and legs shiny, elytra slightly matte. Head: Labrum quadrate, apico-medially moderately v-notched. Eye moderately small and convex. Gena straight. Frons, occiput, and gena glabrous. Prothorax: Broad, barely narrowed toward base, margin narrowly explanate, wider before hind angle; surface sparsely punctulate, punctures very fine, glabrous. Pterothorax: Elytron barely convex, intervals nearly flat, 8 interneurs with well-impressed irregularly-spaced punctures, apex not prolonged, slightly rounded at extreme sutural apex. Metasternum sparsely setiferous in male. Legs: Normal in male; foreleg femur ( Fig. 22 ) ridged along the posterio-ventral margin and markedly produced at middle of ridge; posterior trochanter tapered to rounded point in male, length half that of femur. Abdomen: Abdominal sterna moderately setiferous, densely so medially on II and III; sternum III of male with short dense row of decumbent setae medially set between two ambulatory setae; sternum VII shallowly and medially notched in male. Male genitalia: Median lobe ( Fig. 30 ) short and robust with ostium moderately elongate, over half the length of the median lobe; apex with a moderately long narrow distal end, slightly curved in lateral aspect, ventral margin proximal to apex evenly curved, ventral margin proximal to apex straight; endophallus (everted) with complexly folded tracheal fields and a narrow sclerotized rod; phallobase not fully hooded, opening 20 degrees off axis of shaft. Parameres large, left a third longer than the right, both broadly rounded, asetose. Female genitalia: Unknown.

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and capable of flight. They are moderately swift and agile runners.

Way of life.

Unknown.

Other specimens examined.

None.

Geographic distribution.

Unknown.

Figures

Plate 2. Digital Photo-illustrations, habitus, dorsal aspect: 5 Mizotrechus chontalesensis sp. n., ABL = 7.1 mm, female holotype, ADP 127181; type locality. 6 Mizotrechus costaricensis sp. n., ABL = 8.4 mm, male holotype, ADP 128620; type locality. 7 Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ABL = 8.2 mm, male holotype, ADP 124894; type locality. 8 Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n., ABL = 8.4 mm, female holotype, ADP 124948; locality unknown.

Plate 6. Digital Photo-illustrations, anterior femur, ventral aspect: 19 Mizotrechus minutus sp. n., ADP 124966; type locality. 20 Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 124896; type locality. 21 Mizotrechus chontalesensis sp. n., ADP 127181; type locality. 22 Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n., ADP 124948; type locality. 23 Mizotrechus brulei sp. n., ADP 129205; type locality. 24 Mizotrechus gorgona. sp. n., ADP 128622; type locality.

Plate 8. Digital Photo-illustration, male genitalia, median lobe and parameres, left lateral, dorsal, and right lateral aspects: 28 Mizotrechus costaricensis sp. n., ADP 128620: type locality. 29 Mizotrechus dalensi sp. n., ADP 129203, Guyane, Saut Parare, Arataie River, Nouragues Field Station. 30 Mizotrechus edithpiafae sp. n., ADP 129203; Ger? locality (see text).