Akalyptoischion gigas Hartley, Andrews & McHugh, 2008

Hartley, Christopher S., Andrews, Fred G. & Mchugh, Joseph V., 2007, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Genus Akalyptoischion Andrews (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 6) 61, pp. 1-50 : 25-26

Akalyptoischion gigas Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species

Etymology. Greek meaning ‘‘giant’’ referring to this species’ large body size and robust features.

Description. Length 1.70–1.75 mm. Width 0.55–0.62 mm. Body elongate, robust, subparallel, uniformly dark reddish brown to nearly black; glabrous; head narrower than pronotum by 1/2 eye width, sides sinuate; clypeus narrowing at 45u angle anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae distinct, very narrow, elongate, connecting anteriorly with clypeal fovea to form a large U shaped fovea; head punctation dense, surface rugose; eyes large, prominent and irregularly shaped with 6 large facets; tempora lacking; hind angles rounded, nearly 90u; clypeal fovea short, deep, 1/2 length of antennomere III, 0.8 times width of labrum; labrum anterior margin slightly emarginate, laterally broad and somewhat truncate; mandibles large, easily visible dorsally from beneath labrum, apex with a large apical tooth and a subapical protuberance bearing 3 blunt teeth, prostheca long; antennae with a 3-segmented club; antennae reach hind angles of pronotum; antennomere I slightly flattened, oval, sides arcuate, II an elongate, narrow oval, sides nearly straight, III–VIII elongate, subparallel, widening slightly apically, IX–XI form a loose club, IX large, elongate, cone-shaped, widening greatly apically, X elongate, shorter than IX, trapezoidal, widening slightly apically, XI longer than X, elongate trapezoid.

Pronotum widest anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, slightly lobed, lateral margin straight sided, converging posteriorly; lateral margin explanate with,11 small, indistinct tubercles each bearing a microscopic seta; median 3/4 raised, glabrous; pronotal foveae distinct, shallow and broad; pronotal punctation dense, surface rugose.

Elytra subparallel, 2 times wider than posterior pronotum, lateral flange apparent in anterior 1/3; 6 striae; humeral angles broadly lobed; strial interspace 1 slightly raised, interspaces 3 and 5 carinate, 5 stronger than 3; elytra glabrous.

Ventral surface glabrous; submental fovea large, deep, length of antennomere I with few large punctures and dense micropunctures; ventral head punctation even laterally, sparse medially; gular punctation dense but irregular; prosternal punctation even, a distinct fovea anterior to each procoxa, a sharp Y-shaped carina extending anteriorly from prosternal process; mesosternum with a sharp Y-shaped carina extending anteriorly from mesosternal process; metasternum with a large, triangular fovea between mesocoxae, a small, oval fovea posterior to each mesocoxa, an arcuate fovea anterior to each metacoxa, and median surface evenly punctate; abdominal ventrite I with 2 carinae on outer edges of intercoxal process, 2 large, geminate foveae bounded by carinae at anterior corners of intercoxal process, a large, indistinctly bordered, irregular fovea posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface with several large, irregularly spaced punctures; ventrites II–IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: label data: ‘‘CALIF: Inyo Co. Inyo Mts. , Middle Lead Canyon VI-4-80 to IX-12-80 D. Giuliani coll.,’’ ‘‘ Antifreeze pit trap in grassy riparian side canyon’’ ( CDAE).

PARATYPES, male, USA: label data: ‘‘CALIF: Inyo Co. Inyo Mts. , Upper Lead Canyon VI-4-80 to IX-12-80 D. Giuliani coll.,’’ ‘‘ Antifreeze pit trap in willows on bank above stream,’’ on slide (1, CDAE); ‘‘ Tin Mtn. Inyo Co., Cal. VII.19.1975,’’ ‘‘ D. Giuliani Collector’ ’ (1, CDAE) .

Remarks. This species is easily distinguished from the other glabrous species by its large, robust body, large mandibles that are easily seen dorsally from beneath the labrum and unique head foveae that connect with the clypeal fovea forming a U shape.