Akalyptoischion parechinos 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 : 39-40

Akalyptoischion parechinos Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species

Etymology. Greek meaning ‘‘near echinos’’ for its close resemblance to Akalyptoischion echinos .

Description. Length 1.00– 1.20 mm. Width 0.30–0.40 mm. Body elongate, parallel sided, uniformly reddish brown; uniformly setose; head narrower than pronotum by size of one eye facet, sides straight; clypeus narrowing at 45u anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae distinct, broad ovals; head setation uniform, setae short and decumbent; head punctation dense, irregular; eyes large and prominent with 4 facets; tempora size of one eye facet; hind angles rounded, 90u; clypeal fovea length of antennomere IV, 0.7 width of labrum; labrum anterior margin not emarginate; mandible apex pointed with an apical tooth and 4–5 small subapical serrations, the 5th very small when present, prostheca short; antennae with a 3-segmented club; antennae reach hind angles of pronotum; antennomere I wider than long and widening apically, II elongate oval, III small, globular, IV–V slightly elongate, VI–VIII submonilliform, IX–XI form a gradual, loose club, IX large, globular, X larger than IX, straight sided, expanding slightly apically, XI parallel sided, elongate trapezoid.

Pronotum widest anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, lateral margin straight, converging posteriorly; lateral margin slightly explanate with,11 tubercles each bearing a short decumbent seta; median 3/4 raised with very short decumbent setae; pronotal foveae distinct, anterior pair transverse, posterior pair broad ovals; pronotal punctation irregular, not dense.

Elytra parallel sided, narrow, lateral flange not apparent; 6 striae; strial punctures large; humeral angle rounded; strial interspaces 3 and 5 carinate; interspaces 1, 3, 5 and lateral margin bear short decumbent setae with strongly recurved tips, other intervals with only very short decumbent setae; epipleuron complete, narrowing posteriorly.

Ventral surface evenly setose; submental fovea length of antennomere IV, with many large punctures and micropunctures; ventral head punctures sparse but even, punctures large; gular punctation irregular; prosternal punctation even; mesosternum without sharp carinae; metasternum with a large, triangular fovea between mesocoxae, a small circular fovea posterior to each mesocoxa, a small oval fovea anterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; abdominal ventrite I with 2 large, indistinct foveae at anterior corners of intercoxal process, a small, irregularly shaped fovea 1/3 size of metacoxae posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; ventrites II– IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: label data: ‘‘CALIF: Los Angeles Co. Bouquet Canyon at SE. end Bouquet Reservoir IV-28-1982 K. W. Cooper & F. G. Andrews 82-226,’’ ‘‘berlese Neotoma nest at base of oak same nest as 80-179’’ ( CDAE).

PARATYPE, USA, same data as type, on slide (1, CDAE); ‘‘CALIF: Los Angeles Co. Bouquet Canyon at SE. end Bouquet Reservoir IV-28-1982 K. W. Cooper & F. G. Andrews 82-226,’’ ‘‘berlese Neotoma nest at base of oak same nest as 80-179’’ (7, CDAE) .

Additional Material , ‘‘CALIF: Los Angeles Co. Bouquet Reservoir IX-17-1980 K. W. Cooper 80-179,’’ ‘‘ Berlesed from Neotoma nest under oak’’ (2, CDAE) ; ‘‘nr. Bodfish Kern Co. Calif. II.14.1976,’’ ‘‘ Berlesed from Cupressus nevadensis,’’ ‘‘ D. Giuliani Collector’ ’ (1, CDAE) ; ‘‘CALIF: Kern Co. Sawmill Piute Peak IV-4- 1977 R. E. Somerby, coll.,’’ ‘‘ Berlesed from pine duff,’’ on slide (1, CDAE) .

Remarks. A slender species with large strial punctures, A. parechinos closely resembles A. echinos from which it can be distinguished by the recurved tips of its elytral setae and by its labrum, which is not emarginate. Akalyptoischion parechinos also resembles A. prionotus from which it can be distinguished by its lack of punctures on the median surface of ventrite I.