Akalyptoischion leptosoma 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 : 38-39

Akalyptoischion leptosoma Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species

Etymology. Greek meaning ‘‘thin body’’ referring to the small size and narrow form of this species.

Description. Length 1.0 mm. Width 0.3 mm. Body elongate, parallel sided, narrow, uniformly light brown; uniformly setose, setae short; head narrower than anterior pronotum by size of one eye facet, sides straight, narrowing anteriorly; clypeus narrowing at 45u angle anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae deep, distinct, round, size of eyes; head glabrous; dorsal punctation dense, surface rugose; eyes slightly prominent with 4 facets; tempora lacking; hind angles oblique, greater than 90u; clypeal fovea length of antennomere I, 0.7 times width of labrum; labrum anterior margin not emarginate; antennae with a 2-segmented club; antennae reach hind angles of pronotum; antennomere I irregular, wider than long, II slightly smaller than I, subglobular, III–IX small, submonilliform, X–XI form club, X large, subglobular, XI larger than X, slightly longer than wide, subrectangular.

Pronotum slightly wider anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, lateral margin arcuate and converging slightly posteriorly; lateral margin slightly explanate with,10 small tubercles each bearing a short decumbent seta; median 3/4 raised, glabrous; pronotal foveae distinct, anterior pair narrow and transverse, posterior pair circular and size of eyes; pronotal punctation dense.

Elytra parallel sided, lateral flange scarcely produced, visible in anterior 1/3 only; 6 striae; humeral angle rounded; strial interspaces 1, 3, and 5 raised; interspaces 1, 3, 5, and lateral margin with very short decumbent setae visible only under high magnification (100 3), other interspaces glabrous; epipleuron complete, narrowing posteriorly.

Ventral surface glabrous; submental fovea deep, length of antennomere III; ventral head punctation dense, conspicuous; gular punctation even, conspicuous; prosternal punctation a conspicuous anterior line and a large conspicuous fovea anterior to each procoxa; mesosternum without sharp carinae; metasternum with a large puncture between and posterior to each mesocoxa, a small, arcuate fovea anterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; abdominal ventrite I with a large fovea at anterior corners of intercoxal process, a large, deep fovea the size of metacoxae posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; ventrites II–IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: CALIFORNIA: label data: ‘‘ Figueroa Mts , Santa Barbara Co. 19_,’’ ‘‘ E. L. Sleeper’ ’ ( CDAE).

Remarks. This species is known from only one specimen, the holotype. Having only one specimen prevented preparation of a slide mount and measurements of some characters. Akalyptoischion leptosoma resembles A. sleeperi and A. chandleri but may be distinguished by having only microscopic setae (visible at 100 3 magnification) on its elytra and by its glabrous head and prothorax.