Laemophloeus capitesculptus Thomas, 2014

Thomas, Michael C., 2014, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 2. Neotropical species with antennal club of three antennomeres, Insecta Mundi 2014 (363), pp. 1-38 : 4-5

Laemophloeus capitesculptus Thomas , n.sp.

Fig. 4 , 15-18

Types: Holotype, male, deposited in DEFS, with following label data: “ Brasilien Nova Teutonia 27 o 11’S- 52 o 23’L III 1945 Fritz Plaumann 300-500m ”. The genitalia have been dissected and imbedded in a drop of DMHF on the point with the specimen.

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters is diagnostic for this species: body completely testaceous ( Fig. 4 ); males with V-shaped impression on frons ( Fig. 15 ) (female unknown); males with 5-5-5 tarsal formula. Male genitalia ( Fig. 16-17 ) with basal plates absent, parameres each with three short, fine setae, and flagellum relatively broad and well sclerotized.

Description: 2.4mm long; elongate-ovate; dorsal and ventral surfaces testaceous; mandibles darker distally; legs slightly paler.

Head: 2.3× wider than long; epistome with emargination over labrum moderate, mandibular emarginations rather deep, antennal emarginations not present; frontoclypeal suture deeply impressed anterolaterally, becoming obsolete towards midline, then suddenly deepening to form a medial triangular fovea ( Fig. 15 ); longitudinal line impressed; surface moderately punctate, punctures about the size of an eye facet, separated by 2-3 diameters, each subtending an inconspicuous seta about the length of a puncture diameter; disc of head between punctures smooth and shiny, without microreticulation. Mandibles large, rather elongate. Eyes moderate, length 0.4× that of head ( Fig.15 ). Antennae elongate, attaining about basal third of elytra; scape about 1.7× longer than broad; pedicel quadrate, about 0.5× length of scape; III elongate, 1.4× longer than pedical; IV-VII elongate, subequal in length; each 0.9× length of III; VIII slightly shorter than preceding, club comprised of IX-XI, IX-X each slightly expanded distally, and subequal in length; XI about twice as long as X.

Thorax: Pronotum transverse, 1.7× wider than long; widest at about apical third; 1.3× wider at apical third than across basal angles; anterior angles slightly produced, obtusely rounded; hind angles obtuse; antebasal denticle distinct ( Fig. 15 ); sublateral line without median fovea; punctation similar to head, punctures each subtending an inconspicuous seta about the length of a puncture diameter; surface smooth and shiny between punctures, not microreticulate. Legs rather long; femora slender.

Elytra: 1.4× longer than wide; inner margin of cell 1 grooved only at apical half, basally represented by row of punctures, outer margin represented by row of punctures, cell 1 containing a single row of punctures; inner margin of cell 2 grooved from basal third, outer margin represented by row of punctures; cell 3 complete, containing a single rows of punctures; humeral carina well-marked, and with a row of punctures along its interior edge; surface minutely punctate and inconspicuously pubescent.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 16-17 ) parameres broadly triangular, apparently fused except for narrow line at distal third; each paramere with 2 setae, one located nearer midline at about basal third, and a longer, finer seta located at about midpoint; basal plates represented by narrow rod-like structures; flagellum thick basally, attenuate distally, almost as long as basal strut, internal sac with 3 elongate, fibrous patches; claspers rectangular with inner apical edge produced as a rounded process about equal in length to body of clasper.

Variation: Paratype male is 2.4mm in length. Female unknown.

Distribution. Southeastern Brazil. Nova Teutonia is in the state of Santa Catarina.

Paratypes. One male paratype, deposited in DEFS, with same label data as holotype except date is “ VII 1954 ”.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the deeply sculptured base of the epistome.

Discussion. This species is isolated in the genus and its affinities are by no means clear. Unique among the known species of Laemophloeus , it has a 5-5-5 tarsal formula in the male. It somewhat approaches Charaphloeus Casey in habitus, but no known species in that genus possesses an antebasal denticle (Thomas 2013).

Figures

Figure 4. Habitus, Laemophloeus capitesculptus Thomas, n.sp., male.

Figures 15-18. Laemophloeus capitesculptus Thomas, n.sp. 15) Head and pronotum, male. 16) Male genitalia. 17) Aedeagus. 18) Abdominal segment 8, male.