Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas, 2013

Thomas, Michael C., 2013, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 1. Species with antennal club of more than three antennomeres, Insecta Mundi 2013 (294), pp. 1-23 : 4-6

Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas , n.sp.

Fig. 8 , 23-29

Types. Holotype, male, deposited in MNKM, with following label data: “ BOLIVIA: SANTA CRUZ Reserva Privada Potrerillos de Guendá ; 17 o 40.26S 63 o 27.44W; 400m; 10/ 29-XI-2006; B.K. Dozier coll.” Allotype, female, deposited in MNKN, with following label data: “ BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz , 3.7km SSEBuena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna 405m., 5-15-XI-2001 17 o 29.949’S; 63 o 33.152’W M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier tropical transition forest” .

Diagnosis. The following combination of character states distinguish this species: antennal club composed of six antennomeres; dorsal color dark with well-defined, pale elytral maculae ( Fig. 8 ); head microreticulate and in males with a deep, narrow excavation on the frons ( Fig. 29 ); male genitalia as in Fig. 25-28 . This species does resemble in coloration a new Bolivian species that will be described later, but that species has a three-segmented antennal club and other distinctive morphological characters.

Description. 2.4 mm long; elongate, rather parallel sided; dorsal surface piceous; mouthparts, legs, scutellum, and antennal flagellum reddish, antennal club infuscate; each elytron with a pale macula at about middle third extending from inner margin of second cell to humeral carina ( Fig. 8 ); ventral surface completely reddish.

Head: twice as wide across eyes as long; epistome with emargination over clypeus moderate, mandibular emarginations rather deep, antennal emarginations barely indicated ( Fig. 23 ); frontoclypeal suture obsolete; longitudinal line impressed, becoming deeper and broader anteriorly to form a narrow v-shaped excavation on frons ( Fig. 23 ); moderately punctate, punctures much smaller than an eye facet and separated by 2-3 diameters, each subtending an inconspicuous seta about the length of a puncture diameter; disc of head heavily microreticulate, especially anteriorly. Mandibles moderate in length, robust. Eyes moderate, length 0.4 × that of head ( Fig. 23 ). Antennae elongate, attaining about basal third of elytra; scape about 1.6 × longer than broad; pedicel quadrate, about 0.5 × length of scape; III elongate, 1.6 × longer than pedicel; IV-V globular, subequal in length; each 0.6 × length of III; club comprised of VI-XI, VI-X each slightly wider than long and subequal in length; XI about twice as long as X; olfactory sensilla of club segments not branched.

Thorax: pronotum transverse, widest at about apical fourth, 1.5 × wider than long; 1.2 × wider at apical fourth than across basal angles; anterior angles produced, narrowly, obtusely rounded; hind angles acute, produced; antebasal denticle distinct ( Fig. 24 ); sublateral line with median fovea; punctation similar to head, punctures less deeply impressed than on head, each subtending an inconspicuous seta about the length of a puncture diameter; surface smooth and shiny between punctures, not microreticulate. Legs rather short; femora robust.

Elytra: 1.3 × longer than combined width; inner margin or cell 1 grooved only at apical third; inner margin of cell 2 complete; cell 3 complete; humeral carina well-marked, elytra laterally declivous and narrowly explanate; surface minutely punctate and inconspicuously pubescent.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 25-28 ) parameres attenuate apically, narrowly but completely separated; basal plates truncate basally and rounded apically; flagellum longer than basal strut, apically bifurcate, with microspinose processes; claspers rectangular with inner apical edge produced as a narrow process about equal in length to body of clasper.

Female allotype: 2.1 mm in length; head, 2.1 × wider than long; eye larger in proportion than in male, 0.6 × length of head; pronotum not as transverse, 1.3 × wider than long; elytra longer in proportion, 1.5 × longer than broad; antennae barely attaining basal fourth of elytra. Microsculpture of head not as pronounced as in male, frontal excavation absent, and frontoclypeal suture represented laterally by short lines.

Variation: Length of paratypes varies from 1.5-2.4 mm. A few small males lack the frontal fovea, but genitalia match other specimens.

Distribution. Southern Mexico south to Bolivia.

Paratypes. 46, from the following localities: 2, “ BOLIVIA: SANTA CRUZ Reserva Privada Potrerillos de Guenda ; 17 o 40.26’S 63 o 27.44’W; 400m; 10/ 29-XI-2006; B.K. Dozier coll.” ; 39, “ BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, 3.7km SSEBuena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna 405m., 5-15-XI-2001 17 o 29.949’S; 63 o 33.152’W M.C. Thomas & B.K. Dozier tropical transition forest” ; 1, “ BOLIVIA: SANTA CRUZ, 3.7km SSEBuena Vista, Hotel Flora & Fauna ; 5-15-XI-2001 17 o 29’S; 63 o 33’W; 430m; 10/ 29-XI-2004; UV; B.K. Dozier ” ; 1 “ MEXICO: Quintana Roo 19km N Carrillo Puerto 18-VI-1990 coll. M.C. Thomas ” ; 2, “ CANAL ZONE, Barro Colorado Is. , UV trap 1(3m high) 5 July 1977 H. Wolda ” ; 2, “ PANAMA: Colon Prov. Fort Davis mv + bl, 15 May 1991 R. Turnbow”. Deposited in DEFS, MNKM, FSCA, BMNH, and USNM .

Etymology. This species is named for the village of Buena Vista in the Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, near which most of the known specimens were collected. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition.

Discussion. This distinctive species was relatively abundant at lights during the night in Bolivia. This species, L. concinnus (described below) and L. sexarticulatus Kessel seem to form a natural group, united by their antennal club composed of six antennomeres, modified frons, microreticulate head, male genitalic structure, and general facies.

Figures

Figure 8. Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas, n.sp.

Figures 23-28. Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas, n.sp.23) Head. 24) Pronotum. 25) Male genitalia. 26) Male claspers. 27) Median lobe and tegmen. 28) Distal end of flagellum showing bifurcate apex and denticles.

Figures 29-30. 29) Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas, n.sp., head and pronotum. 30) Rhinophloeus sp., scape.