Macrelmis elicioi, Monte, Cinzia & Mascagni, Alessandro, 2012

Monte, Cinzia & Mascagni, Alessandro, 2012, Review of the Elmidae of Ecuador with the description of ten new species (Coleoptera: Elmidae), Zootaxa 3342, pp. 1-38 : 21-22

Macrelmis elicioi sp. nov.

( Figs. 31–33 )

Diagnosis. Macrelmis elicioi sp. nov. is included in the graniger species-group, having an obovate gibbosity near the half of the pronotum base, and having the apex of each elytron protruded and obliquely truncated. From all other members of the graniger species-group, the new taxon can be distinguished by the carinate extreme tip of the fifth and seventh intervals and by its distinct aedeagus. In general appearance its aedeagus resembles that of Macrelmis germaini ( Grouvelle, 1896) , but it differs in the shape and length of apophyses, parameres and phallobase. In the graniger species-group, M. germaini and M. elicioi sp. nov. share the unusual shape of the median lobe, which is straight, not constricted medially and with the apex slightly blunt. Redescription and drawings of Macrelmis germaini (Grouvelle) will be published soon (Monte & Mascagni, in preparation).

Description. Holotype: Male ( Figs. 31–33 ). Total length 3.8 mm, greatest width 1.6 mm. Body subparallel, moderately convex.

Color: Cuticle glossy and dark brown with mouth-parts, antennae and tarsi reddish-brown.

Head: Partly retractable, without distinct impressions. Surface granulated with oblong granules; area between granules with fine and sparse golden setae. Eyes protruding laterally; separated by a distance thrice the eye-width. Antennae 11-segmented, filiform; first two basal articles thicker the remaining ones; apical article long with cluster of apical setae. Clypeus sub-rectangular, with the front-clypeal suture moderately deep; surface granulated like the head, with fine and sparse golden setae. Labrum short, lateral margins with golden setae, surface glossy with sparse and fine punctuation.

Thorax: Pronotum wider than long (1.4 mm and 1.1 mm, respectively), sub-exagonal, convex; anterior margin convex, sides largely rounded, lateral margins granulated with anterior angles acute, posterior ones almost rightangled; base tri-sinuate. Sublateral carinae extending from base to anterior margin; sublateral carinae slightly sinuate not very elevated and almost absent at about half of pronotum. Discal area with weak, median, longitudinal depression slightly deeper in front of a rounded and elevated gibbosity situated in the posterior half of pronotum. Surface granulated similarly to that of the head but with granules rounded, slightly coarser than the ones of the head. Elytra more than twice as long as pronotum; anterior margin convex; humeral angles broadly rounded; elytral apices very strongly protruding and obliquely truncated. Each elytra with ten coarse sub-parallel striae, formed by a row of well separated punctuations, the dorsal striae deeper than the lateral ones. Intervals slightly convex at the base, flat towards the apex except as follow: interval 2 moderately convex, more elevated basally for a short distance; interval 3 moderately convex for its entire length, more elevated at the base; interval 5 less convex than the third one, but at its apex carinated for a very short distance; interval 7 as the fifth but carinated at its base and apex for a very short distance. Intervals granulated as pronotum and with fine, sparse, short hairs. Scutellum subovate, strongly convex; surface granulated like the adjacent elytral intervals. Prosternum distinctly produced anteriorly, sublateral carinae nearly complete, surface with minute dense granules; prosternal process slightly longer than wide, slightly depressed with margins feebly elevated and with apex rounded; surface with dense, coarse, oblong granules. Mesoventrite deeply grooved medially for the reception of the prosternal process. Metaventrite with the medial groove, deeper at its posterior edge; surface of disc and sides with coarse, dense, oblong granules and very short golden setae between them. Legs thin and straight, covered by dense and oblong granules. Pro-, and metatibiae with a distinct apical fringe of tomentum, extending in the former from about midtibia to nearly the tip, in the latter extending from mid-tibia to nearly the tip. Mesotibiae with two fringes of tomentum, the ventral one shorter than the lateral one.

Abdomen: Disc of the first ventrite slightly depressed with rounded granules and straight sublateral carinae not much prominent, extending at its posterior margin. Disc of ventrites 2–4 not-tomentose; ventrites 4–5 with lateral margins produced.

Genitalia: Parameres slightly longer than median lobe and slightly compressed dorsoventrally. Parameres in dorsal view ( Fig. 32 ) wide, slightly narrower towards rounded apex; base oblique and largely rounded at internal angles. Parameres in lateral view ( Fig. 33 ) slightly narrower towards base, strongly bent backwards. Median lobe in dorsal view ( Fig. 32 ) a little shorter than parameres, with lateral margins slightly convex in the basal third then gradually converging at rounded apex. Median lobe in lateral view ( Fig. 33 ) constricted at halfway point. Parameres, median lobe and phallobase covered by large membrane. Phallobase ( Figs. 32, 33 ) asymmetrical, nearly as long as parameres, narrowed and bent forwards when seen laterally.

Female. Unknown.

Intraspecific variation. The specimens examined do not show significant morphological variability.

Type locality. Ecuador, Pichincha, Alluriquín, Bosque Integral Otonga, Rio Las Damas.

Type series. Holotype: Male, Ecuador, Pichincha, Alluriquín, Bosque Integral Otonga, Rio Las Damas, 1400 m, E. Tapia leg., 28.I.2001 ( MZUF Collection number 15632). Paratypes: 1 male, same data as holotype ( MSNM); 1 male, same data as holotype ( QCAZ); 1 male, same data as holotype (CMF).

Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Dr. Elicio Tapia (PUCE), our friend and guide during the trips in the forest, who collected the entire type series.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 33. Macrelmis elicioi sp. nov. 31) Holotype, dorsal habitus (total length: 3.8 mm). 32) Male genitalia, dorsal view. 33) Male genitalia, lateral view (total length of the male genitalia: 0.7 mm).