Straneotia moi Aldebron & Erwin, 2018

Erwin, Terry L. & Aldebron, Charlotte, 2018, Neotropical Thoasia Liebke, 1939 and Straneotia Mateu, 1961 of the Cryptobatida group, subtribe Agrina: Taxonomic revisions with notes on their ways of life (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini), ZooKeys 742, pp. 57-90 : 79-81

Straneotia moi Aldebron & Erwin sp. n. Snake-head arboreal carabid Figs 4B , 7

Holotype.

(Female): Type locality. French Guiana, Cayenne, Commune de Roura, RN2, PK22, Montagne des Chevaux, 4.7127°N, 52.3966°W, 90m, 9 December 2012 (S. Brûlé, PH. Dalens, E. Poirier)(NMNH: ADP141236).

Derivation of specific epithet.

The epithet, Straneotia moi , comes from the Wayampi word for snake, referring to the snake-like appearance of the species head. The Wayampi are indigenous to French Guiana ( Payne 1999).

Proposed English Vernacular Name.

Snake-head arboreal carabid.

Diagnosis.

With the attributes of the genus and the Straneotia freyi species group as described above and adults with testaceous, brown, and rufous hues on elytra, each elytron with irregular testaceous discal pattern, interrupted by narrow, transverse waves of dark brown, with basal third, rufous. Head behind eyes almost two times more than length of eye.

Description.

(Fig. 4B ). Habitus: (Fig. 4B ). Size: See Appendix 1. Length (SBL) average for genus, ABL = 6.69 mm, SBL = 5.35 mm.

Color: See diagnosis above. Luster: Elytra, forebody, and head markedly shiny. Microsculpture: Elytron with mostly isodiametric and slightly stretched and moderately impressed sculpticells. Head and pronotum transversely microsculptured. Head: Frons with two pairs of carinae extending from base of clypeus, converging to produce a V-shape in line with the beginning of the eye. Rugae of lateral occiput and neck mostly transverse, very finely etched. Eye not produced, barely convex. Antennae moderately long, reaching slightly behind humerus. Labrum large, spatula-shaped, with anterior angles broader than posterior angles. Neck finely transversely rugose at sides. Mouthparts distinct from S. freyi with labial palpomeres apically truncate and ligula markedly narrow with pair of setal pores medially close-spaced, with less than the width of their diameter between them. Prothorax: Pronotum very narrow, cylindrical with slight lateral explanation; disc centrally narrowly planar, marked by a faint testaceous stripe and dense transverse rugae. Hind angles acute, subtly wider. Pterothorax: Normal for Agrina , fully winged, flight wings translucent. Elytron intervals 3, 5, and 7 with numerous discal setae, intervals slightly convex, side margin moderately explanate. Elytron moderately broad and short, tapering markedly towards apex, markedly wider than the pronotum at the broadest part, apex truncate, markedly sinuate with distal corner obtusely rounded, disc not significantly convex, basal third slightly depressed. All interneurs well-impressed and micropunctate. Legs: Normal for Agrina , no unique modi fications. Abdomen: Glabrous except normal ambulatory setae on sterna 3-5; female with two pairs of ambulatory setae on sternum VI. Male genitalia: Unstudied. Female genitalia: Unstudied but likely similar to that of S. cylindroceps (cf. Fig. 6a ).

Dispersal potential.

These beetles are macropterous and probably capable of flight.

Way of life.

Adults, as supported by the collection of the type specimen by malaise trap, are most likely a canopy dwelling species of tropical rainforests. This species was collected in December, the beginning of a shorter, two month rainy season near the coast of French Guiana.

Other specimens examined.

No other specimens examined.

Geographic distribution.

(Fig. 7 ). French Guiana.

Figures

Figure 4. Digital Photo-illustrations. Habitus, dorsal aspect. A Straneotia cylindroceps Erwin & Aldebron, sp. n., female, ADP 100396 B Straneotia moi Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., female, ADP 141236 C Straneotia confundis Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., male, ADP 152452 D Straneotia amazonica Mateu, Holotype female. Scale bar: 1.00 mm (A-C); ABL = 5.5 mm (D).

Figure 6. Digital Photo-illustrations. A Female reproductive and defence systems, dorsal aspect: Straneotia cylindroceps Erwin & Aldebron, sp. n., ADP 100396 (see Fig. 2 references to female system; defense gland (gldr); cc accessory gland; ed efferent duct.). B Male aedeagus in repose, dorsal, ventral, left lateral aspects: Straneotia confundis Aldebron & Erwin, sp. n., ADP 152452. Legend, fl, flagellum. Scale bar: 0.50 mm.

Figure 7. Distribution map for known localities of Thoasia and Straneotia species.