Novochares pume sp. nov.

Figs 28G-J, 29D

Type material.

Holotype (male): "VENEZUELA: Guárico, Hato/ Masaguaral, 45kmS Calabozo/ 8.57N, 67.58W, Savanna #12/ 75 m, 15July1989, uv light/ M. Epstein & M. Deza" (USNM). Paratypes (4 exs.): Venezuela: Barinas: Barinas, 23.ii.1969, leg. P. & P. Spangler (1, USNM). Cojedes: Galeras del Pao, 175 m, 26.vi.1963, leg. C.J. Rosales & A. Perez (3, MIZA, SEMC).

Differential diagnosis.

See differential diagnosis of N. tectiformis .

Description.

Body length 6.4-7.9 mm. Coloration: Dorsal surfaces dark brown, with very slightly paler margins of pronotum and elytra. Head: Maxillary palps nearly 1.3 × longer than width of head, uniformly orange to brown in color. Thorax: Ground punctation on pronotum and elytra dense and very shallowly impressed. Elytra without rows of serial punctures, each with very faint rows of scarce and weakly marked systematic punctures on lateral surface. Prosternum flat. Posterior elevation of mesoventrite with posterior face somewhat bisinuate and medial longitudinal ridge extending anteriorly (resembling a nose). Abdomen: Apical emargination of fifth ventrite relatively deep, U-shaped. Aedeagus: (Fig. 28G-J) Overall shape pear-like, 3 × longer than wide; lateral projection on apical region of outer margin of each paramere strongly pointed; at closest point, dorsal inner margins of parameres separated by distance nearly 1/3 greatest width of a paramere; dorsal plate of median lobe with neck 0.4 × as broad as base; arms of dorsal plate of median lobe gradually and weakly narrowing towards apex, apically converging, with apex narrowly rounded and dorsally pointed, nearly 0.3 × length of dorsal plate of median lobe; notch between arms slightly projected at base, at base nearly as broad as base of an arm; ventral plate of median lobe moderately sclerotized, triangular, apically pointed, apex extending to apex of arms of dorsal plate; basal piece 0.28 × length of a paramere. In lateral view, aedeagus flattened, with ventral outline of parameres 4.2 × longer than greatest width near base; dorsal outline nearly straight along basal 2/3.

Etymology.

Pume, in reference to the Pume indigenous group.

Distribution.

This species is known from several localities in the llanos region of Venezuela (Fig. 29D).

Habitat.

The holotype was collected at a UV light in a savanna. Nothing else is known about this species.