Laccodytes rondonia sp.n.

Figs (1, 26, 29, 42, 45, 55, 62)

Type locality. Brazil: Rondônia, 62 km SW Ariquemes.

Type material. Holotype 3 (NMW): Brazil, Rondônia, 62 km SW Ariquemes, near Fz. Rancho Grande, 8.–20.XI.1994, Eger & O´Brien. Paratypes: same data as holotype (15 exs CLH, CMT, NMW, BMNH, ZSM).

Diagnosis. Habitus (Figs 1, 29). Close to the preceding species, from which differs principally for the less extended and sharper dark patterns and aedeagal features. Body length 1.7 mm. Body slightly drop-shaped, tip of elytron truncated. Hind angle of pronotum slightly produced backwards, faintly needle-shaped.

Color. Head and pronotum yellow, middle of base a bit darker. Elytron black with contrasting yellow pattern as in Fig. 29, entire marginal area yellow except for tiny darker area at base, below pronotal hind angle. Appendages and venter yellow to orange.

Sculpture. Dorsal and ventral surface of the beetle with a faint MR, except for base of metaventrite as well as posterior part of metacoxal process. Rather regular, honeycomb shaped on head and pronotum; more irregular, slightly elongate and horizontally orientated on elytron, apparently with very small punctures (100x). Metaventrite with MR of larger polygonal meshes posteriorly and few punctures; metaxcoxal process with MR anteriorly, posteriorly only with punctures; metacoxa with numerous diagonally orientated longish cells, giving the impression of a dense diagonal striation or dense punctation depending on angle of observation.

Structures. Pronotum with narrow lateral bead; posterior angle produced backwards, acute, but less developed than in L. apalodes . Prosternum with ridge, prosternal process not ridged; prosternal process carinate and with a very long, needle shaped tip (Fig. 42). Epipleuron broad up to level of sternite 6 or 7. Metatibia very short and compact, only about 1/2 as long as metafemur. Metatarsomeres 1–4 with apicolateral angle distinctly lobed. Hind lobes of metacoxal process wing shaped, with a large and wide V-shaped notch in between.

Male. Pro- and mesotarsi slightly dilated. Hind margin of sternite 7 truncate, middle slightly convex (Fig. 55). Aedeagus (Fig. 45): median lobe similar to the preceding species, but larger, shorter and more robust, straight; the widened central portion is more extended and a rounded membraneous process emerges. Parameres different in size, both with more than one apical very long seta.

Female. Sternite 7 (Fig. 55) rounded on both sides, hind margin with a small and shallow V-shaped emargination in the middle.

Distribution (Fig. 62). Southwestern Brazil, State of Rondônia .

Biology. Found in a stream.

Derivatio nominis. Named for the type locality.