Micridium thayerae sp.n.

(Figs. 14, 24, 41, 43, 54, 62, 79, 86a/b, 93)

Habitus Fig. 14. Length 0.70 mm. Colour brown, legs and antennae pale yellow, covered with long yellow overlapping pubescence. Antennomeres 3–11 length 0.22 mm, Fig. 43. Width across eyes 0.19 mm. Mentum almost square, the two long setae normally situated at the anterior corners are placed medially close to the lateral margins, submentum with 4 setae, Fig. 41. Pronotum without linear depressions but with clearly marked shallow pits at sides of disc in posterior half, length 0.17 mm, width 0.26 mm, Fig. 24. Elytra length 0.47 mm, width 0.30 mm. Mesoventrum: keel slightly widened between mesocoxae Fig. 54. Mesepiventra: clearly reticulate, evenly rounded to mesocoxae, Fig. 54. Metaventrum: metepiventral sutures short reaching only 1/3 of the length of the sclerite, Fig. 62.

Male: posterior intercoxal process of metaventrum with fringe of long, flattened setae, Fig. 93. Aedeagus Fig. 86a/b.

Female: spermatheca Fig. 79.

Etymology. Named after Dr Margaret Thayer, the collector.

Diagnosis. The reticulation of the mesoventrum, very short metepiventral sutures and square mentum distinguish this species.

Type data: Holotype: ♂, Chile, Osorno Pr., Los Lagos, Parque Nac. Puyehue, Antillanca road, Valdivian rainfor., forest leaf and log litter, 470m, 20–25.xii.1982, A. Newton & M. Thayer (FMNH) . Paratypes: 350 examples, same data as holotype (FMNH, BMNH); 19 examples, Chile, Osorno Pr., hills S of Muicolpué, secondary Valdivian forest, 160m, 21.12.82, A. Newton & M. Thayer (BMNH) ; 101 examples, Chile, Osorno Pr., Parque Nac. Puyehue, 4.1 km E Anticura, trap site 662, Valdivian rainfor., forest leaf and log litter, Berlese, 430m, 19–26.xii.1982, A. Newton & M. Thayer (FMNH, BMNH) ; 4 examples, Chile, Osorno Pr., Parque Nac Puyehue, Antillanca Road, trap site 661, Valdivian rainfor., forest leaf and log litter, Berlese, 690m, 18–24.xii.1982, A. Newton & M. Thayer (BMNH) ; 2 examples, Chile, Valdivia Pr., 4.1km W Anticura, trap site 663, Valdivian rainfor., leaf litter on forest floor, 160m, A. Newton & M. Thayer (FMNH) .