Phytotelmatrichis osopaddington, Darby, Michael & Chaboo, Caroline S., 2015

Darby, Michael & Chaboo, Caroline S., 2015, Phytotelmatrichis, a new genus of Acrotrichinae (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) associated with the phytotelmata of Zingiberales plants in Peru, Zootaxa 4052 (1), pp. 96-106 : 102-104

Phytotelmatrichis osopaddington sp. n.

( Figs. 4 A–K)

Habitus Figs. 4 A–B. Length 1.03–1.06 mm. Colour dark brown appearing paler on lateral margins and underside of pronotum, and posterior margin of the elytra; exposed abdominal segments, legs and antennae dusky yellow. Antennomeres 3–11 0.39–0.41 mm long Fig. 4 C. Mentum and submentum chaetotaxy Fig. 4 D. Width across eyes 0.38–40 mm. Pronotum 0.66–0.67 mm wide, 0.32–0.34 mm long, slightly wider than elytra at shoulders. Elytra 0.58–0.62 mm long, 0.63–0.64 mm wide, widest across the humeri and with a setae bearing epipleuron stretching to two thirds the length of the elytron and projecting from the lateral border of the mesoventrum Fig. 4 G (right side). Mesoventral collar not extending onto the humeri, mesoventral process reaching posterior margin of collar, posterior margins straight, sloping anteriorly to lateral margins Fig. 4 G. Posterior margins of metaventrum straight, sloping anteriorly to lateral margins, metacoxal plates large and rounded Fig. 4 H. Pygidium with a small central tooth and two large lateral teeth in the posterior half, longer setae as present in many species of Acrotrichis absent, anterior border setiferous Fig. 4 J. Sixth visible ventrite with two posteriorly directed setae Figs. 4 I, K.

Male: aedeagus Fig. 4 E; ventrite VI with median excision Fig. 4 I.

Female: spermatheca with duct tapering seamlessly into the receptacle Fig. 4 F.

Etymology. The name honours the birthplace of Paddington Bear, the beloved children’s literature character created by the UK author, Michael Bond, in 1958. Paddington was an immigrant from “darkest Peru ” ( Bond 1958). He is certainly a member of Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier, 1825 ( Ursidae : Temarctinae), the Andean spectacled bear or Andean short-faced bear (jukumari in Aymara; ukumari or ukuku in Quechua). Spectacled bears are found in the Andes Mountains, from Colombia to Bolivia and ranges down to at least 550 m at the Villa Carmen station (where footprints have been documented; installed camera traps may document them yet; A. Tejedor, pers. commun.). The bear species is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ( Goldstein et al. 2008) and it is not known how many are left in the wild. We thus hope that drawing attention to this vulnerable flagship species will promote conservation of its fragmented habitats and for the other threatened plants and beetles including P. osopaddington 'Paddington beetle'.

Diagnosis. Only likely to be confused with P. peruviensis from which it differs in being narrower and in the shape of the genitalia. Additionally the gap between the metacoxae is smaller in this species.

Type data. Holotype: m#, PER14-C1-SH009, Kosñipata Valley, Villa Carmen Biol. Stn., Nr. Pilcopata, Trocha 4, -12.55261°. -70.11008°, ex. Zingiberales , 800m, 15.vi. 2014, Coll. Hirschey, Lamb, Fetters-Crouch ( MUSM. Mounted on a card and missing one antenna) Paratypes #m, same data as holotype ( BMNH); #f, PER14-C1- SH011, Kosñipata Valley, Villa Carmen Biol. Stn., nr. Pilcopata, Trocha 4, -12.55261°. -70.11008°, ex. Renealmia thyrsoidea leaf roll, 800m, 15.vi. 2014, Coll. Hirschey, Lamb, Fetters-Crouch ( MUSM / SEMC).

Figures

FIGURE 4 A-K. Phytotelmatrichis osopaddington. A, habitus dorsal view; B, habitus ventral view; C, antennomeres 3 - 11; D, mentum and submentum; E, aedeagus dorsal and side views; F, spermatheca; G, mesoventrum x 360; H, metaventrum x 360; I, male ventrite six; J, male pygidium; K, female ventrite six.