Antillengis epochthidius, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 18

Antillengis epochthidius Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 32-34 , 36-37

Diagnosis. Antillengis epochthidius is recognized by: large body size (greater than 9 mm long), pentagonal mental plate, and a broad poorly defined gular-submental groove.

Description. Length 9.2-9.8 mm; width 4.5-4.6 mm. Body dark red-brown nearly black; antennae, palpi, legs, and apical 4 abdominal ventrites reddish-brown; elytral apex with red-brown mark which extends laterally to middle ( Fig. 36 ).

Head with base coarsely punctate, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, separated by 0.5-1.0 x their diameter; vertex and epistomal punctures = 0.3 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 2-4 x their diameter on vertex, becoming denser on epistome. Mentum transverse, plate width = 2.2 x length, plate pentagonal, sides short, anterior margin obtusely angled and broadly rounded medially. Gular-submental groove broad, poorly defined; in addition to few punctures laterally, gula with sculpture or punctures posterior of groove ( Fig. 32 ).

Pronotal lateral margin straight at base, evenly arched toward eyes anteriorly. Elytral strial punctures large, indistinctly impressed, same size or smaller than coarse punctures at base of pronotum; intervals finely punctate, puncture size = fine pronotal punctures.

Prosternum with anterior marginal bead broad and well defined medially, becoming narrow and weakly defined laterally; coarse punctures continue narrowly connected across midline anterior of coxae. Genitalia similar to A. brunnipes ( Fig. 33-34 ).

Figures

Figure 1. West Indian maps. 1a) Map of West Indian countries mentioned in the text. 1b) Map indicating species occurring on specific islands with distribution of Notaepytus flavitarsis (Lacordaire) indicated by the white triangles.

Figure 29-34. Antillengis spp. 29-30) Anterior view of head. 29) A. brunnipes, male. 30) A. brunnipes, female. 31- 32) Ventral view of head. 31) A. brunnipes. 32) A. epochthidius. 33-34) A. epochthidius genitalia. 33) Male. 34) Female. Genitalic scale line = 1mm.

Figure 35-37. Antillengis spp., habitus. 35) A. brunnipes. 36) A. epochthidius, paratype. 37) A. epochthidius, first instar larva.