Altisessor oriens, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 42-43

Altisessor oriens Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 64, 67 , 71

Diagnosis. Recognized by the meso- and metasternal junction with strong metasternal punctures, coarse strial punctures, entirely pale antennal club ( Fig. 64, 67 ), solid-colored femora, and faint microreticulations.

Description. Length: 3.1-3.5 mm; width: 2.7-2.9 mm. Body elongate, posteriorly narrowed, somewhat cylindrical; surface weakly microreticulate, glossy. Color dark brown with weak bronze sheen, except as noted: tibiae becomes paler apically; antenna light brown; antennomeres IX-XI pale white ( Fig. 64, 67 ).

Head interocular width = 5 x ocular width; vertex and epistomal punctures coarse, puncture size = 0.9 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 2-3 x their diameter; epistome anterior margin truncate. Eye facets moderate in size. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular, slightly asymmetrical, length = 0.8 x width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = 2 x length, expanded medially, width = terminal maxillary palpomere. Mentum with faint triangular plate, width = 2 x length. Genal lobes reduced to smooth ridge.

Pronotum transverse, width = 2 x length; punctures coarse, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, evenly, separated by 2-3 x their diameter; punctures bearing short setae; base with slight indentation at each side of base, large punctures apparently lacking; anterior edge with marginal bead only behind eyes; base slightly sinuate, lacking marginal bead. Scutellum pentagonal, rounded, length = 0.5 x width. Elytral striae present, puncture size = 1.5-2.0 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 1-2 x diameter; strial punctures with fine setae, often visible only in profile; interval punctures fine; base lacking marginal bead. Wings present, fully developed.

Prosternum length = 1.3 x intercoxal width; sternal plate convex, with coarse punctures; sternal lines continuous around coxal cavity; base concave. Mesosternum broad, width = 2.0-2.5 x length, with transverse row of foveate punctures, base slightly sinuate, continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum with lines connected medially with a series of coarse punctures; continuous around mesocoxal cavity; finely punctate at anterolateral angles, coarse punctures medially and posteriorly. Abdomen with coxal lines not connecting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures indistinct on first ventrite, apparently lacking on rest of sterna. Male genitalia with flagellum long, nearly same thickness to apex ( Fig. 71 ); sclerite at base of flagellum somewhat V-shaped in both lateral and dorsal views.

Distribution. Found on Puerto Rico.

Type Material. The male holotype and female allotype of Altisessor oriens possess the following label data: “/ P. RICO: Adjuntas, Guilliarte (sic) For. Res. trail to Mt. Guilliarte (sic) summit, 5.VIII.1999, P. Kovarik, collector /” ( FSCA). Paratypes (33) examined have the following label data: same data as holotype (5- PESC) ; Guilarte St. For., Summit Tr. , VIII-5-1999, C.W. O’Brien, P.W. Kovarik (1- PESC) ; Guilarte St. For., VIII-2-1999, C.W. O’Brien, P. Kovarik (1- PESC) ; Guilarte For. Res., Hwy. 131 & 158, July 23, 1979, G. B. Marshall (2- WIBF) ; same data except CW. O’Brien (3- WIBF) ; Guilarte For. Res., Hwy. 131 & 158, July 24, 1979, G.B. Marshall (1- WIBF) ; same data except CW. O’Brien (3- WIBF) ; same data except L.B. O’Brien (1- WIBF) ; Carib. N.F., El Toro Negro D., Hwy. 143, K16H4, 7-21-1979 LB. O’Brien (3- WIBF) ; same data except C. W. O’Brien (6- WIBF) ; Carib.N.F., El Toro Negro D., Hwy. 143, K16H9, 7-22- 1979 L.B. O’Brien (2- WIBF) ; same data except G.B. Marshall (1- WIBF) ; Carib. N.F., El Yunque, Hwy (191), K11H2, July 19, 1979, C.W. O’Brien (2- WIBF) ; El Yunque Sta., Luquillo Forest , 10-16-1969, H.& A. Howden (1- CMNC) ; Maricao For. Res., Hwy. 120, K13H8, July 25, 1979 L.B. O’Brien (1- WIBF) ; Maricao Forest , 890m, 28-30-VII-2004, G. Nearns, beating (1- FSCA) ; Maricao For., Carr. 120, km 9-15, 18 o 08’45"N, 66 o 58’523"W, 14 June 2002, 850- 950m, beating vegetation, Steven W. Lingafelter (1- NMNH). Paratypes will be deposited in NHML and UPRM .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin oriens which means “east”. Thus, the full species name means “eastern mountain sitter”.

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 62-67. Altisessor spp., dorsal and ventral habitus. 62, 65) A. ater, paratype. 63, 66) A. centralis, holotype male. 64, 67) A. oriens, paratype.

Figure 68-71. Altisessor spp., male genital flagellum. 68) A. ater. 69) A. centralis. 70) A. hottensis. 71) A. oriens. All reproduced to same scale, scale line = 1 mm.