Micridium oweni, Darby, Michael, 2017

Darby, Michael, 2017, Taxonomic review of the genera Micridium Motschulsky, 1869 and Micridina Johnson, 1969 (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) with eleven new species including the first records from South America and Madagascar, Zootaxa 4242 (2), pp. 233-254 : 248-249

Micridium oweni sp.n.

( Fig. 9, 27, 33, 56, 67)

Habitus Fig. 9. Length 0.54 mm. Colour: brown, legs and antennae yellow. Antennomeres 3–11 length 0.21 mm, 5– 8 elongate. Width across eyes 0.16 mm. Mentum narrowed towards base, submentum with 3 setae, Fig. 33. Pronotum widest medially and with two distinct linear depressions narrowed anteriorly and reaching +/– 3/4 the length of the sclerite, length 0.16 mm, width 0.23 mm, Fig. 27. Elytra fused, length 0.35 mm, width 0.26 mm. Mesoventrum: keel narrow between mesocoxae extending on to the metaventrum, Fig 56. Mesepiventra: reticulation absent, hind angles rounded, Fig. 56. Metaventrum: metepiventral sutures reaching to posterior margin, Fig. 67; posterior intercoxal process without setal fringe. This species is apterous.

Etymology. Named after Professor John Owen, the UK Coleopterist who died in 2016 and was very helpful to the writer.

Diagnosis. The length of the pronotal depressions and of the antennae distinguish this apterous species. Type data: Holotype: sex unknown (no genitalia were detected in the dissection], Madagascar, Ambohitantely Spec. Res., ABT. Sept.2011/10, 2.ix.2011, S. 18°10'63.9" E. 47°17'22.4", 1518m, sifting forest litter by waterfall, Winkler app. extraction, L.S.Rahanitriniaina lgt. ( BMNH). Pinned on a piece of clear acetate as a disarticulated slide using Euparal as the mountant.