Micridium attenboroughi, 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 : 237

Micridium attenboroughi sp.n.

( Figs. 10, 28, 34, 50, 63, 72 a/b, 82a/b, 95)

Habitus Fig. 10. Length 0.56 mm. Colour: yellow/brown, pubescence, legs and antennae pale yellow. Antonnomeres 3–11 length 0.20 mm. Width across eyes 0.16 mm. Mentum: narrowed to base, sides straight, submentum with 3 setae, Fig. 34. Pronotum length 0.15 mm, width 0.21 mm, with two distinct, almost parallel, linear depressions, Fig. 28. Elytra length 0.35 mm, width 0.27 mm. Mesoventrum: keel narrow not reaching posteriorly beyond mesocoxae, Fig. 50. Mesepiventra without clear reticulation, evenly rounded to mesocoxae, Fig. 50. Metaventrum: metepiventral sutures reaching posterior margin, Fig. 63; posterior intercoxal process without prominent setae in male +/-straight between lateral points, Fig. 95. Wings of usual ptiliid type.

Male: aedeagus Figs. 82a/b.

Female: spermatheca Figs. 72 a/b.

Etymology. I have great pleasure in naming this species after Sir David Attenborough, the British naturalist and broadcaster, who has recently celebrated his 90th birthday.

Diagnosis. The clearly marked, almost parallel, pronotal depressions reaching to the midpoint of the thorax will distinguish this species from all others but M. quadridens sp. n. from which it may be separated by the shorter antennae and by the form of the male characteristics.

Type data: Holotype: ♀; Bolivia, Cochabamba; BOL / Nov 2013/02, ca. 40 km E of Chimore. GPS 22, S. 17° 05' 14" E. 64° 46' 17", 213m , 22.xi.2013, sifting litter, Winkler app. extr., P. Baňař lgt. (UASC). Paratypes: ♂, same data as holotype ( MMBC) ; 2♀ 1♂, Bolivia, Cochabamba, BOL / Nov 2013/04 ca 8 km E of Villa Tunari , GPS 24, S. 16° 59' 11" E. 65° 20' 44", 225m , 23.xi.2013, P. Baňař lgt. (MMBC, BMNH).