Dacrysoma imitatum, Darby, Michael, 2013

Darby, Michael, 2013, Studies of Madagascan Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 1: The Tribe Discheramocephalini including eighteen new species, Zootaxa 3718 (3), pp. 239-266 : 260

Dacrysoma imitatum sp. n.

(Figs.16, 49, 70, 88, 97)

Habitus Fig. 16. Length. 0.80–0.81 mm. Colour: dusky yellow, pronotum slightly darker than elytra, antennae and legs paler yellow. Antennomeres 3–11 Fig. 49 . Pronotum 0.22 mm long, 0.28 mm wide, Fig. 70 , +/- 8 punctures between anterior and posterior margins. Elytra: 0.49 mm long, 0.48 mm wide, more finely punctured than pronotum.

Male: aedeagus Fig. 97.

Female: spermatheca Fig. 88 .

Etymology. This epithet is based on the Latin participle imitatus, meaning imitated, and refers to its morphological similarity with sibling species.

Remarks. Difficult to distinquish on external features so that a dissection of the genitalia is required. The spermatheca could be confused with D. fabrum but is rounder and lacks the distinctive pear shape of that species.

Type data. Holotype: ♂, Ranomafana N.P., sifting, S.21˚14’51’’ E. 47˚24’13’’, 1079 m, 16–18.xi.2010, P. Banar (BMNH). Paratypes: 35 exs, same data as holotype; 2 ♀, Ambohitantely N.P., ABT/ Nov/2011/04, sifting forest litter under palm tree and big rotten trunk, Winkler app. extr., S. 18o11’56.5’’ E.47o17’26.1’’, 1561 m, 17.xi.2011, L.S.Rahanitriniaina (BMNH); 2 exs, Ankarafantsika N.P., AKF/05/2011, sifting forest litter, Winkler app. extr., 89 m, 23.iv.2011, L.S.Rahanitriniaina & R. Raveloson (BMNH).

Figures

FIGURES 41 – 55. Dacrysoma spp. antennomeres 3 – 11 (hairs omitted). 41, D. ranomafanense; 42, D. varium; 43, D. denticulatum; 44, D. ravelosoni; 45, D. rahanitriniainae; 46, D. dolorosum; 47, D. nigerrimum; 48, D. fabrum; 49, D. imitatum; 50, D. longulum; 51, D. subinsulsum; 52, D. andasibense; 53, D. fusum; 54, D. pilosum; 55, D. delicatum.

FIGURES 62 – 76. Dacrysoma spp. pronota. 62, D. ranomafanense; 63, D. varium; 64, D. denticulatum; 65, D. ravelosoni; 66, D. rahanitriniainae; 67, D. dolorosum; 68, D. nigerrimum; 69, D. fabrum; 70, D. imitatum; 71, D. longulum; 72, D. subinsulsum; 73, D. andasibense; 74, D. fusum; 75, D. pilosum; 76, D. delicatum.

FIGURES 77 – 89. Dacrysoma spp. spermathecae. 77, D. ranomafanense; 78, D. varium; 79, D. delicatum; 80, D. denticulatum; 81, D. rahanitriniainae; 82, 83, D. ravelosoni; 84, D. pilosum; 85, D. nigerrimum; 86, D. fabrum; 87, D. andasibense; 88, D. imitatum; 89, D. subinsulsum.