Dyslexia dathomirria Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez, 2020

Skelley, Paul E. & Gasca-Álvarez, Héctor Jaime, 2020, Dyslexia, a new remarkable genus of pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae) from the Andes, Insecta Mundi 2020 (835), pp. 1-15 : 8-10

Dyslexia dathomirria Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez , new species

Figures 17‒23 .

Diagnosis. A member of Dyslexia distinguished from the other species by the pale antennomere XI, elytral basal declivity lacking strial punctures, anterior prosternal process weakly projecting, and with all appendages being slenderer.

Description. Length: 8.7–9.3 mm; Width 3.5–3.9 mm. Body elongate parallel-sided, convex dorsally, elytra declivous at base and widest at basal third; microreticulation weak, surface glossy ( Fig. 17 ).

Color pattern variable in distinctness and size of dark markings, but always based on the following scheme: Body orange with black markings, elytra pale yellow with black marking. Head lacking black spot on vertex; base of head behind eyes with black mark. Pronotum with a large central maculation that touches both anterior and posterior margins; maculation wider in front, constricted medially, posteriorly with central orange mark splitting lateral arms that reach posterior margin ( Fig. 20 ). Scutellar shield dark brown to black. Elytra with several black markings that are well separated from the thin black margins ( Fig. 17, 19 ); a large triangularly rounded scutellar spot; subhumeral spot situated at basal third of elytra; central band consisting of two curved transverse marks, when connected form an X; free circular apical elytral spot. Ventrally prosternum ringed with black; meso- and metathorax black except as noted, mesoventrite ringed in black, metaventrite ringed black with large triangular maculation on central posterior margin; abdominal ventrites I–IV with one squared lateral spot each side ( Fig. 18 ); ventrites I–II (male) and possibly III (female) with triangular central spot; all spots on abdominal ventrite I free, those of abdominal ventrites II–IV are connected to posterior margin. Mouthparts orange-brown, appendages black, except antennomere XI which is white.

Head dorsal distance between eyes = 5× eye width; vertex and epistome punctures fine, size = 0.25× facet, widely separated; clypeus with strong v-shaped apical emargination. Antenna with all antennomeres elongate, narrowed; antennomere II length = 2× width; antennomeres III–VII width near apex slightly less than antennomere II width; antennomere VIII width near apex = antennomere II width, truncate at apex; antennomere III length = 5.2× width, length = 1.5× length antennomere IV; antennomeres IV–VIII nearly equal in length; antennomeres IX triangular, acuminately narrowed basally, length = 1.9× width, length = 1.2× antennomere VIII; antennomeres X triangular, narrowed basally, length = 1.2× width, length = antennomere VIII; antennomere XI length = 1.7× width, length = antennomere VIII.

Pronotum slightly wider than long, width = 1.3× length, lateral edge weakly arcuate, appearing rhomboidal, width at anterior angles = 1.7× width at posterior angles; posterior angles 90°. Scutellar shield pentagonal, length = 0.6× width. Elytra microreticulate, weakly glossy; elytron length = 3.25× width in dorsal view; in lateral view, elytra flattened medially, becoming declivitous near base; lateral margin parallel-sided on basal half, parabolically rounded on apical half; strial punctures distinct on disc, but lacking on basal declivity; width of striae greater towards base than at mid-length; interval punctures not evident; punctures in groove of lateral marginal bead same size as pores of marginal bead; epipleuron wide at base, width = 2× width of femur, narrowing toward apex, width in apical half = width of femur. Hind wings present, apparently functional.

Prosternum with angulation of anterior margin pinched, weakly projecting ventrally ( Fig. 21 ); distance from anterior margin to procoxae = distance between procoxae; surface impunctate; coxal lines weakly constricted around procoxae; prosternal plate weakly convex, length = distance between coxae. Mesoventrite length = 1.2× distance between mesocoxae; posterior margin weakly convex. Metaventrite long, length from mesocoxae to posterior margin = 1.6× distance between mesocoxae. Protarsomeres I–III of equal length. Meso- and metatarsomeres with tarsomere I length = next two combined.

Sexual dimorphism present, male with medial patch of setae on abdominal ventrite I ( Fig. 18 ), diameter 0.2× length of ventrite; females lack the patch of setae. The noted difference in abdominal color pattern may not be sexually dimorphic.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ) with penis weakly arched, narrowing apically, with narrow 90° curved apical process; median strut length = 1.7× penis length; internal sac without noticeable sclerotized structures, pale microtrichia not evident; flagellum length = 1× penis length; virga of flagellum narrow, straight, gradually thickened basally; head of flagellum small, sclerite at base elongate claw-shaped. Females genitalia noticeably shortened ( Fig. 23 ).

Material examined. The holotype male of Dyslexia dathomirria label data: “ ECUADOR: Pichincha / Macquipucuna For. Res. / 50 km NW of Quito / 1650–1750 m, 23 Dec. / 1991, C. Carlton / R. Leschen #70” ( SEMC).

Allotype female: “ ECUADOR: Pichincha / Mindo , 10.6 km W. Mindo Road / 0°4′23″S, 78°45′14″W, 1375 m / 28 MAR 1999, R. Brooks / ECU1B99 061 / ex: fungus covered log” // “[bar code] / SM0156779 / KUNHM- ENT” ( SEMC).

Etymology. The species name is based on Dathomirian, a race of Zabrak native to the planet Dathomir from the fictional Star Wars universe, who were characterized by their tattoos made of complex patterns and geometrical shapes used to express individuality. Colors and black spotted patterns of pronotum, elytra and venter of the new species, resembles the tattoos of Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress, iconic characters during the Clone Wars from the Star Wars saga. To the name Dathomiri we add the suffix “-a” to make it feminine and include the intentional spelling variation with a double “rr” (ICZN 1999, Article 58.7).

Remarks. Dyslexia belamyi and D. dathomirria were found at same locality on the same collecting expedition. Initially, we thought these represented one highly variable species. But all characters discussed are consistent and readily separate both males and females of the species. In accordance with the above, we can infer sympatric or slightly overlapping distributions of these two species.

Figures

Figures 17‒23. Dyslexia dathomirria Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez. 17) Dorsal habitus. 18) Ventral habitus. 19) Lateral habitus. 20) Anterior oblique view of head and pronotum. 21) ventral view head and prosternum. 22) Male genitalia. 23) Female genitalia, allotype.