Dyslexia 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 : 3-5

Dyslexia Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez , new genus

Type species. Dyslexia belamyi Skelley and Gasca-Álvarez , new species, present designation.

Diagnosis. A member of the Erotylini distinguished from all genera by the unique characters of the broad, truncated head where the frons is constricted around the anteriorly visible antennal insertions, the head broad and truncate, and the genae are visible in anterior view. Other distinguishing characters include the flattened mentum with a circular plate, anterior clypeal margin strongly emarginate, frontoclypeal suture lacking indication on surface, prosternum not projecting anteriorly, sexual dimorphism with males possessing a patch of setae in center of abdominal ventrite I, and shortened female genitalia.

Description. Length 7.1–10.2 mm. Body shape elongate to oval, convex dorsally, elytra variably humped in some manner; microreticulation weak, surface glossy; body yellow to orange with variable black markings.

Head broad, width between eyes = 4.1–5.5× eye width; ocular striae ending at anterior angle of eye; frons with small weak tubercle near antennal insertion; epistome broad and constricted at antennal insertions; frontoclypeal suture indistinct, lacking any surface indications; clypeus transversely elongate, with anterior emargination angulate, shallowly v- or u-shaped; genae widened, visible in anterior view, giving head a parallel-sided appearance. Eye small, not bulging; facets well defined. Antenna slender, long, reaching base of pronotum; antennomere I large, elongate; antennomere II elongate, length = 0.5× antennomere I; antennomere III elongate, length 2× antennomere I, length = next 2 antennomeres combined; antennomeres IV to VIII elongate, apically rounded; antennomere VIII rounded or truncate apically, not widened; antennomeres IX to XI form a loose elongate club; antennomere IX–X triangular; antennomere XI elongately ovoid, apex acutely pointed; club antennomeres symmetrical. Maxillary and labial palp terminal palpomere triangular, extended medially, apical angles 90° laterally, 45° medially; length = 0.66× width. Mentum with semicircular basal plate defined by weak groove, length = 0.6× width, width of plate = 0.6× width of mentum. Genae widened and anteriorly elongated so mandibular attachment anterior to eye (ventral to eye in other genera); genae easily visible in dorsal view.

Pronotum with length nearly equal to width, or slightly wider; disc moderately convex; sides arched inwardly toward eyes; anterior angles closer together than posterior angles; anterior edge with marginal bead between eyes; anterior angles forwardly produced, making anterior edge concave; base weakly sinuate, nearly straight, weakly lobed at middle, with complete marginal bead, with a few small punctures in bead; discal surface with scattered fine punctures. Scutellar shield pentagonal, sided rounded, wider than long. Elytra with sides evenly arched to apex, in lateral view distinctly evenly convex or distinctly declivous at base (presenting a hunchbacked appearance); 7 striae evident by rows of distinct to indistinct punctures, striae VI–VII evident at midlength, striae VII weak, lacking at humerus and extreme apex; striae not geminate, evenly spaced; intervals flattened, appearing impunctate, surface glossy; base lacking marginal bead; groove of lateral marginal bead with coarse punctures; epipleuron widest at base, narrowing gradually entire length, abruptly folding under elytra at apex.

Procoxae widely separated, distance between procoxae = 2× width of procoxae. Prosternum evenly convex anteriorly, not keeled; anterior margin with complete marginal bead, small angulate process medially; sternal plate with coxal lines constricted around coxae otherwise parallel, lines continuous around coxae; disc of plate with distinct pores on each side behind coxae; posterior edge of prosternum concave, marginal bead lacking. Mesoventrite with area between coxae transverse; coxal lines diverge anteriorly, continuous with line around anterior mesocoxae; posterior margin truncate to weakly sinuate lacking marginal bead. Metaventrite with post mesocoxal lines not meeting medially, continuous around mesocoxae, not extending onto disc; surface smooth, indistinctly punctate. Abdominal ventrite I with post metacoxal line not meeting medially, continuous around metacoxae, not extending onto disc; process between metacoxae truncate to broadly rounded anteriorly; surface smooth, indistinctly punctate.

Legs long, slender, half of femora visible dorsally beyond lateral body margins; femora slightly swollen medially; mesofemora with weak posterior marginal bead, lacking on other femora; tibiae narrow entire length, weakly curved, almost straight, strongly parallel-sided, slightly widened toward apex, lacking carina along exterior margin; tarsi pseudotetramerous, narrow entire length; tarsomere III parallel sided, lobe expanded ventrally, weakly expanded laterally; metatarsomere I slightly elongate.

Male dimorphism present with a central patch of setae on abdominal ventrite I, other dimorphisms possible. Male genitalia with spiculum gastrale asymmetrical; penis with curved apical elongation; internal sac apparently lacking sclerotized structures; virga of penile flagellum narrow entire length. Female genitalia shortened, barely able to extend beyond abdominal ventrites; spiculum ventrale narrow, reduced; spermatheca with head sausage shaped, tail elongate and curved and thickened; gonocoxites as long as wide at base; gonostylus short, acutely pointed. Sexual dimorphism in males bearing a patch of setae in center of abdominal ventrite I; protarsomere I–III in males slightly wider than females; one species has additional tibial characters.

Etymology. With so many taxa to describe in the Erotylinae , it becomes onerous work to propose original and meaningful names for new taxa. However, this abundance gives us the opportunity to be creative and honorific. Dyslexia is a term used for a perceived difficulty with language and communication. However, dyslexic people simply process information differently and, in some ways, better than others. PES took special classes for one form of dyslexia in early childhood. The life-long need to work hard at some communications helped set a path for his education and professional development as a nomenclaturalist, taxonomist, and editor. Use of the name is in recognition of the positive role it takes in shaping his life.

The idea for the name came from Dr. Charles Bellamy, after learning of PES’s struggle. Because dyslexia is often associated with difficulties in spelling and reading, he recommended naming a genus “ Dyslexia ” where every proposed species name is an intentional acceptable variant spelling. PES has previously used themes for naming new species in small genera ( Skelley 1994 , 1997, 1999; Powell and Skelley , in press). For this genus, creative and legitimate use of variant spellings has been applied to all species described here.

Because of potential confusion with perceived misspellings and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999), some statements must be made. Any accidental error in formation of a species name is to be considered intentional and the “correct original spelling” to be preserved if any question develops on the name (ICZN 1999, Article 32). The spelling variants proposed for the names are subtle, respectful, euphonic, and will not by themselves invalidate the name. These names were carefully crafted to avoid any mandatory spelling changes as discussed in ICZN (1999), Article 32.5. The spelling variants presented here are deemed identical to the correct spellings following ICZN (1999), Article 58. Other forms of acceptable variant spellings exist, like the same words in different languages (Paul vs. Pablo in Spanish, or Hector vs. Hektor in Greek). We hope this theme of variant spellings will be applied subtly and respectfully to new species discovered in the future.

Researching the origin of the word ‘dyslexia’, it appears to have similar roots in both Greek and Latin, and no clear statement of gender could be found. To avoid other nomenclatural concerns, we consider it an English term. Thus, following the ICZN (1999), Articles 30.1.4 and 30.2.2, we here assign the genus a feminine gender.

Remarks. Currently, we are aware of another undescribed genus with head development similar to Dyslexia , which will be described separately. In head structures, Dyslexia appears most similar to Ellipticus Chevrolat and Neopriotelus Alvarenga in having the constricted frons with the genae partially visible dorsally, but the frons is narrow and the sides of the head converge anteriorly, they are not parallel-sided. In several other characters, Dyslexia is most similar to members of Neopriotelus which have an elongate body shape, long slender legs and antennae, some species have the elytral basal declivity, and males of some species have a patch of setae on abdominal ventrite I.

It is interesting to note that Węgrzynowicz (2002) placed the Erotylini as sister to the Encaustini. Some characters Dyslexia are superficially similar to the Encaustini. Most notably, how the enlarged gena appears to be more anterior to the eye than in other Erotylini . These and other questions on relationships within the Erotylinae are outside the current descriptive needs. As studies are completed and we gain a better understanding of generic and tribal limits within the subfamily, we anticipate additional genera to be recognized.