Hemilactica erwini, Konstantinov, 2021

Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2021, Flea beetles of the West Indies: the genus Hemilactica Blake, 1937 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 1044, pp. 589-607 : 589

Hemilactica erwini sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2-5 , 6-11

Material examined.

Holotype, male. Labels : 1) Dominican Rep.: Prov. Barahona, nr. Filipinas, Larimar Mine: 20-26.VI.1992; R. E. Woodruff & P. E. Skelley, at night; 2 ) Holotype Hemilactica erwini des. A. Konstantinov 2020 (FSCA). Paratypes with the same labels as holotype (1 FSCA, 2 USNM). Paratype with the same labels as holotype except 26.VI. (FSCA). Paratype female. Labels : 1) Dominican Republic: Independencia Prov., PN Sierra de Baoruco, (S of Puerto Escondido), 15.VII.04, 1215- 400 m, 18°16.035'N, 71°32.684'W, leg. A. Konstantinov ; 2) Paratype Hemilactica erwini des. A. Konstantinov 2020 (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Pronotum with two longitudinal dark spots on both sides of middle. Elytron with following dark spots: one on humeral callus, one medially to it, on basal callus, one below basal callus towards middle of elytron, one laterally towards side of elytron. Spots vary in size and color, some barely visible. Supracallinal sulcus poorly developed, straight, or convex, perpendicular to midline. Frontal ridge relatively long, dorsally wider than ventrally. Receptacle of spermatheca with inner side straight, outer side convex. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view bends abruptly about middle, with tip curving dorsally. Median lobe in ventral view more or less parallel sided basally, narrowing gradually towards narrow apex, lacking denticle.

Description.

Body length 3.02-3.29 mm. Body width (widest point of elytra) 1.56-1.62 mm. Body height 1.08-1.13 mm. Pronotum and elytron yellowish, straw color with poorly defined, brownish spots. Pronotum with two longitudinal spots on both sides of middle. Elytron with following spots: one on humeral callus, one medially to it, on basal callus, one below basal callus towards middle of elytron, one laterally towards side of elytron. Spots vary in size and color, some barely visible (Fig. 2 ).

Head. Surface of vertex densely and evenly covered with large punctures (Fig. 5 ). Orbit reduced to a narrow grove between eye and antennal callus. Supraorbital pore well developed, noticeable among other punctations. Inner margins of eyes slightly concave to straight, diverging towards mouth parts. Distance between eyes above antennal sockets in frontal view slightly greater than transverse diameter of eye. Sides of head below eyes converging ventrally. Anterior margin of labrum entire. Labrum with two pairs of setae placed symmetrically on sides. Midcranial suture absent. Supraorbital sulcus represented by fold between antennal callus and orbit. Orbital sulcus well developed. Supracallinal sulcus poorly developed, straight, or convex, perpendicular to midline. Supracallinal and supraorbital sulci form wide angle. Midfrontal sulcus well developed, long. Suprafrontal sulcus well developed, antennal calli and top of frontal ridge meet, separated by groove. Antennal calli nearly trapezoidal or nearly quadrate, directed longitudinally, not entering interantennal space. Frontal ridge relatively long, dorsally wider than ventrally. Its sides between antennal sockets slightly concave. Dorsal side of frontal ridge acute. Frontal ridge extends slightly between antennal calli. Anterofrontal ridge very low, merges with clypeus.

Antenna filiform, reaching beyond half elytron (Fig. 2 ). Antennomere 1 shorter than next two antennomeres combined. Antennomere 2 elongate, shorter than 3, longer than half of it, narrower than antennomere 1, wider than antennomere 3. Antennomere 3 shorter than 4. Antennomere 5 shorter than 4 and as long as 6. Antennomeres 6 and 7 nearly as wide as antennomeres 4 and 5 separately. Antennomere 7 slightly narrower than 8.

Prothorax surface glabrous, deeply and coarsely punctate (Fig. 6 ). Anterolateral callosity elongate, not expanded beyond lateral margin, facing anterolaterally. Anterior setiferous pore along anterolateral callosity situated close to posterior end. Anterolateral corners of pronotum projected slightly forward. Sides of pronotum slightly and evenly convex more so anteriorly. Base of pronotum with two short impressions visible only near basal margin. Pronotal base evenly convex. Antebasal transverse impression on pronotum shallow and poorly defined, better visible near longitudinal impressions, limited by them. Posterolateral callosity situated on corner of posterior and lateral margins. Procoxal cavities open. Intercoxal prosternal process convex at apex, extends beyond procoxae.

Elytra at base wider than base of pronotum, with convex sides. Humeral and basal calli present. Elytral punctation deep, coarse, and confused. Ridges on elytra absent (Fig. 1 ).

Legs. Pro- and mesotibiae without apical spur and with longitudinal ridge. Protarsomere 1 in males wider and longer than in females. Metatibia (Fig. 8 ) straight in dorsal view, slightly curved in lateral view, more or less cylindrical around middle. Metatibia on lateral side without small denticles. Metatibial apex flattened dorsally before tarsal insertion. Metatibial spur simple, narrow, ending in one tooth, situated laterally, nearly as long as greatest width of metatibial apex. Incision of metatarsomere 3 present. Claw appendiculate with a short lobe.

Genitalia. Spermatheca (Fig. 9 ) with receptacle and pump with distinct border in between. Receptacle longer than wide, in a single plane, inner side straight, outer side convex, longer and wider than pump. Pump more or less straight. Duct of spermatheca without coils, roundish, narrowing abruptly towards gland. Vaginal palpi absent. Tignum narrow anteriorly into a narrow lobe (Fig. 11 ). Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 10 ) bends abruptly about middle, with tip curving dorsally in lateral view. In ventral view more or less parallel-sided basally, narrowing gradually towards narrow apex, lacking denticle.

Habitat.

Seasonally dry tropical forest.

Etymology.

This species is named after Terry L. Erwin, USNM Coleoptera curator, prolific ground beetle systematist, and pioneering scholar of tropical biodiversity.

Comments.

Hemilactica erwini is similar to the type species of the genus, H. pulchella Blake and H. rugosa Blake in having relatively narrow frontal ridge and deeply and coarsely punctate elytra with brownish, poorly defined spots and lacking ridges. It may be separated from them by the smaller, less differentiated and paler spots on pronotum and wider tip of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Hemilactica erwini is easily distinguished from the rest Hemilactica species as they have relatively small elytral and pronotal punctations, elytral surface shiny with bright blue or black spots and longitudinal ridges. In addition, H. erwini may be identified with the help of the key below.

Figures

Figure 1. Adult Hemilactica erwini sp. nov., illustration by Katy Marchese (Systematic Entomology Laboratory internship program 2017).

Figures 2 - 5. Hemilactica erwini sp. nov. 2 dorsal habitus 3 ventral habitus 4 lateral habitus 5 frontal habitus.

Figures 6 - 11. Hemilactica erwini sp. nov. 6 pronotum 7 abdominal ventrites 8 hind leg 9 spermatheca 10 median lobe of aedeagus (ventral, lateral, and dorsal views) 11 tignum.