Niptella gutta, Darby, Michael, 2019

Darby, Michael, 2019, New Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) from Sarawak in the spirit collection of the Natural History Museum, London, European Journal of Taxonomy 512, pp. 1-50 : 25-27

Niptella gutta gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B6E16C2B-3B88-418C-9536-6E235936248C

Fig. 12

Diagnosis

Determined by the form of the mesoventral keel.

Etymology

From the Latin ‘ gutta ’, meaning ‘drop’, and referring to the shape of the mesoventral keel.

Type material

Holotype MALAYSIA-BORNEO • ♀; Sarawak, 4 th division, Gunung Mulu National Park ; 1930 m a.s.l.; May– Aug. 1978; P.M. Hammond and J.E. Marshall leg., BM 1978-49 ; BMNH.

Paratypes

MALAYSIA-BORNEO • ♂; same data as for holotype; BMNH • 2 specs; same data as for preceding; 1800-1900 m a.s.l.; litter; BMNH • 1 spec. (mounted disarticulated on the slide); Sarawak, 4 th division, Gunung Mulu National Park ; May–Aug. 1978; P. M. Hammond and J.E. Marshall leg., BM 1978-49 ; litter below comp. 4; BMNH • 1 spec.; Sarawak, Mulu ; 13 Mar. 1978; N.M. Collins leg.; pitfalls in alluvial forest; BMNH .

Description

SIZE. Habitus ( Fig. 12A ), length 0.65 mm.

COLOUR. Yellowish brown shining, closely covered with fine pale pubescence.

HEAD. With row of postulate setae behind the eyes ( Fig. 12F ). Antennae very pale yellow almost translucent, antennomeres III–XI, length 0.28 mm. Eyes prominent, distance across eyes 0.24 mm. Mentum and submentum ( Fig. 12D ).

PRONOTUM. Length 0.19 mm, width 0.30 mm ( Fig. 12F ).

ELYTRA. Length 0.39 mm, width 0.35 mm. truncate.

VENTRUM. Proventrum wide before contiguous procoxae, reticulate, with scattered setae. Mesoventrum ( Fig. 12G ), collar not extending onto sharply toothed humeri, keel in shape of a peardrop stopping short of collar and narrowing to a point between the mesocoxae ( Fig. 12H ). Metaventrum ( Fig. 12G ), metacoxae separated by half the width of the sclerite.

ABDOMEN. Pygidium ( Fig. 12E ).

FEMALE GENITALIA. Spermatheca globular, very small and difficult to detect ( Fig. 12B ).

MALE GENITALIA. Aedeagus large ( Fig. 12G ).

Figures

Fig. 12. Niptella gutta gen. et sp. nov. A. Habitus. B. Spermatheca. C. Aedeagus. D. Mentum and submentum ×860. E. Pygidium. F. Pronotum ×540. G. Meso- and metaventra ×470. H. Mesoventral keel ×1060.