Paraminotella, Doeberl & Konstantinov, 2003

Döberl, Manfred & Konstantinov, Alexander, 2003, A New Genus of Flea Beetles from Nepal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (2), pp. 205-218 : 205-212

Paraminotella new genus

Description. Body small, length 1.40–1.69 mm, ovoid, relatively flat in lateral view ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Color black, brown or dark brown with lighter appendages.

Head ( Figs. 3–10 ) clearly hypognathous ( Fig. 2 ), slightly convex in lateral view. Frons and vertex form nearly straight or slightly convex line ( Figs. 4 , 8 ) in lateral view. Vertex smooth. Supraorbital pore surrounded by 5 setiferous pores, well developed, protruding dorsolaterally, surrounded by shallow grove which deepens on dorsolateral side of pore. Antennal calli as long as 1/3 of their width. Midfrontal and suprafrontal sulci poorly developed. Supraorbital and orbital sulci well developed. Supracallinal sulci vary. Subgenal suture well developed along base of

205

mandible. Orbit wide, slightly wider than transverse diameter of eye. Interantennal space more than twice as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket and less than twice as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Shape of frontal and anterofrontal ridges vary. Labrum with six setiferous pores. Mandible with five denticles. Sensilla patch of last maxillary palpomere longer than wide and consisting of four submerged sensillae ( Figs. 14, 15). Second antennomere almost as thick as first, thicker and longer than third. Fourth antennomere slightly shorter than fifth, fifth longer than sixth ( Figs. 11–13 ). Tenth antennomere 1.4 times longer than wide.

Pronotum ( Figs. 16–18 ) nearly 1.3 times wider than long, without impressions, sides weakly rounded and narrowly explanated. Lateral sides nearly straight and parallel to each other at basal two thirds, converging abruptly at apical one third. Anterolateral callosity well developed, varying in shape. Posterolateral callosity not protruding. Anterolateral callosity as long as or slightly less

6) frontolateral view.

than 1/3 of lateral margin (including callosity). Anterior coxal cavity open. Intercoxal prosternal process narrow in middle widening apically with apex bidentate, exceeding coxa in length. Distance between proximal part of prosternum to coxal cavity less than 1/3 of length from proximal part of prosternum to end of intercoxal prosternal process ( Fig. 19 ).

Elytron without humeral callus, with maximum width nearly in middle, lacking striae. Elytral apex broadly rounded. Epipleura nearly vertical, reaches sutural margin of elytron. Lateral margin of elytron delimiting epipleura dorsolaterally, continues only laterally, absent along apical margin of elytron. Lateral margin of elytron visible from above only near pronotum ( Fig. 1 ). Mesoscutellum triangular, broader than long ( Fig. 21 ). Mesosternum shorter than longitudinal diameter of mesocoxal cavity. Mesosternal intercoxal process wider than prosternal intercoxal process, concave on top. Mesendosternite wide at base abruptly narrowing apically, not connecting with mesepisternomeral ridge ( Fig. 20 ). Metanotum simplified, allocrista situated nearly in middle of notum. Metascutum much larger than metascutellum. Several ridges of metanotum absent: a, e, and d ( Fig. 21 ). Metasternum almost as short as mesosternum. Metendosternite with stalk wider than long ( Fig. 20 ).

Pro- and mesotibiae without apical spine. First protarsomere in male wider than in female, with oval depression ventrally covered with mushroom shaped setae ( Figs. 32, 33 ). Metatibia

10) frontolateral view.

( Figs. 26–28 , 30, 31 , 34, 35 ) nearly cylindrical, apical 1/6 flattened, with prominent callosity in lateral view. Apical spur longer than tarsal claw. Metatibia 2.4 times as long as first metatarsomere. Latter cylindrical, ventral side covered with long and thin setae of same shape as on dorsal ride. Third metatarsomere entire ( Figs. 27, 28 ).

Abdomen with five distinct sternites ( Figs. 22, 23 ). Apical abdominal sternite short, nearly parallel-sided, with two appendages basally. Tergite five of female evenly covered with long setae, without groove in middle ( Figs. 24, 25 ).

Spermatheca (Figs. 37, 40) with receptacle longer and wider than pump. Receptacle with internal side convex and external side concave. Duct with coils. Tignum (Figs. 39, 41) straight, slightly widening anteriorly, with arrow-head shaped sclerotization posteriorly. Vaginal palpus (Figs. 36, 38) slightly narrowing posteriorly, with anterior sclerotization wider than posterior.

Median lobe ( Figs. 42–45 ) relatively robust, simple in shape, slightly convex in lateral view, with shallow impression ventrally, without membranous window.

Type Species. Paraminotella nepalensis ( Döberl, 1991) new combination.

Etymology. This feminine generic name reflects the morphological similarity of the new genus with Paraminota .

Comments. Paraminotella is similar to Paraminota in which P. nepalensis was originally described. However at this point it is premature to say that Paraminota is a sister taxon to Paraminotella . We think that their similarities are due to convergent reduction of wings and related structures. Several important characters separate

13) Paraminotella nepalensis female.

Paraminotella from Paraminota : first metatarsomere only slightly less than half length of tibia; third metatarsomere entire (in Paraminota it is divided into two abruptly narrowing lobes); spermathecal duct with coils; supraantennal sulcus present; apical abdominal tergite without groove in middle; apical abdominal sternite shorter, nearly parallel sided, with two appendages basally; posterior part of vaginal palpus narrower than anterior. These characters usually differ from genus to genus among other flea beetle. Removal of P. nepalensis from Paraminota and proposal of Paraminotella creates two possibly monophyletic, consistent genera which makes generic classification of flea beetles less contradictory.

Paraminotella nepalensis (Döberl) new combination ( Figs. 7–10 , 13 , 18 , 23, 25 , 34, 35 , 43–45 )

Paraminota nepalensis Döberl, 1991:629 (type locality: Central Nepal, prov. Bagmati, Yangri Ridge , holotype (MHNG) examined).

Description. Body length 1.69–1.75 mm width 0.91–1.13 mm. Color red-brown, dorsal side with weak metallic gloss. Legs including coxae and antennae lighter reddish-brown, metafemur slightly darker.

Head smooth. Supracallinal sulcus present. Frontal ridge below antennal sockets narrower than in between them. Anterofrontal ridge absent. Proportions of antennal segments as follows: 12:9:6:9:10:9:9:9:10:10:16.

Pronotum with maximum width near middle, finely and uniformly punctured. Anterolateral callosity of pronotum evenly oval, only twice longer than wide.

Median lobe of aedeagus parallel sided above base, without denticle on clearly triangular apex. Ventral groove gradually narrowing toward base, not widening in front of it. Median lobe narrow near base, gradually narrowing apically with apex bent dorsally.

Spermathecal receptacle well separated from pump, with maximum width in middle. Basal part of duct following in direction of receptacle short. Duct making one incomplete coil. Horizontal part of pump separated from vertical, with denticle bent towards receptacle.

Type Material Examined. Holotype #. Labels: 1) Nepal (Prov. Bagmati), Yangri Ridge , 4,350 m, 22.IV.81, Löbl-Smetana; 2 ) Holotypus Paraminota nepalensis Döberl, 1990 ( MHNG) . Paratypes 3 #, 2. $, same labels as holotype.

Material Examined. Nepal. Lantang Nat. Park , Chandanbari 28804.74 N, 85820.77 E 2. V .2000, 3,250 –3,500 m, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh (# USNM) ; Nepal. Lantang Nat. Park , Lauribina 28805.25 N, 85823.37 E 4. V .2000, 3,850 m, low Rhododendron forest, moss sifting, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh (# USNM) ; Nepal: Jiri reg. 10. V .2000, Shivalaya-Deorali , 1,770 –2,710 m, 27835.51 N, 86819.59 E, forest, small valley with stream, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh (# USNM) .

Comments. The type specimens were collected exactly at the same place as the type specimens of Paraminota minima Scherer ; however, these taxa are not congeneric. The three males collected in Nepal in spring of 2000 were identified as P. nepalensis although their median lobes differ from that of the holotype of this species. The median lobes of these specimens exhibit significant variability in proportions and shape ( Figs. 43–45 ), especially between the specimens from Lantang and Jiri regions. The ventral groove of the median lobe in the specimen from Lantang is much shorter than that in the holotype. The specimen collected in Jiri has the shortest groove, less than half of the median lobe length.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Paraminotella nigrita, habitus. 1) dorsal view; 2) lateral view.

Figs. 3–6. Paraminotella nigrita, head. 3) frontal view; 4) lateral view; 5) ventral view;

Figs. 7–10. Paraminotella nepalensis, head. 7) frontal view; 8) lateral view; 9) ventral view;

Figs. 11–13. Antennae. 11) Paraminotella nigrita male; 12) Paraminotella nigrita female;

Figs. 16–19. Thoracic structures. 16, 17, 19) Paraminotella nigrita. 16) pronotum, dorsal view; 17) pronotum lateral view; 18) Paraminotella nepalensis, anterolateral callosity of pronotum; 19) pro-, meso and metasternites, ventral view.

Figs. 20–21. Thoracic structures of Paraminotella nigrita. 20) meso- and metasternites, dorsal view; 21) meso- and metatergites, dorsal view.

Figs. 30–33. Paraminotella nigrita male. 30, 31) metatibia; 32, 33) ventral surface of first protarsomere.

Figs. 26–29. Paraminotella nigrita female. 26–28) hind leg; 29) apex of protibia and protasi.

Figs. 34–35. Paraminotella nepalensis female, leg.

Figs. 22–25. Abdomen of female. 22, 24) Paraminotella nigrita; 23, 25) Paraminotella nepalensis; 22, 23) sternites; 24, 25) last two tergites.

Figs. 42–45. Median lobe of aedeagus. 42) Paraminotella nigrita; 43–45) Paraminotella nepalensis; 43) holotype Yangri Ridge; 44) Lantang; 45) Jiri.