Acrotrichis barclayi, Darby, Michael, 2014

Darby, Michael, 2014, Studies of Madagascan Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 3: The genus Acrotrichis including twenty seven new species, Zootaxa 3866 (2), pp. 151-201 : 164

Acrotrichis barclayi sp. n.

( Figs. 2 A, 2I, 6A–K)

Habitus Fig. 6A . Length 1.39 mm. Colour blackish, antennae and legs brownish yellow, antennomeres 1–2 appearing darker. Antennomeres 3–11 very long and narrow Fig. 6 C. Width across eyes 0.50 mm. Mentum and submentum chaetotaxy Fig. 6 I. Pronotum 0.89 mm wide, 0.53 mm long, sides evenly rounded not sinuate at hind angles Fig. 6 B, sculpture Fig. 2 A. Elytra 0.72 mm long, 0.84 mm wide, cells and puncturation Fig. 2 A. Mesoventral keel with a median, posteriorly directed projection Fig. 6 F, shoulders rounded, lateral margins short Fig. 6 J. Metaventral posterior margin and metacoxal plates Fig. 6 E.

Male: ventrite six with four spines Fig. 6 H; ventrite seven Fig. 6 G; aedeagus Fig. 6 D.

Female: spermatheca Fig. 6 E.

Etymology. I am pleased to name this species after Maxwell Barclay, Curator and Collection Manager, Entomology: Coleoptera and Hemiptera at the BMNH without whose encouragement and help this research would not have been possible.

Remarks. The very large size, long and thin antennae and the form of the mesoventral collar will quickly distinguish this species from all others except superbioides from which it may be separated by its larger, broader form and the shallower curvature of the pronotal sides.

Type data. Holotype: ♀, Ranomafana N.P., sifting, S.21˚14’51” E.47˚24’13”, 1079m, 16–18.xi.2010, P. Banar ( BMNH). Paratypes: 1♀, Perinet, 15.iv.1969, forest of transition, 928m, leg. H. Franz (MM); 44 examples, Ranomafana N.P., RNF/06/2011, sifting litter in ravine along road, S.21˚14’51.8” E.47˚24’12.1”, 1065 m, 14.iv.2011, P. Banar ( BMNH); 1 ♀, Ranomafana, Talatakely, malaise trap, S.21˚.26’ E.47˚42’, 1000 m 4–7.xii. 2004, D.Lees et al. ( BMNH); 18 examples, Ranomafana N.P., Vatoharanana RNF Sept 2012/09 GPS 209, sifting litter, Winkler app. extraction. S.21˚16’59.7” E.47˚25’.30.3”, 1126m, 5.x.2012, L.S.Rahanitriniaina ( BMNH); Ankarafantsika N.P., AKF/05/2011, sifting forest litter, Winkler app. extr. S.16˚18’05.1” E.46˚49’08.3”, 89m, 23.iv.2011, L.S.Rahanitriniaina & R.Raveloson ( BMNH).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Skeletal features. A, A. barclayi, pronotum and scutellum / elytra x 465; B, A. exigua pronotum x 2480; C, A. truncata pronotum x 2220; D, A. exigua elytra x 4550; E, A. hammondi elytra x 2020; F, A. subafricana elytra x 2460; G, A. strenua metaventrum x 840; H, A. strenua mesoventrum x 840; I, A. barclayi, microtrichia on abdominal sclerites x 1640; J, A. subafricana, abdominal ventrites x 735; K, A. cuspida palisade fringe on abdominal sclerite x 1620; L, A. cuspida, spines on abdominalventrite 6 x 550.

FIGURE 6. A. barclayi. A, habitus; B, side of pronotum viewed at 45 ˚; C, antennomeres 3 – 11; D, aedeagus; E, spermatheca; F, mesoventral collar x 475; G, ventrite seven; H, ventrite six; I, mouthparts x 475; J, side of mesoventrum x 490; K, posterior margin of metaventrum and metacoxal plates x 480.