Ptinella katyae, Darby, 2019

Darby, Michael, 2019, Studies of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) in the Spirit Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, 6: New species and records collected by W. C. Block in Kenya and Uganda, 1964 - 1965, Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 155, pp. 239-257 : 252

Ptinella katyae sp. n.

( Figs 10 A–E)

Description

Habitus Fig. 10A, L . 0.64mm. Yellow, antennae and pubescence pale yellow. Eyes reduced to points, width across 0.22mm. Antennomeres III–XI L. 0.29mm. Mentum and prementum chaetotaxy as in Fig. 6I . Pronotum L. 0.19mm, W. 0.29mm, broad, with two broad depressions in the posterior half, lateral margins strongly sinuate before the acute hind angles ( Fig. 10B ). Elytra L. 0.35mm W. 0.30mm, truncate, shallowly foveolate, chaetotaxy and cells ( Fig. 10E ). Proventrum, mesocoxae adjacent. Mesoventrum ( Fig. 10D ), L. 0.12mm, reticulate, without pubescence. posterior margins rounded at lateral corners. Metaventrum ( Fig. 10D ), L. 0.13mm, distance between metacoxae 0.11mm. ♀, spermatheca ( Fig. 10B ). ♂, not known.

Remarks: Holotype and three paratypes without eyes and wings, one paratype with eyes and brachypterous.

Diagnosis: The small size and form of the spermatheca distinguish the species.

Etymology: Named after Katy Potts my colleague in the Coleoptera Section of the Natural History Museum, London.

Material examined

Holotype, ♀, UGANDA: Katabana , 14 miles N. Kampala, 0°29′N, 32°37′E, litter in papyrus swamp, leg. W. C. Block, B. M. 1978-472 ( BMNH).

Paratypes, 2♀♀, same data as holotype, ( BMNH) ; 1♀, UGANDA: Kakira Sugar Estate , 6 miles E of Jinja, 0°30′N, 33°15′E, viii. 1965, leg. W.C. Block B.M. 1978-472 ( BMNH, mounted as a disarticulated slide) ; 1 ex., UGANDA: Mpanga Forest , 25 miles N. Kampala, 0°12′N, 32°17′E, ix. 1965, leg. W.C. Block, B.M. 1978-472 ( BMNH, mounted as a disarticulated slide) .

Figures

Fig. 10. — Ptinella katyae sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, pronotum ×595; D, meso- and metaventra ×445; E, elytral chaetotaxy ×1100.

Fig. 6. — Nelloptodes blocki sp. n.. A, habitus; B, aedeagus; Ca, Cb, spermathecae; D, terminal abdominal tergites and ventrites showing position of spermatheca and lack of claws; E, pronotum ×400; F, meso- and metaventra ×470; G, terminal abdominal ventrites ×600; H, proventrum ×470; I, mentum and prementum ×840.