Bambara tortuosa, 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 : 8-9

Bambara tortuosa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:48770DC0-FE16-4AE6-B7A5-37A6E21EFB4C

Fig. 3B, E, G

Diagnosis

Determined by the form of the spermatheca which can only be confused with B. subtortuosa sp. nov. (see below), but the ‘corkscrew’ in that species is smaller and the coils arranged differently.

Etymology

Name recognises the corkscrew-like appearance of part of the spermathecal duct.

Type material

Holotype MALAYSIA-BORNEO • ♀; Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park ; 200 m a.s.l.; 1978; N. M. Collins, BM leg.; limestone forest pitfalls; BMNH .

Paratypes

MALAYSIA-BORNEO • 4 specs; Sarawak; 100–500 m a.s.l.; 26 Apr. 1978; I. Hanski leg., BM 1978- 524 ; pitfall trap fish bait, MD forest; BMNH • 1 spec. (mounted disarticulated on the slide); same data as for preceding but slope 17-21; 500–800 m a.s.l.; Mar.–May 1978; BMNH • 3 specs (2 dissected and mounted disarticulated on the slides); Sarawak, 4 th division, Gunung Mulu National Park ; ca 150 m a.s.l.; Mar.–May 1978; I. Hanski leg., BM 1978-524 ; pitfall trap fish bait, kerangas extra; BMNH • 1 spec.; Sarawak, 4 th division, Gunung Mulu National Park ; May–Aug. 1978; P. M. Hammond and J. E. Marshall leg., BM 1978-49 ; all litter sample below comp. 1; BMNH .

Additional material 100+ examples determined by association from various collections on the Gunung Mulu National Park including the above, retained in alcohol.

Description

SIZE. Habitus ( Fig. 3B ), length 0.64 mm.

COLOUR. Yellow brown species, closely covered with short yellow pubescence, dorsal surface clearly reticulate Antennae very pale yellow almost translucent, antennomeres III–XI, length 0.23 mm.

HEAD. Eyes small not prominent, distance across eyes 0.21 mm.

PRONOTUM. Length 0.17 mm, width 0.31 mm, hind corners not projected rearwards in dorsal view.

ELYTRA. Length 0.38 mm, width 0.34 mm.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Spermatheca robust with part of the coils in the form of a corkscrew ( Fig. 3 Ea–Eb).

MALE GENITALIA. Aedeagus ( Fig. 3G ).

Remarks

The commonest species in the Gunung Mulu National Park.

Figures

Fig. 3. A–C. Bambara spp., habitus. A. B. hammondi sp. nov. B. B. tortuosa sp. nov. C. B. subtortuosa sp. nov. D–F. Bambara spp., spermathecae. D. B. hammondi sp. nov. Ea–Eb. B. tortuosa sp. nov. Fa– Fb. B. subtortuosa sp. nov. G. Bambara tortuosa sp. nov., aedeagus.