Ptinella pygmaea, 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 : 253

Ptinella pygmaea sp. n.

( Figs 12 A–D)

Description

Habitus Fig. 12A, L . 0.67mm (L. including abdomen 0.88mm). Yellow, antennae and pubescence pale yellow. Head with short depressions posterior to antennal insertions. Eyes present, width across 0.24mm. Antennomeres III–XI L. 0.35mm. Mentum and prementum chaetotaxy as in Fig. 6I . Pronotum L. 0.18mm, W. 0.29mm, somewhat flattened, lateral margins sinuate before the rectangular hind angles, bordered, the border continuing along the posterior margin but effaced medially ( Fig. 12B ). Elytra L. 0.37mm, W. 0.32mm, truncate, chaetotaxy as in Fig. 10E . Mesoventrum ( Fig. 12D ), L. 0.13mm, reticulate, without pubescence, posterior margins rounded at lateral corners. Metaventrum ( Fig. 10D ), L. 0.14mm, reticulate and with sparse pubescence, distance between metacoxae 0.19mm. Brachypterous. ♀, spermatheca ( Fig. 12B ). ♂, not known.

Diagnosis: The globular form of the spermatheca distinguishes P. pygmaea from the other Ugandan Ptinella species.

Etymology: The name refers to the insect’s small size.

Material examined

Holotype, ♀, UGANDA, Makerere University College Farm , 12 miles N. Kampala, 0°28′N, 32°37′E, xii.1964 –v.65, leg. W.C. Block, B.M. 1978-472 ( BMNH).

Figures

Fig. 12. — Ptinella pygmaea sp. n. A, habitus; B, spermatheca; C, pronotum ×630; D, meso- and metaventra ×520.

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.

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