Bibrax onorei sp. nov.

Figs 2 E, F, 3 A – D

Type material.

Holotype • ♂ (MECN -EN 40873): “ Ecuador: Cotopaxi, -0.4176, -79.0040, Bosque Integral Otonga, 13.VIII.2024, 2063 m, M. Caterino & A. Pazmiño, Sifted leaf litter ” / “ Caterino DNA voucher, Ext. MSC-12844, Morphosp. Ot.A.009 ” / “ MECN -EN 40873 ” . Paratypes (3 ♂, 5 ♀, same general locality as type) • 2: same data as type • 3: -0.4167, -79.0043, 2097 m • 1: -0.4192, -79.0031, 1966 m • 1: -0.4172, -79.0040, 2073 m • 1: -0.4169, -79.0042, 2086 m (MECN -EN 38587 -38593, 40897) .

Diagnosis.

BL = 1.10 mm (n = 3). Eyes of both sexes with single facet, head subquadrate posteriorly, with transverse basal ridge on vertex, prolonged in front of eyes; antennal base prolonged and narrowed anterad, antennal insertions swollen; antennal scape sinuate, narrowed to base and before apex, antennomere II (pedicel) slightly swollen, ~ 1.5 × as long as III (Fig. 3 A – C), III conical, IV – VIII bead-like, alternating slightly in size (IV, VI, VIII smaller), IX – XI forming club, X and XI more closely associated than IX with X; gular processes evident but not large; pronotum with anterior lobes rounded (Fig. 3 A), strongly constricted posteriorly; lateral longitudinal sulci conspicuous; median pronotal sulcus weak; elytra very short, together emarginate along posterior margin; dorsal elytral sulci short and weakly developed; abdominal paratergites with posterior corners angulate; male with visible abdominal ventrites 2–4 depressed medially (Fig. 3 D); male lacking modification of mesotibial apex. Aedeagus (Fig. 2 E, F) with short, broad basal bulb, with oval dorsobasal diaphragm, diaphragmatic sclerite indistinct; short digitiform process extending from left, middle edge of basal bulb; slightly longer, narrow apically quadrate process extending from medioventral margin; longest process extending out of middle of basal bulb (articulated), a well sclerotized, basally bent, apically narrowed and slightly sinuate blade, terminating in blunt and weakly tufted apex; dorsally an articulated, weakly sclerotized process extends over basal two-thirds of median blade.

Distribution.

This species is known only from the higher elevations of the Bosque Integral Otonga, in northern Cotopaxi province, Ecuador.

Remarks.

This species resembles several other new species described here, all of which differ considerably from any previously described ones. The species in this group ( B. bradleyi, B. aratrifer, B. longiventer, B. cerroblanco, B. canelazo, B. pectinifer, B. arachnoides, B. amasanga, and B. yasuni) share strongly reduced eyes and lack of wings in both sexes, a small, somewhat flattened body, strongly impressed lateral longitudinal pronotal sulci that set off distinct lateral pronotal lobes, and exhibit modified abdominal ventrites in the males (Fig. 3 D). It is principally in the latter characters (as well as marked differences in male genitalia (Fig. 2 E, F) that distinguish the species.

Etymology.

This species name honors Dr. Giovanni Onore, a pioneer of entomology in Ecuador, who facilitated the fieldwork and worked to protect the site that led to the discovery of this species.