Scirtes goliai, Epler, 2012

Epler, J. H., 2012, A new species of Scirtes (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) from southern Florida and the Caribbean, Zootaxa 3530, pp. 77-82 : 78-81

Scirtes goliai sp. nov.

Scirtes sp. 1 Epler 2010 : 16.22, 16.23.

Diagnosis. The small size, oblong habitus, brown coloration, laminate prosternum and distinctive genitalia distinguish this species from any other described Western Hemisphere Scirtes .

Type material. Holotype: male, “CAYMAN: Grand Cayman, N 19˚21.074, W 81˚05.727, 4 June 2008, R. Turnbow”. Holotype deposited in FSCA.

Paratypes: BAHAMAS: Andros Is. Behring Point , 24-vii-2006, M.C. Thomas, beating vegetation, 1 male ( FSCA) ; Great Inagua, north coast road N21.10813, W 73.60196, 13-vii-2007, blacklight trap in mature mangrove forest, Thomas, Turnbow & Smith, 9 males ( FSCA) ; Great Inagua, 2–3 mi. N Salt Pond Hill , 14-vii-2007, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow & Smith, 2 males, 1 female ( FSCA) ; Great Inagua, vic. Middle Point , blacklight trap in mangrove forest, 15-vii-2007, Thomas, Turnbow & Smith, 2 females ( FSCA) . CAYMAN ISLANDS: same data as holotype, 2 males ( FSCA) ; Grand Cayman, Georgetown, 2 June 2008, R. Turnbow, 1 male ( FSCA) ; Grand Cayman , BWI , West Bay, 17 Jan 1966, E.J. Gerberg, 1 male ( FSCA) ; Grand Cayman Island , 10-ix-1989, P. Fitzgerald, blacklight trap, 1 female ( FSCA) ; Grand Cayman , 14-ii-1992, black light trap, P. Fitzgerald 16235, 1 female [ventrites and genitalia slide mounted] ( FSCA) ; Cayman Is., Grand Cayman , vi-1992, P. Fitzgerald, blacklight trap, 1 female [genitalia slide mounted] ( FSCA) . U.S.A.: Florida, Miami-Dade Co., Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock , “beating”, August 21, 2004, leg. V. Golia, 1 male ( JHE) ; Miami-Dade Co., Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock , “night sweeping”, Aug 23 2007, leg. Vince Golia, 2 males [both dissected and slide mounted] ( JHE) ; Monroe Co., Plantation Key, Route 1, June 20, 1984, “beating mangroves”, Vince Golia, 1 male ( JHE) ; Monroe Co., unnamed salt pond at Roosevelt Blvd , N 24˚33’10.04”, W -81˚45’34.56”, UV pan trap, 13-vi- 2009, leg. Dana R. Denson, 1 male [dissected and slide mounted] ( JHE) .

Description. Male. Body oblong, slightly convex dorsally, head, pronotum and elytra covered with pale suberect setae ( Fig. 1); venter and legs mostly covered with pale setae that are shorter and sparser than dorsal setae. Coloration of body light to dark brown, pronotal margins sometimes lighter; antennomere 1 light brown, 2–3 stramineous, 4–11 light brown to brown; maxillary and labial palpi stramineous to light brown; venter and femora light brown to brown, with femoral apices paler; tibiae and tarsi light brown.

Measurements, in mm (n=5): HW 0.72–0.76, 0.73; HL 0.40–0.52, 0.49; DBE 0.42–0.46, 0.44; PW 1.02–1.10, 1.05; PL 0.44–0.50, 0.46; PW/PL 2.13–2.36, 2.26; EL 1.80–1.95, 1.86; EW 1.35–1.40, 1.36; EL/EW 1.30–1.41, 1.37; TL 2.19–2.45, 2.34. Ratio of length/width of antennomeres 1–11 (n=1): 2.17; 1.60; 2.67; 2.50; 2.50; 2.50; 2.50; 2.25; 2.25; 2.25; 3.00.

Head ( Fig. 2) with eyes of moderate size, distance between eyes about three times width of one eye; clypeus expanded laterally, emarginate anteromedially. Antennae ( Fig. 3) extend to approximate proximal third of elytra, antennomere 3 much smaller than all other antennomeres. Mandibles ( Fig. 4) symmetrical, without inner teeth/ denticles, pointed apically; maxilla ( Fig. 5) with elongate galea bearing brush of broader lamellate setae, lacinia with inner brush of setae; labial palpomeres 1 and 2 subequal, 2 arising at approximate middle of 1 ( Fig. 6). Pronotum with anterior margin mostly straight medially, broadly U-shaped, curving out to anterior angle at approximately 40˚, anterolateral and posterolateral angles approximately 90˚; lateral margin gently curved, posterior margin very weakly bisinuate. Scutellum small, triangular, slightly wider (0.20 mm) than long (0.16 mm), punctation as on pronotum and elytra. Elytra oblong, with moderately developed humeri, anterior 1/3 of elytra moderately explanate. Hind tibial spurs well developed, slightly curved, with dorsal spur 2.5 times as long as ventral spur, about 0.06 as long as hind tarsomere 1. Prosternum lamellate, extending to or slightly past ventral margins of coxae. Ventrites II–VII ( Fig. 7) setose, II with anteromedial area of shorter setae with bare area posterior and lateral to it, with longer setae lateral to bare area; setae sparser on II and III, more abundant and longer on IV–VIII; VII with shallowly emarginate posterior margin. Ventrites IV–VI with basal transverse row of setae with dark alveoli (visible only on slide mounted specimens), (n=3): IV with 28–39, 24; V with 15–31, 22; VI with 7–16, 12 darkened alveoli. Tergite VIII ( Fig. 10) moderately sclerotized, with numerous setae on and before posterior margin, with well developed long apodemes; tergite IX ( Fig. 11) weakly sclerotized, bearing only minute setae, with well developed long apodemes. Aedeagus symmetrical ( Figs. 8, 9), tegmen and penis apparently connected, both well sclerotized; tegmen with anteriorly and posteriorly pointing spinous projections; penis with spatulate apex.

Female. Similar in habitus, vestiture and coloration to male.

Measurements, in mm (n=5): HW 0.62–2072, 0.66; HL 0.38–0.48, 0.43; DBE 0.0.36–0.44, 0.40; PW 0.90–1.06, 0.97; PL 0.34–0.46, 0.396; PW/PL 2.30+2.72, 2.52; EL 1.70–2.05, 1.85; EW 1.25–1.40, 1.33; EL/EW 1.29–1.46, 1.39; TL 2.04–2.51, 2.24.

Ventrites IV–VI with basal transverse row of setae with dark alveoli (visible only on slide mounted specimens), (n=1): IV with 27; V with 13; VI with 6 darkened alveoli. Prehensor ( Fig. 12) poorly sclerotized.

Etymology. The species is named for Mr. Vince Golia, Lake Worth, Florida, who collected some of the material and has made extensive material of Coleoptera and Heteroptera available to me. The name is a noun in the genitive case.