Ptenidium (Peruvium) tauriforme, Darby, 2020

Darby, Michael, 2020, Eight new species of Ptenidiini and Discheramocephalini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Ecuador, European Journal of Taxonomy 599, pp. 1-19 : 6-8

Ptenidium (Peruvium) tauriforme sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E697F71F-1EC8-48DD-BD38-C96C486EB8A7

Fig. 3 A–G

Etymology

After the Latin adjective tauriformis, meaning bull-like and referring to the tuberosities on the head.

Material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR • ♂; Napo, Cosanga, Camp ; 2100 m a.s.l.; 9 Jul. 2017; droplet; J. McClarin leg.; QCAZM.

Description

SIZE. Habitus length 1.25 mm ( Fig. 3A ). COLOUR. Dark brown/black, shining, appearing polished, glabrous, legs and antennae dusky yellow/ brown.

HEAD. Setose, with two rounded tuberosities at base and short median raised ridge anterior to these ( Fig. 3G ), width across eyes 0.37 mm; antennomeres III–XI length 0.29 mm; mentum chaetotaxy unclear, sides rounded to anterior margin, prementum with 5–6 setae.

PRONOTUM. Length 0.38 mm, width 0.56 mm, sides evenly rounded, with tufts of hairs on corners of posterior margin ( Fig. 3C ), and without lateral setae and foveae on anterior and posterior margins.

ELYTRA. Length 0.80 mm, width 0.59 mm, widest just anterior to middle, tapering posteriad.

SCUTELLUM. Small, triangular, with short medial keel on anterior margin.

PROSTERNUM. Very narrow in front of procoxae, which are separated by long, narrow, parallel-sided keel ( Fig. 3E ).

MESOVENTRITE. Collar reticulate, with wide, shallowly tapering medial extension to mid-keel and keel, which are setose and rather flatter than in usual Ptenidium type ( Fig. 3F ), posterior margin turned sharply posteriad at humeri; mesoventrite posterior margin evenly rounded to small tooth at humeri.

METAVENTRITE. Length 0.22 mm, width 0.50 mm, disc simple, with scattered pubescence, metepisternal sutures not visible, posterior margin between metacoxae straight, length 0.13 mm, coxae without coxal plates.

WINGS. Of usual ptiliid type.

MALE GENITALIA. Aedeagus ( Figs 3 Ba–Bb).

FEMALE GENITALIA. Not known.

Remarks

The naming of this species on the basis of a single specimen is justified by the distinctive sculpture of the head and particularly by the form of the mesoventrite collar, both of which are unlike in any other Ptenidium spp. described to date.

Figures

Fig. 3. Ptenidium tauriforme sp. nov. A. Habitus. B. Dorsal (Ba) and lateral (Bb) views of the aedeagus. C. Tuft of setae at the posterior angle of the pronotum ×835. D. Venter ×260. E. Prosternum showing keel between the procoxae ×810. F. Mesoventrite collar and keel ×455. G. Head showing tuberosities ×460.