Blakealtica fusca, Viswajyothi & Konstantinov, 2020

Viswajyothi, Keezhpattillam & Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2020, Blakealtica, a new genus of flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) from the Dominican Republic, ZooKeys 959, pp. 1-16 : 1

Blakealtica fusca sp. nov. Figures 1 , 2-5 , 6-8 , 9, 10 , 11-16 , 17-20 , 21-24

Description.

Body oblong, narrow, flat in lateral view, length 4.16-5.51 mm, width 1.72-2.27; thickness 1.18-1.51. General color dark yellowish to brown with light metallic blueish or pinkish tint. Elytra and pronotum same color. Vertex with punctures arranged in groups. Pronotal punctures large, and slightly deeper than those on vertex. Elytral punctures slightly larger and deeper than those on pronotum. Medial lobe of aedeagus in ventral view abruptly narrowing in basal third, widening towards middle and narrowing gradually to the apex, turning into narrow apex with a knob at it. In lateral view, median lobe bent at almost straight angle with knob pointing towards base. Large membranous slots on lateral view. Dorsal side of median lobe with large opening covered with two long lobes coming together along its length with a deep groove in between them. Vagina sclerotized apically in the shape of a dome, beyond which it is more membranous (Fig. 22 ). Spermathecal pump parallel sided, short, evenly rounded apically, slightly bent in lateral view. Spermathecal receptacle pear-shaped, sides symmetrical. Tignum widens abruptly anteriorly. Posteriorly, sclerotization merges with rest of sclerotized membrane.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the generally brownish color of the beetles. It is a singular, feminine adjective in a nominative case.

Type material examined.

Holotype female. 1) Dominican Republic, Zapoten, Villa Barroncolli, 16.XII 2014, 490 m, WP-520 18°17.886'N, 71°35.779'W Leg. N. Woodley; 2) Holotype Blakealtica fusca new species des. Konstantinov & Viswajyothi (USNM). Paratypes: 1) Dominican Republic, Zapoten, night coll. 14.XII 2014, 408 m, WP-520 18°17.886'N, 71°35.779'W Leg. A. Konstantinov; 2) Paratype Blakealtica fusca new species des. Konstantinov & Viswajyothi (2 males USNM). 1) Dominican Republic, Independencia Prov., PN Sierra de Baoruco, (S of Puerto Escondido) 1215-400m 18°16.035'N, 71°32.684'W, 15.VII.04, leg. A. Konstantinov; 2) Paratype Blakealtica fusca new species des. Konstantinov & Viswajyothi (1 male USNM). 1) Dominican Rep.: Prov. Barahona, nr. Filipinas, Larimar mine, at light, 20-26-VI-1992 R. E. Woodruff & P. E. Skelley; 2) Paratype Blakealtica fusca new species des. Konstantinov & Viswajyothi (2 females, 1 male FSCA; 1 female MHND). The same label except for the dates, 26-VI-7-VII-1992 (4 females, 1 male FSCA).

Figures

Figure 1. Adult Blakealtica fusca, illustration by Linden Pederson.

Figures 2 - 5. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 2 Habitus, three-quarter view 3 habitus, lateral view 4 head, frontal view 5 head three-quarter view.

Figures 6 - 8. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 6 Pronotum 7 pronotum, three-quarter view 8 mesotergite.

Figures 9, 10. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 9 Metatergite 10 meso- and meta-sternites.

Figures 11 - 16. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 11 Labrum 12 labium 13 mandible 14 maxilla 15 hind leg 16 tip of hind tibia and hind tarsi.

Figures 17 - 20. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 17 Tip of middle tibia and middle tarsi 18 female abdomen 19 apical abdominal tergite 20 metendosternite.

Figures 21 - 24. Adult Blakealtica fusca. 21 Median lobe of aedeagus (ventral, lateral, and dorsal views) 22 vagina 23 spermatheca 24 tignum.