Andersonoplatus andersoni, Linzmeier, Adelita M. & Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2018

Linzmeier, Adelita M. & Konstantinov, Alexander S., 2018, Andersonoplatus, a new, remarkable leaf litter inhabiting genus of Monoplatina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), ZooKeys 744, pp. 79-138 : 81-84

Andersonoplatus andersoni sp. n. Figs 1, 2

Description.

Body length 2.43-3.02 mm, width 1.24-1.72 mm, pronotum and elytra with sparse, semi-erect hairs, shiny, moderately convex in lateral view. Color pale brown to dark brown.

Head (Fig. 1D): slightly convex in lateral view, generally smooth with fine reticulation and few punctures of different size and shape above antennal callus, gena shiny, with few sparse punctures and sparse pilosity. Frons and vertex forming almost a 135° angle in lateral view. Antennal callus delineate from vertex by deep and straight supracallinal sulcus. Antennal callus elevated above vertex; surface even, with no or two punctures, if bearing setae, they are short. Orbital sulcus deep. Supraorbital sulcus represented by few deep punctures near antennal socket, absent near supracallinal sulcus. Supraorbital and supracallinal sulci not connected. Suprafrontal sulcus shallow. Frontolateral sulcus deep. Frontogenal suture deep. Frontal ridge short and narrow, widest in middle. Anterofrontal ridge long, relatively tall, oblique. Antennae filiform. The last five antennomeres slightly wider and shorter than antennomeres III-VI; antennomere II shortest.

Thorax: pronotum (Fig. 1A, B) much narrower than elytra, notched laterally near middle. Anterior margin straight, wider than posterior, posterior margin nearly straight, lateral margin slightly sinuated. Surface reticulated, granulated, with very short and sparse pilosity and two vague impressions below middle, sparsely covered with variously defined punctures, diameter of which smaller than distance between punctures. Prosternal surface densely punctate. Elytra fused. Elytral surface shiny, with sparse, white, semi-erect hairs. Punctures (Fig. 1A) forming nine striae, ninth stria merge with marginal one. Interspaces convex. Punctures at base of fifth and sixth striae deeper than other having fold-like appearance. Second and third striae not reaching elytral base. Epipleura nearly vertical. Metafemur longer than wide and 1.46 times longer than metatibia. Claws appendiculate and long.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2F): median lobe simple, convex in lateral view; in ventral view, with lateral margins lightly concave, apex subtriangular, slightly protruding, and rounded on top. Ventral side with shallow longitudinal impression bottom of which covered with transverse wrinkles, sides of impression not forming ridges. Basal part long and bent ventrally in lateral view.

Female genitalia (Fig. 2 A–E): eighth tergite with rounded posterior margin, more sclerotized laterally, bearing many moderately long setae (Fig. 2D). Tignum long, narrow, with central canal; posterior area broad, truncate; anterior area spatulate (Fig. 2C). Vaginal palpi elongate, basally strongly sclerotized, each with approximately eight setae at apex (Fig. 2B). Palpi rounded at apex, enlarged at last third but thinned at apex, situated close together and merged anteriorly for more than half of their length. Spermatheca curved, with receptacle and pump not differentiated from each other. Apex of pump with spoon-like projection. Spermathecal duct long, widest at base, without coils, making relatively long loop (Fig. 2E).

Type material.

Holotype, ♂. VENEZUELA: Trujillo/ camino viejo a Trujillo, Paramo/ La Cristalina, km 9.7, 2400m/ 09°21'21"N, 70°17'51"W / 20.V.1998-022F/ R.Anderson, elfin for. Litter (MIZA). Paratypes (7♂ 4♀ USNM). (2♂ USNM) same label as holotype except: (1♂ USNM) “022A”; (3♂1♀ CMNC) “022E”; (1♂3♀ USNM) “022J”.

Etymology.

We name this species after R. Anderson. Regardless how many taxa we name after him, his remarkable discoveries of leaf litter flea beetles in the New World would warrant many more.

Differential diagnosis.

Andersonoplatus andersoni is similar to A. sanare but can be differentiated from it based on the following characters: ventral side of median lobe with shallow longitudinal impression bottom of which covered with transverse wrinkles (Fig. 2F) and spermathecal duct making relatively long loop (Fig. 2E). In A. sanare : ventral side of median lobe without longitudinal impression (Fig. 33A) and spermathecal duct making relatively short loop (Fig. 33E).