Andersonoplatus microoculus, 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 : 98

Andersonoplatus microoculus sp. n. Figs 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Description.

Body length 2.10-2.43 mm, width 0.97-1.18 mm, pronotum and elytra with sparse, semi-erect hairs, shiny, slightly flat in lateral view. Color light brown to almost black; antennae and legs yellow or at least lighter than rest of body.

Head (Figs 23D; 25F; 26A, B, C): flat in lateral view, generally smooth, vertex slightly reticulated; gena shiny, with very sparse pilosity. Antennal callus delimited from vertex by well-developed and straight supracallinal sulcus. Antennal callus elevated above vertex, surface even, with no or two punctures, if bearing setae, they are short. Orbital sulcus shallow. Supraorbital sulcus shallow almost connected with supracallinal sulcus. Suprafrontal sulcus shallow. Frontolateral sulcus absent. Frontogenal suture shallow. Orbit as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Interantennal space wider than transverse diameter of eye and wider than transverse diameter of antennal socket. Antennal socket rounded. Frontal ridge short, V-shaped. Anterofrontal ridge low, oblique. Eyes small, with approximately 12 large ommatidia. Antenna with the last five antennomeres moniliform, with denser and longer setae.

Thorax: pronotum (Fig. 25D, F) longer than wide, much narrower than elytra, notched at middle. Anterior margin nearly straight, wider than posterior; posterior margin slightly convex, lateral margin sinuated. Surface reticulated, with pilosity sparse. Post basal impression absent. Pronotal disc not raised. Scutellum very small and triangular. Prosternal surface reticulated. Prosternal intercoxal process thin in middle. Posterior end more than twice as wide as middle (Fig. 26C). Elytra fused. Elytral surface shiny, with short, white, semi-erect hairs. Punctures forming seven striae. Each punctation bears one very short setae (can be found some setae on the interestriae). Interspaces flat. Second and third striae reaching elytral base. Epipleura nearly vertical. Metafemur greatly enlarged, 1.95 times longer than metatibia. Metatarsomeres one and two similar in size, slightly longer than third. Claws slightly appendiculate and long (Fig. 27C, D).

Male genitalia (Fig. 24A): ventral side convex and shiny, without longitudinal impression, slightly flattened at apex; apical denticle well developed in ventral view, narrow, apex straight and not bent ventrally.

Female genitalia (Fig. 24 B–E): tignum long, narrow, slightly bent, with central canal; anterior sclerotization widening gradually with curved sides and convex apex, posterior sclerotization poorly delineated, narrow, as wide as anterior (Fig. 24B). Vaginal palpi elongate, basally strongly sclerotized, each with eight setae at apex (Fig. 24E). Palpi pointed 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 short, widest at base, without coils (Fig. 24C). Last abdominal sternite (Fig. 24D) evenly sclerotized with evenly placed setae.

Type material.

Holotype, ♂. VENEZUELA: Trujillo/ camino viejo a Trujillo, Paramo/ La Cristalina, km 9.7, 2400m/ 09°21'22"N, 70°17'51"W / 20.V.1998-022B/ R.Anderson, elfin for. Litter (MIZA). Paratypes (16♂ 7♀). (5♂1♀) same label as holotype except: (2♂4♀ USNM) “022D”; (3♂1♀ USNM) “022E”; (2♂1♀ CMNC) “022F”; (3♂ USNM) “022G”; (1♂ USNM) “022J”.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on relatively small eyes of the beetles.

Differential diagnosis.

Andersonoplatus microoculus can be identified by the small eyes, with approximately 12 large ommatidia (Figs 23B, D) and pronotum comparatively narrow (Fig. 23A).