Akalyptoischion heterotrichos Hartley, Andrews & McHugh, 2008

Hartley, Christopher S., Andrews, Fred G. & Mchugh, Joseph V., 2007, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Genus Akalyptoischion Andrews (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 6) 61, pp. 1-50 : 35-36

Akalyptoischion heterotrichos Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species ( Fig. 34 , 53)

Etymology. Greek for ‘‘different hairs’’ referring to the mixture of erect and decumbent setae on the elytra.

Description. Length 0.95–1.15 mm. Width 0.30–0.35 mm. Body elongate, parallel sided, surface shining, uniformly dark reddish brown; densely setose; head narrower than anterior pronotum, sides straight, narrowing anteriorly; clypeus narrowing at 45u anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae small, deep, irregularly shaped, smaller than eyes; head setation dense, setae long and decumbent; head punctation sparse, irregular, more concentrated medially and at posterior margin; eyes slightly prominent with 4 facets; tempora lacking; hind angles rounded; clypeal fovea short, length of antennomere IV; labrum anterior margin very slightly emarginate; mandible apex sharply pointed with a large apical tooth and 3 small subapical serrations, prostheca long; antennae with a 2- segmented club; antennae reach posterior 1/3 of pronotum; antennomere I wider than long, subglobular, slightly irregular, II elongate oval, III small, subglobular, IV slightly elongate, sides arcuate, V–IX submonilliform, X–XI form club, X globular, XI elongate, larger than X, subrectangular.

Pronotum widest anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, lateral margin arcuate, converging posteriorly; lateral margin explanate, explanate sides growing shorter posteriorly, with,10 small tubercles each bearing a long, strongly curved seta; median 3/4 raised, evenly setose, setae long and decumbent; pronotal foveae shallow, subcircular; pronotal punctation sparse, most concentrated anteriorly.

Elytra parallel sided, lateral flange weak, present in anterior 1/3 only; 6 striae; strial punctures large; humeral angle rounded; strial interspaces 3 and 5 slightly raised; long decumbent setae present on every interspace, interspaces 1, 3, 5, and lateral margin also with very long, erect setae interspersed between decumbent setae, setae usually stouter near elytral apex; epipleuron complete, narrowing posteriorly.

Ventral surface evenly setose; submental fovea length of antennomere IV, with several large punctures and scattered micropunctures; ventral head punctation sparse but even over entire head; gular punctation sparse but even; prosternum sparsely punctate; mesosternum without sharp carinae; metasternum with a distinct single fovea between and posterior to each mesocoxa, a small, inconspicuous fovea anterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; abdominal ventrite I with 2 circular foveae at anterior corners of intercoxal process, a large, deep, oval fovea posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; ventrites II–IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: label data: ‘‘CALIF: San Bernardino Co., 4 mi N Yucca Valley V-21-82 4,0009 K. W. Cooper 82-235,’’ ‘‘berlese Neotoma nest under Prunus’ ’ ( CDAE).

PARATYPES, USA, same data as holotype, 1 on slide (3, CDAE); ‘‘CALIF: San Bernardino Co., 4 mi N Yucca Valley V-21-82 4,0009 K. W. Cooper 82-235,’’ ‘‘berlese Neotoma nest under Prunus’ ’ (3, CDAE) .

Additional Material , ‘‘CALIF: San Bernardino Co. 4 mi. S Hesperia V-2-1978 K. W. Cooper berlese Neotoma nest-ceanothus 78-70’’ (1, CDAE) .

Remarks. The elytral setation of this species is unique in that it presents a type of setation in between typical erect and decumbent setae. The setae have much less body than typical erect setae, and some of the setae on the elytra of dried specimens may be erect but stongly recurved or deformed at their tips. In addition, the erect setae usually only occur in small patches with those to either side appearing decumbent. Specimens in alcohol show continuous rows of long, erect setae.

This species very closely resembles A. giulianii and A. sleeperi . It differs from A. giulianii in having a narrower head, larger eyes, and sparser setation on the head, thorax and abdomen. It differs from A. sleeperi in having longer setae, especially on the lateral margin of the pronotum and the elytra. Also, some of the setae on the elytra are erect whereas in A. sleeperi the setae are all decumbent.

Figures

Figs. 30–35. Akalyptoischion spp. head, dorsal view, SEM. 30) A. atrichos; 31) A. giulianii; 32) A. hadromorphus; 33) A. dyskritos; 34) A. heterotrichos; 35) A. tomeus.