Notomicrus sharpi J. Balfour-Browne, 1939

Manuel, Michael, 2015, The genus Notomicrus in Guadeloupe, with description of three new species (Coleoptera: Noteridae), Zootaxa 4018 (4), pp. 506-534 : 526-529

Notomicrus sharpi J. Balfour-Browne, 1939

Figs. 4 , 8 , 18–20 , 24 , 28 , 33–34 , 41–43 , 55–57 .

Notomicrus sharpi J. Balfour-Browne, 1939: 98 (replacement name for Notomicrus politus Sharp, 1882 ) Notomicrus politus Sharp, 1882b: 3 (preoccupied).

Type locality. Paraiso, Paso Antonio ( Guatemala).

Material examined. 2 exs ♂ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Port Louis, 16.XI.2012, Manuel leg., N16°25'10,7" / W61°31'15,6", Petit marais, à l'est de Port Louis”. 1 ex ♂ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Port Louis. 18.XI.2012, Manuel leg., N16°24'5,3" / W61°30'10,6", Mare assez boueuse et herbeuse, dans un pré qui borde la Ravine Gaschet (ruiss.), près N6”. 9 exs (dried-up mounted specimens: 3♂ 4♀, DNA-extracted voucher MM-NOT6, and one additional ethanol-preserved specimen), “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Sainte-Anne, 17.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°14'19" / W61°21'03.6", Ceinture dense d' Eleocharis au bord d'une mare”. 3 exs ♀ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Saint-François. 18.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°14'47" / W61°10'58.5", Pointe des Châteaux. Mare herbeuse et à characées”. 2 exs (1♂ 1♀) “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Saint-François, 18.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°14'47.5" / W61°10'56.3", Pointe des Châteaux, Mare sans vegetation”. 4 exs (1♂ 3♀) “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Port-Louis, 20.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°24'06" / W61°30'11", Mare près de la ravine Gaschet, dans un pré le long de la route N6”. 2 exs ♂ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Port-Louis. 20.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°24'03.7" / W61°30'09", Ravine Gaschet, au niv. du pont sur la N6”. 1 ex ♀ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Port-Louis, 20.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°24'04" / W61°30'9,5", Zone marécageuse à très grands roseaux, bordant la ravine Gaschet”. 3 exs ♂ “ Guadeloupe, Basse Terre, Sainte-Rose, 21.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°21'08" / W61°45'14.3", Etang du Vieux Fort, ext. est, sous palétuviers et avec bcp débris végétaux”. 23 exs (10♂ 13♀) “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Sainte-Anne. 23.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°15'25" / W61°24'41", Alt. 54m. Grands Fonds, Lieu-dit Pavillon, Mare à fd pierreux dans le lit d'une ravine”. 21 exs (7♂ 14♀) (including 3 gold-coated female specimens) “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Sainte-Anne. 23.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°15'26" / W61°24'38”, Alt. 53m. Grands Fonds; Lieu-dit Pavillon. Petites flaques à eau claire, à caractère de source, dans un vallon”. 4 exs ♀ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Sainte-Anne, 23.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°15'26" / W61°24'38", Alt. 54m, Grands Fonds, Lieu-dit Pavillon. Flaque à eau trouble et avec vég. dans le lit d'un ruisselet”. 1 ex ♂ “ Guadeloupe. Grande Terre. Port-Louis. 27.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°25'09" / W61°31'20", Flaques herbeuses au b. piste entre Port- Louis et Beauport, au mil. cannes à sucre”. 4 exs (2♂ 2♀) “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Anse-Bertrand, 27.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°30'09.4" / W61°28'25.4", Alt. 68m. Mare dans la Savane Desrosière”. 6 exs (1♂ 5♀) “ Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Grand-Bourg. 31.VIII.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N15°54'26.3" / W61°16'27.3", Alt. 153m., Lieu-dit St Marc, Mare dans un pré, portion sous arbres, sans roseaux”. 1 ex ♀ “ Guadeloupe, Grande Terre, Petit-Canal. 02.IX.2013, Manuel, Chaillié, Sabroux leg., N16°21'46" / W61°28'05.5", Lieu-dit Balin, Mare dans un pré à vaches”. ( CMM, MNHN, SEMC).

Description. The following description is based on examination of specimens from Guadeloupe listed above, and on information given by Young (1978). Only males are described until paragraph “Aedeagus” inclusively (distinctive features of females are mentioned in the corresponding paragraph).

Habitus ( Fig. 4 ) oblong-elongate, with lateral outline continuous between pronotum and elytron. Maximum body width anterior to midlength, at about anterior quarter of elytral length. Elytron sides very weakly curved in first third, then strongly converging to narrowly rounded apex. Pronotum broad and convex; with maximal width at posterior angles; with lateral outline weakly but regularly curved from posterior to anterior angle, strongly convergent anteriorly. Elytron strongly convex laterally and posteriorly; weakly convex in anterior half between discal series of punctures and elytral suture.

Colouration. Dorsal surface of head rufo-testaceous, with anterior region of clypeus paler. Pronotum testaceous, slightly infuscate along posterior margin. Elytra light testaceous-brown, paler towards apex. Ventral surface of head, prosternum, mesosternum, and elytral epipleura testaceous (latter darker along lateral margin); prosternal process and noterid platform light rufo-testaceous; metaventrite, outer laminae of metacoxae, abdominal ventrite I, II and VI darker rufo-testaceous; abdominal ventrites III–V rufous; suture between outer lamina of metacoxa and abdominal ventrite I dark brown. Antennae, palps and legs entirely testaceous.

Structures. Anterior clypeal margin without bead; outline widely rounded, straight (truncated) in middle. Eyes large relative to head capsule (ratio between maximum width of head and interocular distance about 1.85–1.9). Pronotal bead continuous from posterior to anterior angle, very narrow even in posterior half ( Fig. 8 ). Prosternal process with lanceolate blade regularly and broadly oval, with apex rounded; surface slightly convex; proximal two thirds with sides canaliculated along thick lateral bead; distal third without bead ( Fig. 24 ). Noterid platform with lateral outline straight, regularly divergent from proximal to distal extremity; apical lobes widely rounded; bead well-defined along lateral sides, inconspicuous along posterior border ( Fig. 28 ).

Sculpture and setation. Dorsal surface of head with finely impressed microreticulation; meshes polygonal on central region of front, strongly elongated transversally elsewhere; setigerous coarse punctures restricted to clypeal depressions and semi-circular series along inner eye margin; rest of head surface with micropunctures, rather dense on anterior head half, rare on posterior half. Pronotum with weakly impressed microreticulation; meshes small, on disk elongate in longitudinal direction; along anterior margin (before row of coarse punctures) meshes transverse. Anterior pronotal margin subtended by moderately dense series of coarse punctures (about half with a long seta), narrowly interrupted across midline; additional setigerous coarse punctures forming two symmetrical transverse series of 3 punctures sub-laterally, posterior to anterior row. Posterior pronotal margin subtended by very loose row of coarse setigerous punctures; rest of pronotal surface with moderately dense, rather strongly impressed micropunctures; additional coarse setigerous punctures present close to lateral margins ( Fig. 8 ). Pronotal bead with surface smooth ( Fig. 8 ). Elytral disk with weakly impressed microreticulation; meshes small, polygonal along suture, slightly oblique and asymmetric outside juxta-sutural area ( Figs. 18, 19 ). Elytra with discal series of coarse puncture well-defined, sparser in anterior fifth, with most punctures bearing long seta. Anterior half of elytra without coarse punctures between suture and discal series of punctures ( Fig. 18, 19 ), but with rather abundant micropunctures. Apex of elytra with meshes of microreticulation strongly transverse and with dense coarse setigerous punctures together with micropunctures ( Fig. 20 ). Prosternum with weakly impressed microreticulation, with coarse setigerous punctures towards midline ( Fig. 24 ). Lanceolate blade of prosternal process with surface entirely or partly ( Fig. 24 ) microreticulated; bead entirely smooth; surface of lanceolate blade of prosternal process with a few coarse punctures and some additional smaller punctures. Surface of metaventrite entirely with weakly impressed microreticulation; with one group of coarse setigerous punctures present on each side before lateral margins of platform. Noterid platform entirely microreticulated ( Fig. 28 ); with a few setigerous punctures along lateral bead, and two symmetrical groups of two setigerous punctures at distal extremity close to midline; rest of noterid platform surface without punctures. Outer laminae of metacoxae and lateral parts of metaventrite with rather strongly impressed microreticulation of elongate and obliquely-oriented meshes, without punctures.

Appendages. Antennae rather short; antennomeres V–X slightly longer than wide ( Fig. 4 ). Protarsi not conspicuously enlarged. Protarsal claws ( Fig. 33 ) extremely unequal; in frontal view anterior claw much thicker than posterior claw; in lateral view anterior claw about 1.5 time longer than posterior claw; anterior claw enlarged at base and regularly bent; posterior claw very thin and almost straight. Anterior mesotarsal claw distinctly longer than posterior one ( Fig. 34 ), in lateral view wider.

Aedeagus. Median lobe very distinctive, strongly laterally compressed, in lateral view with constriction about halfway from basal piece to apex, and prominent thin tooth on ventral side below constriction ( Fig. 41 ); left paramere as in Fig. 42 ; right paramere as in Fig. 43 .

Measurements. According to Young (1978): TL = 1.2–1.4 mm, MW = 0.6–0.64 mm. This study: TL = 1.27– 1.41 mm (1.35 ± 0.03), TL without head = 1.15–1.30 mm (1.23 ± 0.04), MW = 0.60–0.68 mm (0.65 ± 0.02), TL/ MW = 2.02–2.17 (2.08 ± 0.03).

Females. Abdominal ventrite VI microreticulated, with meshes rather strongly impressed and very narrowly transverse; posterior margin with very thin bead. Protarsal and mesotarsal claws small, thin and very slightly unequal (anterior claw perceptibly longer). Genitalia and spermathecal complex as in Figs. 55–57 .

Variation. Negligible for specimens examined in this study (all from Guadeloupe).

Differential diagnosis. This species is easily recognised by its small size, narrow body shape, rather pale dorsal and ventral colour, feebly impressed microreticulation, and most of all, by the very distinctive shapes of male protarsal and mesotarsal claws and median lobe of aedeagus.

Habitat. In Guadeloupe, this species is strictly restricted to the lowlands, where it is common in standing waters of any kind, from small temporary ditches or larger ponds with no vegetation and a mineral substratum of clay or gravel, to densely vegetated and mature ponds and marshes with deep accumulation of organic substratum on margins (see Figs. 66–70). It seems to have a preference for open environments.

Distribution. Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe (new record), Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA (Florida), Virgin Islands.

Within the Guadeloupe archipelago, a very common species in the lowlands of Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre and Marie-Galante; absent from the Basse-Terre forest (see collecting sites plotted on Fig. 71 ).

Figures

FIGURE 71. Distribution map of records from this study for Notomicrus species in Guadeloupe. 1: N. sabrouxi sp. n.; 2: N. chailliei sp. n.; 3: N. femineus sp. n.; 4: N. sharpi. Due to scale of the map, most dots correspond to several collecting sites. Grey colour: forest.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Habitus of (1) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (holotype, male), (2) N. chailliei sp. n. (holotype, male), (3) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype, female), (4) N. sharpi (male specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). All specimens shown at same scale (scale bar: 500 µm).

FIGURES 5 – 8. SEM pictures of lateral pronotum region in (5) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype, female), (6) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype, female), (7) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype, female from Houëlmont hill, Basse-Terre), (8) N. sharpi (female specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). Scale bars: 50 µm.

FIGURES 9 – 20. SEM views of surface sculpture on the right elytron of (9 – 11) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype, female), (12 – 14) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype, female), (15 – 17) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype, female from Houëlmont hill, Basse-Terre), (18 – 20) N. sharpi (female specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). (9, 12, 15, 18) View towards first quarter of elytral length, with suture on the left and discal series of punctures on the right; (10, 13, 16, 19) close-up view in same region (half way between suture and discal series of punctures) at same scale for the four species; (11, 14, 17, 20) apex of elytron. Scale bars: 9, 12, 15, 18: 50 µm; 10, 13, 16, 19: 25 µm; 11, 14, 17, 20: 100 µm.

FIGURES 21 – 24. SEM views of median region of prosternum and prosternal process of (21) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype, female), (22) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype, female), (23) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype, female from Houëlmont hill, Basse-Terre), (24) N. sharpi (female specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). Scale bars: 50 µm.

FIGURES 25 – 28. SEM views of median region of metaventrite and noterid platform (inner laminae of metacoxae) of (25) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype, female), (26) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype, female), (27) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype, female from Houëlmont hill, Basse-Terre), (28) N. sharpi (female specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). Scale bars: 50 µm.

FIGURES 29 – 34. Drawings of fifth tarsomere, anterior claw (bottom) and posterior claw (top) of left protarse (29, 31, 33) and left metatarse (30, 32, 34) in males of (29, 30) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype), (31, 32) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype), (33, 34) N. sharpi (specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). All drawings at same scale; scale bar: 50 µm.

FIGURES 35 – 43. Male genitalia of (35 – 37) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype), (38 – 40) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype), (41 – 43) N. sharpi (specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte-Anne, Bois Jolan, 17. VIII. 2013). (35, 38, 41) Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; (36, 39, 42) left paramere (external view); (37, 40, 43) right paramere (external view). Scale bars: 50 µm.

FIGURES 46 – 57. Female reproductive structures of (46 – 48) Notomicrus sabrouxi sp. n. (paratype), (49 – 51) N. chailliei sp. n. (paratype), (52 – 54) N. femineus sp. n. (paratype), (55 – 57) N. sharpi (female specimen from Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Sainte- Anne, Pavillon, 23. VIII. 2013). (46, 49, 52, 55) SEM ventral view of gonocoxae; (47, 50, 53, 56) gonocoxosterna (gst), gonocoxae (go) and laterotergites (lt) (dorsal view); (48, 51, 54, 57) spermatheca and associated ducts. The blackish colour in (57) is due to air present in cavities. Scale bars: 46, 49, 52, 55: 25 µm; all other pictures: 50 µm.