Prototyrtaeus pecki Spiessberger and Ivie

Prototyrtaeus pecki Spiessberger and Ivie , new species

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( Figs. 5, 15e View Fig View Figs , 16j View Fig , 17d View Fig )

Type Material. Holotype. PUERTO RICO, B265; Aguas Buenas, forest; at Aguas Buenas Cave ; 7- 17.V.73, 250m.; S. Peck et al. ( CNCI) . Paratypes (38). 29: Same locality data as holotype (20 CNCI, 9 WIBF). 5: PTO.RICO, Aguas; Buenas , 7-17.V.; 1973, S.Peck; Berlese 265 (4 CNCI, 1 WIBF). 4: PUERTO RICO: Aguas Buenas; Forest at Aguas Buenas ; Cave, 250m, 07-17MAY1973; S. Peck, Berlese #265; FMNH#73 – 4, 93KG, 171 liters (2 FMNH, 2 WIBF) .

Additional Material. Two disarticulated specimens with the same locality as the holotype are excluded from the type series (WIBF).

Diagnosis. Prototyrtaeus pecki can be easily confused when P. obrieni has the “shiny form” that includes a yellow antenna. Details of the lateral area of the metaventrite and the aedeagus are the way to differentiate P. pecki from this shiny form of P. obrieni. Prototyrtaeus pecki has the lateral area of the metaventrite strongly punctate, while P. obrieni has it smooth or weakly punctate. The aedeagus of P. pecki is wide, with the apicale broad and rounded apically ( Fig. 17d View Fig ), while the aedeagus of P. obrieni is narrow, with the apicale acute at the apex ( Fig. 17c View Fig ).

Etymology. Named in honor of Stewart Blaine Peck, who collected the type series and has contributed both extensive collections and publications that increase our knowledge and understanding of the West Indian beetle fauna. Peck collected specimens of five of the 14 species of Prototyrtaeus, tied for second only to Darlington’ s amazing record of 11 species.

Description. 1.8–2.3 mm long, 1.2–1.3 mm wide. Dorsal surface bronze or light brown without distinct setation, only a few microsetae and a few longer setae along lateral elytral margin, shiny; antenna yellowish brown or light brown. Head not as wide as anterior edge of pronotum, frons moderately, coarsely punctate, punctures subequal to eye facet, glabrous; epistomal suture moderately marked; clypeus setose with higher concentration of setae at apex; labrum with longer, denser setae; antenna with 9 antennomeres ( Fig. 15e View Fig ), antennomere 2 subequal in length, slightly wider than 3, antennomeres 7–9 forming club, gradually decreasing in width, antennomere 7 widest, club subequal or slightly longer than antennomeres 1–6, last antennomere rounded or oval at apex. Pronotum strongly transverse, widest at base, sparsely, finely punctate, punctures smaller than eye facet; all margins beaded, anterior margin bisinuate, lateral margin nearly straight or slightly rounded, strongly beaded, bead width gradually increasing posteriorly, visible setae in dorsal view projecting laterally, posterior margin arcuate with bead nearly effaced medially, anterior angles rounded, projecting, posterior angles obtuse. Elytron without striae, with faint, shallow, small punctures, 1 long seta behind basal margin, pair of long setae above lateral groove on basal fourth, 1 long seta above lateral groove on apical third (if missing, distinct puncture present) ( Fig. 16a View Fig ). Metaventrite short, lateral area strongly punctate; metanepisternum with line of strong punctures. Pro- and mesocoxae rounded (external view), metacoxa transverse, narrowing outwards, femora with short, sparse, golden setae, protibia cylindrical, with sparse, straight, golden setae on dorsal surface, ventrally completely setose, becoming dense, golden brush on apical half, tarsomere 1 slightly enlarged ( Fig. 16e View Fig ). Intercoxal process of ventrite 1 acute ( Fig. 16j View Fig ), sparsely punctate, punctures each bearing a very fine, golden seta. Aedeagus ( Fig. 17d View Fig ) short, wide, basale and apicale subequal in length, apicale broadly rounded at apex, converging at apical fourth; in lateral view, aedeagus curved medially.

Distribution. Puerto Rico ( Fig. 20 View Figs ).

Biology. This species was extracted from sifted litter with Berlese funnels. The litter was from a sink area known as Los Sumideros near Aguas Buenas Cave ( Peck 1974).

Remarks. The type series was collected at 250 m elevation, outside a central Puerto Rican limestone cave ( Fig. 20 View Figs ). The habitat was briefly discussed by Peck (1974). All of the known specimens were taken by Berlese from 171 L of sifted litter, sifted from 93 kg of litter, for an average of one specimen per 2.25 kg of forest litter. This litter covered 82 m 2 of forest floor (S. B. Peck, in litt.). Of course, they may have been clumped instead of evenly spread, but these data on yield are unique to our knowledge. This species, along with P. gracilicornis, differs from others in being collected from litter rather than specifically with moss, lichen, or fungi.