Prototyrtaeus maestrensis Spiessberger and Ivie

Prototyrtaeus maestrensis Spiessberger and Ivie , new species

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( Figs. 11 View Figs , 15k View Fig , 16o View Fig , 17j View Fig )

Type Material. Holotype. CUBA: GRANMA; Alto de Meri~ no, nr. Biological; Station , 958 m, 5- 10.III.2013; 19°59’9’’N 77°0’57’’W; pluviselva litter, F. Cala-Riquelme; & A. Deler-Hernández ( CMNC) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (16): 16: same locality data as holotype (8 CMNC, 8 WIBF) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by its metallic integument; bicolored antenna with antennomere 3 distinctly longer than 2 ( Fig. 15k View Fig ); and the transverse pronotum widest at the middle and lacking a bead on the anterior margin. The intercoxal process of ventrite 1 is moderately rounded ( Fig. 16o View Fig ). Only three species have a bicolored antenna, but P. maestrensis and P. turquinensis have a dark antenna with the apex of the apical antennomere paler, whereas P. duartei has the first four antennomeres black, and the remaining six light yellow. Prototyrtaeus maestrensis can be distinguished from P. turquinensis by having the first eight antennomeres black and the apex of antennomere 9 yellow, antennomere 4 longer than wide ( Fig. 15k View Fig ), the frons with evenly distributed punctures, and the pronotum coarsely punctate.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin adjective based on the name of the Cuban mountain range, the Sierra Maestra.

Description. 2.4–2.8 mm long, 1.4–1.6 mm wide. Dorsal surface metallic green or bronze, glabrous except for a few long setae along lateral elytral margin, shiny; antenna black, yellow on apex of last antennomere. Head width subequal to anterior margin of pronotum, coarsely punctate, frons glabrous, punctures evenly distributed, punctures subequal to eye facet; epistomal suture weakly marked; clypeus short, setose with a higher concentration of setae at apex; labrum with longer, denser setae; antenna with 9 antennomeres ( Fig. 15k View Fig ), antennomere 3 distinctly longer than antennomere 2, antennomere 4 longer than wide, antennomeres 7–9 forming club gradually increasing in width, antennomere 9 widest or 8 and 9 equally wide, last antennomere rounded at apex. Pronotum strongly transverse, widest at middle, moderately, coarsely punctate, punctures subequal to eye facet; anterior margin without bead, lateral margin rounded, strongly beaded, width not varying, visible setae in dorsal view projecting laterally, posterior margin arcuate with bead nearly effaced medially, anterior angles rounded, not projecting, posterior angles obtuse. Elytron punctatostriate, with a few punctures on interstriae, 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 smooth or weakly punctate; metanepisternum smooth or weakly punctate. 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 moderately rounded ( Fig. 16o View Fig ), sparsely, finely punctate, punctures each bearing a very fine, golden seta. Aedeagus ( Fig. 17j View Fig ) with basale almost twice longer than apicale, basale slightly narrowed on apical fourth, apicale converging on apical half, apically acute, slightly narrowed on basal fourth, median lobe slightly exceeding apicale; in lateral view, basale curved on basal 2/3, apicale straight.

Distribution. Southeastern Cuba ( Fig. 19 View Figs ).

Biology. All the type specimens were collected during a single event at 958 m elevation on Alto de Meri~ no from rainforest litter.

Remarks. This seemingly restricted species may occur more widely in the mostly unsampled mountains to the north of the type locality.