Prototyrtaeus felis Spiessberger and Ivie

Prototyrtaeus felis Spiessberger and Ivie View in CoL , new species

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( Figs. 12 View Figs , 15l View Fig , 16o View Fig )

Type Material. Holotype. Loma del Gato; Cobre Range, O ; July 3-7, 1936; about 3000ft. / Cuba 1936; Darlington; Collector ( MCZC) . Paratypes (5). 4: same locality data as holotype (3 MCZC, 1 WIBF). 1: CUBA: Oriente, Loma; (Pico) del Gato, Sierra; Maestra , 26-28 MAR 1959; M. W. Sanderson ( WIBF) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by the metallic integument; antenna with antennomere 3 longer than 2, and 4 wider than long ( Fig. 15l View Fig ); transverse pronotum with the anterior margin without bead and widest at the middle; and intercoxal process of ventrite 1 moderately rounded ( Fig. 16o View Fig ). This species is similar to P. auranticornis and P. turquinensis, but it can be distinguished from P. auranticornis by the frons with punctures becoming sparser posteriorly and the impunctate metanepisternum, and from P. turquinensis by the unicolored antenna and glabrous, finely punctate frons.

Etymology. The species name is based on the name of the mountain where the type specimens were found, Loma del Gato, where “felis” is the generic name of the species of the domesticated house cat, Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 ( Carnivora : Felidae ), the only cat species on Cuba. The epithet is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Description. 2.3–2.6 mm long, 1.4–1.5 mm wide. Dorsal surface metallic greenish bronze, glabrous except for a few long setae along lateral elytral margin, shiny; antenna yellow. Head width subequal to anterior edge of pronotum, finely punctate, frons glabrous, punctures becoming sparser posteriorly, punctures smaller than 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. 15l View Fig ), antennomere 3 longer than 2, antennomere 4 wider than long, antennomeres 7–9 forming club gradually increasing in width, antennomere 9 the widest or 8 and 9 equally wide, last antennomere rounded. Pronotum strongly transverse, widest at middle, moderately, finely 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 punctato-striate, 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. 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 not studied.

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

Biology. Nothing is known of the biology of this species.

Remarks. All of the specimens of this species were collected either before the Cuban Revolution or during the months shortly following the rise of the new regime. The area is currently a national park, and some collecting has occurred in the area since then, but no further specimens are known to us.