Parasthetops lemniscus Perkins 2008, new species

Parasthetops lemniscus new species

(Figs. 17, 20, 93)

Type Material. Holotype (male): Lesotho: Drakensberg, Sani Pass Valley, water collection, 29° 36' S, 29° 20' E, 8 March 1976, Endrödy­Younga (#1053). Deposited in the TMSA. Paratypes: Same data as holotype (15 TMSA).

Differential Diagnosis. Members of P. lemniscus are differentiated from other members of the andreaei group by the dorsal sculpture, which has very smooth and shining interpunctal areas, and by the lack of discernible setae in the elytral punctures (Fig. 17). The aedeagus of P. lemniscus has a long flagellum, as do those of P. retinaculus and P. pampinus, but otherwise the aedeagi of the three are quite dissimilar (Figs. 19, 20, 22). Females of P. lemniscus have the elytral explanate margin markedly wider than in males, especially at the posterior angles, where the elytra are widest, and the apices are more truncate.

Description. Size (length/width, mm) holotype: body (length to elytral apices) 1.85/0.74; head 0.32/ 0.46; pronotum 0.40/0.57; elytra 1.13 /0.74. Dorsum piceous to black, maxillary palpi, legs and venter dark brown. Mentum microreticulate, submentum shining.

Head with labrum very finely, very sparsely punctulate, shining. Clypeus entirely and frons on disc strongly shining, very sparsely, very finely punctulate on disc, punctures separated by about 3–8xpd, size much smaller than eye facet. Frons microreticulate at sides, in deep anteocellar sulci. Ocelli distinct.

Pronotum cordate, widest in front of middle; anterior angles obtuse, posterior rectangular; sides finely margined, weakly crenulate; anterior margin shallowly arcuate over median 3/4, with narrow hyaline border; discal reliefs strongly shining, very finely, very sparsely punctate, interstices ca. 4–8xpd; anteriorly and posteriorly punctures much larger, about 2xef; with foveae as follow: median anterior elongate and smaller posterior, very shallowly confluent; a small shallow anterior and small, shallow oval posterior admedian; and a large anterior and small deep posterior adlateral on each side; foveae punctate, not microreticulate; punctures on discal reliefs without discernible setae.

Elytra non­carinate, parallel­sided or nearly so, apices subtruncate; sutural apices rectangular; sides smooth, weakly explanate; posterior declivity gradual. Serial punctures moderately large and deep, about 1xpd of largest pronotal punctures, interstices on disc about 1xpd; without granules. Series seven and eight with punctures slightly larger. Series one striate­impressed, more strongly in posterior 1/2 than anterior 1/2. Intervals flat or very weakly rounded, width on disc about 1–2xpd. Most punctures without a discernible seta.

Thoracic ventrites and abdominal ventrites 1–5 densely clothed with short setae, except glabrous midlongitudinal ridge on proventrite, mesoventrite plaques, and small glabrous area basomedially on metaventrite. Metaventrite with very shallow, nearly obsolete, median subbasal impression. Abdominal ventrites 6 glabrous and obsoletely microreticulate, with posterior band of piliferous punctures.

Legs of male with two or three spiniform setae on apical protarsomere. Femora and tibiae effacedly microreticulate.

Females with elytral explanate margin markedly wider, especially at posterior angles where elytra widest, apices more truncate.

Wings fully developed on holotype.

Aedeagus main­piece length ca. 0.45 mm; flagellum very long, coiled, ribbon­like; main­piece quite straight, apical angulation quite small (Fig. 20).

Etymology. Named in reference to the ribbon­like aedeagal flagellum.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in the Drakensberg Mountains, northeastern Lesotho (Fig. 93).