Acroleptus costae Ferreira, 2015, sp. nov.

Acroleptus costae sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–4)

Diagnosis. Acroleptus costae can be separated from A. chevrolati by its small eyes, the slender longitudinal carina on the pronotum which lacks an longitudinal areola, the pronotum widest anteriorly, the absence of spines on the apex of the parameres, and by the rounded apical margin of the phallobase, with lateral margins almost parallel.

Description. General coloration yellow, apical half of elytra black. Antennomeres I–III and XI yellow, as well as flabellum of antennomeres IX and X, IV–X segments black.

Head longer than wide, hypognathous, with interocular distance twice as longer as eye diameter; mouthparts reduced, mandibles arcuate, connate with labrum. Antennae pubescent, inserted in projection of frons (Fig. 1); antennomeres I–II simple, I subconic, II small (1/4 the length of I); antennomeres III–XI flabellate, reaching distal 1/4 of elytra (Fig. 2); III slightly shorter than I, flabellum subequal in length to the stem; stem IV subequal in length to III, with flabellum slightly longer than stem; stem of IV to X gradually increasing in length, with each flabellum longer than respective stem.

Pronotum trapezoidal, transverse, with anterior angles distinct, acute; median longitudinal carina weak (Fig. 1). Scutellum forked behind, short, with both apices acute. Elytra posteriorly dehiscent, slender, 6.5 times longer than pronotum; each with 4 elytral costae, weakly reticulate at apex. Prosternum Y-shaped, reaching hypomeron; thoracicspiracle tubular, elongate. Mesoventrite trapezoidal, without longitudinal visible suture, fused to mesepisternum without apparent suture; with conspicuous row of setae on mesepimeron; thoracic–spiracle rounded, not produced. Metaventrite convex, anterior angles rounded, divergent posteriad, anteriorly very close to the posterior margin of mesoventrite; posterior angles truncate, divergent, discrimen complete (Fig. 3). Pro- and mesocoxae short; mesocoxae separated by anterior margin of mesoventrite; metacoxae widened; trochanters elongate; profemur and protibiae clavate, the later slender [other femora, tibiae and tarsi missing]. Male genitalia symmetrical; median lobe as long as phallobase, slightly broad in distal half, medially with inner margins folded; parameres less than half length of the median lobe; phallobase with apical margin rounded, lateral margins almost parallel–sided, median suture incomplete, present only in apical third (Fig. 4).

Length: 3.8 mm. Width (across humerus): 1.0 mm

Type material. Holotype, ♂: Brazil: Rondônia State, Porto Velho, BR: 364 – Km 48, 17–IX–1979, Jorge Arias col.; Malaise trap (INPA).

Etymology. Named in honor of Dr. Cleide Costa, the great Brazilian entomologist who dedicated her life to the study of neotropical insect larvae and studies of Elateroidea, and in commemoration of her 50 year career in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP).