Paratillus atali , OPITZ 2016, nov.sp.

Paratillus atali OPITZ, nov.sp. (Figs 17, 40, 54, 74, 93)

Holotype: Ƌ. NEW CALEDONIA 11199, 22°21' Sx 166°58'E, 200 m, Port Boise (G. Kanua), 18Nov2002, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs (MNHN).

Paratypes: Twenty-one. New Caledonia: Mt. Koghis, 22°11'S 166°01'E, 500m, 22Nov.2000, G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum, trunks & logs (QMBA, 1); Fort Boise, 22°21'S 166°58'E, 20 m (G. Kanua), 18Nov. 2002, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs (QMBA, 12); Pic du Pin, 22°15'S 166°50'E, site 1, 23Dec. 2004, 280 m, G. Monteith, pyrethrum (QMBA, 3); idem, 22°15'S 166°49'E, 25Nov.-23Dec.2004, Malaise, Burwell, Wright, rainforest (QMBA, 1); Col de Petchecara, middle, 21°34'S 166°06'E, 28Jan.2004, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs (QMBA, 1); Pic du Grand Kaori, site 2, 22°17'S 166°53'E, 250 m, Monteith Burwell, pyrethrum, rainforest (QMBA, 2); Mount Mou base, 22°05'S 166°22'E, 350 m, 4Feb.2004, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees & logs (QMBA, 1).

D i a g n o s i s Paratillus atali OPITZ, new species, specimens may be distinguished from the superficially similar specimens of P. carus by the presence, in the former specimens, of a diffuse white setal tuft on the basal 1/4 th of the elytral sutural margin.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Size: Length 3.0 mm; width 0.7 mm. Form: As in Fig. 54. Integument: Forebody red, elytra predominantly black, with a slight blue tinge, elytral disc with a white transverse fascia that does not reach sutural margin, profemora black, mesofemora, and metafemora yellow at base, infuscated distally, abdomen black, except 6 th visible sternite yellow. Head: Cranium coarsely punctate, frons much wider than width of eye (FW/EW-32/8); antennal funicular antennomeres subfiliform, 9 th and 10 th antennomeres triagonal, 11 th oval (Fig. 17). Thorax: Pronotum densely punctate at sides, sparsely punctate at middle, with glabrous streaks at center of disc, without lateral tubercle (Fig. 40) (PL /PW- 50/43); elytral disc with prominent asetiferous punctation that extend just beyond white transverse fascia, elytral preapical region subglabrous, (EL /EW- 115/26). Abdomen: Male pygidium not incised at middle of anterior margin; phallobase slightly sclerotized ventrally, lobes very small, phallobasic rod bifid distally, phallobasic struts contiguous with phallobasic apodeme, phallic apex triangular, phallic plates narrow, spicular apodemes not fused (Fig. 74).

V a r i a t i o n. Size: Length 3.0- 4.3 mm; width 0.6-1.0 mm. The forebody may be black and the white midelytral fascia may reach the sutural margin.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: Specimens were collected in November, December, and February, at altitudes ranging from 20- 500 m. G. B. Monteith collected all but one specimen by spraying felled logs with pyrethrum. One specimen was collected in a Malaise trap.

D i s t r i b u t i o n (Fig. 93): This species is known only from New Caledonia.

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet atali is a patronymic dedicated to the Grand Chief Atal of the Kanak indigenous people of New Caledonia.