New and little known Coleoptera (Silvanidae: Silvaninae) from Central and South America
Author
Halstead, David G. H.
57 Meadow Way, Old Windsor, Berkshire, SL 4 2 NY, UK
text
Insecta Mundi
2020
2020-12-25
2020
842
1
37
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.5354105
1942-1354
5354105
18BA3511-66C2-4EF9-AE74-040A88E15BC3
Neocorimus
Halstead
,
new genus
Type
species.
Neocorimus thomasi
Halstead
,
new species
, here designated.
Discussion.
Over two decades ago, Dr. Roger G. Booth (NHML) drew my attention to a silvanid from North
Figures 11–17.
Synobius lobicollis
Sharp
, male.
11)
Habitus.
12)
Head, anterior lateral region showing antennal base and eye.
13)
Antenna, enlarged.
14–17)
Genitalia and associated sternites.
14)
Genitalia, without internal sac.
15)
Paramere, enlargement of apical half.
16)
Internal sac, apical third.
17)
Sternites 8 and 9. Scale lines for Figure 11 = 2.0 mm, for Figures 14 and 16–17 = 0.5 mm.
Venezuela
, a recent accession at the time, that he had identified as representing a new genus near to
Acorimus
Halstead, 1980
. The latter genus,
Corimus
Halstead, 1980
,
Afrocorimus
Halstead, 1980
, and
Dentirotacorimus
Yoshida et al., 2017
, have somewhat flattened bodies and broad explanate elytral margins and occur in the Old World. The external facies of the specimen from North
Venezuela
are most similar to those of the currently monotypic African genus,
Metacorimus
Halstead, 1997
but the genitalia are totally different, the parameres and other structures being most like those found in the New World silvanine
Nausibius sahlbergi
Grouvelle, 1896
, to which it may be more closely related. Differences between the male genitalia of
Neocorimus thomasi
and
Nausibius sahlbergi
are as follows: the parameres of
Neocorimus thomasi
are relatively longer and slightly narrower than in
Nausibius sahlbergi
, they have their tooth flange (
Fig. 23, 24
) on the apical third and the tooth is relatively large, prominent and without an accompanying seta, whereas
Nausibius sahlbergi
has the flange on the apical quarter and the tooth is associated with a seta; the anterior margin of the median lobe of
Neocorimus thomasi
has margins curved to an apical point (
Fig. 23
) but
Nausibius sahlbergi
lacks a point, the margins being only slightly angled to the apex; also the median strut of
Neocorimus thomasi
is a little shorter than that of
Nausibius sahlbergi
. However, external characters, including the presence of deep ventral antennal grooves on the head, the secondary sexual characters of the legs and the general body form of this new taxon are entirely different. Therefore, a new genus is erected here to accommodate this very interesting beetle that perhaps evolved from the same line as
N. sahlbergi
.
See below for additional morphological comparisons.
Diagnosis.
Although similar in general facies to the currently monotypic African genus
Metacorimus
,
the antennae in this new genus have a much more gradually developed club consisting of 5 segments whereas that in
Metacorimus
is 3-segmented. In
Neocorimus
(known species) the presumed secondary sexual characters are restricted to the legs (meso- and metatrochanters) whereas in
Metacorimus
(known species) there is a setiferous pit on the submentum, pro- and mesofemora have prominences and the metatibiae also exhibit secondary sexual characters. In
Neocorimus
(known species) the last abdominal ventrite lacks a fine marginal line while one is present in
Metacorimus
.
Neocorimus
is easily distinguished from similar Old World genera by antennal, tarsal and pronotal characters (
Halstead 1980
,
1997
).
Description.
Characters which seem to have generic significance are as follows:
Body short, depressed and broad, pronotal and elytral margins broadly explanate; head transverse, eyes widely separated dorsally, temple absent (hind margin of head in line with that of eye), antenna with penultimate segment largest, all of basal segment hidden from above by margin of head, 5 apical segments forming very gradually developed club; deep ventral antennal grooves present, which are almost straight and somewhat convergent to front (known species without setiferous pit on submentum of male); pronotum with anterior angles produced in front and lateral limit indicated by indentations, sides probably always without strong teeth (only undulating towards base in known species); femoral line absent; epipleuron very broad, at apex moderately incurved to suture; legs, tarsi simple (without lobed segments), secondary sexual characters present (limited to trochantal teeth in the known species).
Etymology.
Greek prefix, neo: new, plus the generic name,
Corimus
.