Gnypeta minuta Klimaszewski and Webster 2008, sp. nov.

18. Gnypeta minuta Klimaszewski and Webster, sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 34D54632-2C6C-426C-8C85-C205C3004FDD

(Figs 20, 38 a, b, 181-189, 193)

(Figs 20, 38 a, b, 181-189, 193)

HOLOTYPE (male): CANADA, New Brunswick, York Co., Douglas, Keswick River at Rt. 105, 45.9943˚ N., 66.8337˚ W., 18.06.2004, R. P. Webster coll., silver maple forest, under debris on muddy soil near small pool, IRM No. 2 (LFC). PARATYPE (female): CANADA: New Brunswick, Restigouche Co., Little Tobique River near Red Brook, 47.4465˚ N., 67.0689˚ W., 13.06.2006, R. P. Webster coll., river margin, under debris on clay and sand mix (LFC).

Etymology

The name of this species is the Latin “ minuta ”, meaning small, in reference to the small size of this species.

Diagnosis

This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: body length 2.3 mm (Fig. 20); elytra at suture longer than pronotum and about 1/6 wider than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 20); abdomen at base distinctly narrower than

elytra and broadening posteriorly, tergal impressions with coarse punctation (Fig. 20); antennal article 4 strongly elongate, 5-7 moderately elongate, 8-10 subquadrate (Figs 38 a, b); median lobe of aedeagus with apical part broadly triangular in lateral view (Fig. 181); male tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 184). The subquadrate antennal articles 7-10, posteriorly broadening abdomen, and distinct shape of the apical portion of the median lobe of the aedeagus, slightly emarginated apex of female sternite 8 and the pipe-shaped spermatheca are the best characters for recognition of this species.

Description

Body length 2.3 mm; dark brown (Fig. 20); integument moderately glossy; pubescence yellowish grey and moderately short and dense; antennal articles 5-7 moderately elongate, 8-10 subquadrate (Figs 38 a, b); head slightly narrower than pronotum (Fig. 20); elytra and abdomen (less so) wider than either head or pronotum; head rounded posteriorly; pronotum broadest in the apical third, pubescence directed obliquely posterolaterad from the midline; elytra at suture longer than pronotum and about 1/6 wider than maximum width of pronotum, pubescence directed obliquely postero-laterad, in weak wavy pattern medially on each side of disc (Fig. 20); abdomen broadening posteriorly, distinctly narrower than elytra at base (Fig. 20); metatarsus with basal article slightly longer than the following article. Male. Tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 184). Sternite 8 elongate and broadly rounded apically (Fig. 185). Median lobe of aedeagus with broadly triangular apex in lateral view (Fig. 181); bulbus moderately large in dorsal view (Fig. 182); internal sac with complex structures as illustrated (Figs 181, 182). Female. Tergite 8 broadly rounded apically (Fig. 188); sternite 8 with shallow median emargination at apex (Fig. 189); spermatheca pipe-shaped (Figs 186, 187).

Distribution (Fig. 193)

Gnypeta minuta is known only from New Brunswick, Canada.

Collection and habitat data

The two specimens were captured in June, one from under debris on muddy soil near a small pool in a silver maple forest, and the other from under debris on clay and sand mix at river margin.