Gnypeta brevicornis Casey 1906

7. Gnypeta brevicornis Casey

(Figs 9, 27 a, b, 91-98, 196)

Gnypeta brevicornis Casey 1906: 196; Moore and Legner 1975: 421. LECTOTYPE (male): CANADA: Br. C. [British Columbia; in original description: Kamloops and Glenora; H.F. Wickham]; brevicornis Csy. [Casey]; Type USNM 38865; Casey bequest 1925; present lectotype designation label (USNM). Present designation. Examined. PARALECTOTYPES: listed in Appendix A.

Diagnosis

This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: body slender, length 2.7-2.9 mm, rust brown with darker head and tip of abdomen; elytra (at suture) slightly longer than pronotum and 1/5 wider than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 9); abdomen at base narrower than elytra and broadening posteriad (Fig. 9); antennal article 4 slightly elongate, 5-6 slightly transverse, articles 7-9 strongly transverse (Figs 27 a, b); median lobe of aedeagus with apical part narrowly triangular laterally (Fig. 91), bulbus in dorsal

view with two lateral projections (Fig. 92); spermatheca with capsule wider than long, funnel-shaped, lateral sides arcuate (Fig. 96); stem slightly sinuate and slightly swollen basally (Fig. 96). Gnypeta brevicornis is readily distinguishable from all other Canadian and Alaskan species (except for G. uteana, see key) by having strongly elongate basal article of metatarsus, which is as long as the two following articles combined.

Description

Body length 2.7-2.9 mm; rust brown with darker head and tip of abdomen (Fig. 9); integument moderately glossy; pubescence yellowish grey and sparse; antennal article 4 elongate, 5-6 slightly and 7-9 strongly transverse (Figs 27 a, b); head and pronotum of about the same width (Fig. 9); elytra and abdomen slightly wider than either head or pronotum; elytra small and moderately elongate (Fig. 9); head rounded posteriorly; pronotum broadest in apical third, pubescence directed postero-laterad from midline of disc; elytra (at suture) slightly longer than pronotum and 1/5 broader than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 9), pubescence directed obliquely postero-laterad from midline of disc; abdomen swollen posteriorly, as broad as elytra at base (Fig. 9); metatarsus with basal article of about the same length as the two following articles combined. Male. Tergite 8 transverse and truncate apically, slightly concave medially (Fig. 94). Sternite 8 elongate and rounded posteriorly (Fig. 95). Median lobe of aedeagus with narrowly triangular apical part of tubus in lateral view (Fig. 91); bulbus moderately large with lateral projections (Fig. 92); internal sac with structures as illustrated (Figs 91, 92). Female. Tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 97). Sternite 8 broadly rounded posteriorly (Fig. 98). Spermatheca with capsule transverse, funnel-shaped with sides arcuate (Fig. 96); stem slightly sinuate and swollen basally (Fig. 96).

Distribution (Fig. 196)

Gnypeta brevicornis is a western Nearctic species recorded from Glenora and Kamloops in British Columbia (Casey 1906).

Collection and habitat data

No data available.

Comments

Gnypeta brevicornis differs from all other Canadian and Alaskan Gnypeta species except for G. uteana by extremely elongate basal article of the metatarsus, its slender body, distinct pubescence pattern of the pronotum with setae directed posteriorly along the midline of the disc, and extremely coarse punctation in the first three visible tergal impressions. These characters are close to Tachyusa species but the genital characters of G. brevicornis are consistent with other Gnypeta species and the funnel-shaped capsule of the spermatheca is especially typical for the sellmani species group of Gnypeta. Additional studies are needed at the generic level to clarify the limits of the two close genera.