Neorthopleura thomasi OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 28, 29, 196, 232, 313)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: CAYMAN ISL.: Cayman Brac: Major Donald Dr., 6 km E jct. Ashton Reid Dr., 4.vii.2013, blacklight trap, Col: M. C. Thomas (FSCA). Paratypes: 142 specimens. West Indies: Grand Cayman Island, 7-X-1990, blacklight trap, P. Fitzgerald (FSCA, 1); idem, 29-XI- 1992, blacklight trap, P. Fitzgerald (FSCA, 1); idem, 214- XI-1992, blacklight trap, P. Fitzgerald (FSCA, 1); Boatswan Point, Lime Tree Estate, 21-VI-1976, E. J. Gerberg (FSCA, 1); vic. Gun Bay, N19°21.074' W81°05.727', 3-VI-2008, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 5; WOPC, 1); idem, 4-VI-2008, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 4; WOPC, 2); Georgetown, UCCI, 3-VI-2008, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); Hemmington Road at Songbird Drive, 24-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (FSCA, 1; WOPC, 1); Botanic Garden, 4-VI-2008, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 1); Mastic Trail, S Trailhead, N19°34.089' W81°19.305', 28-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (FSCA, 1); North Coast Road,. 1 km West Olivine Kirk Drive, 26-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (FSCA, 2); Little Cayman Island, 3.6 miles W Coot Marsh, 6-VII-2013, R. Turnbow (WOPC, 6); North Side Road, 1 km W Junction Olivine Kirk Drive, 5-VII-2013, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); 3 miles E junction Olivine Kirk Drive + Guy Banks Road, 6-VII-2013, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 3); Cayman Brac Island, Hemmington Road, N19°42.639' W79°48.907', 8-VI-2008, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 5); Brac Paradise Subdivision, N19°44.688' W79°44.359', 6-VI-2008, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 2); N19°43.158 W79°47.579', 6-VI-2008, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 4; WOPC, 1); Cayman Brac, 9 km E Brac, Parrot Reserve, 3-4-VII- 2013, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (FSCA, 4; WOPC, 1)); idem, 4-VII-2013, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 4; WOPC, 1); idem, 3-VII-2013, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 2); idem, 2-VII-2013, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, bulldozed road station, 2-VII-2013, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 2); Major Donald Drive, 4 km E junction Ashton Reid Drive, 22-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (WOPC, 1); Major Donald Drive, 6 km E junction Ashton Reid Road, 3- VII-2013, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 2); idem, 23-V-2009, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, 7-VI- 2008, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 5; WOPC, 10); idem, 5-VI-2008, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, 6-VI-2008, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 2); Brac Paradise Subdivision, 22-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (WOPC, 2); Agricultural Experiment Station, S Songbird Drive, 4-VII- 2013, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 2); 3.6 miles W Coot Marc, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 2); Bloody Bay, 6 km E junction Spot Bay Road, N. Coast Drive, 5-VII-20013, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 1); North Coast Road, 1 km W junction Olivine Kirk Road, 27-V-2009, blacklight trap, Thomas, Turnbow, & Ball (WOPC, 1); Bahamas Islands: Andros Island, Atala Coppice, 8-VI-2004, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 1); idem, 8-VI-2004, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 3); Forfar Field Station, near Stafford Creek, 22-28-VII-2006, UV trap, M. C. Thomas, T. R. Smith (FSCA, 3; WOPC, 3); Forfar Field Station, 8-VI-2004, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, 6-VI-2004, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 2); idem, 9-VI-2004, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, 24-VII-2006, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 3); idem, 323- VII-2006, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); idem, 25-VII-2006, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 2); idem, 26-VII-2008, R. H. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); Cargill Creek, 26-VII-2006, R. Turnbow (RHTC, 1); Maidenhair Coppice, 24-28-VII- 2006, UV trap, M. C. Thomas, T. R. Smith (FSCA, 1); idem, 11-VI-2004, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (FSCA, 1); idem, 10-VI-2004, R. H. Turnbow (WOPC, 2); Forfar Field Station, Stafford Creek, 7-VI-2001, blacklight trap, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 1); idem, 8-VI-2004, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 1); idem, 6-VI-2001, blacklight trap in coastal coppice, M. C. Thomas (FSCA, 1); idem, 9-VI-2004, blacklight trap, M. C. Thomas (WOPC, 1); idem, 22-28-VII-2006, ultraviolet light trap in coastal coppice, M. C. Thomas & T. R. Smith (WOPC, 1); London Ridge, 24-VII- 1987, high interior coppice, J. B. Browne (WOPC, 1); Blanket Snd (N), Forfar Field Station, 17-V- 1987, junction of low coast, coppice & dry-pineland, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 1); idem, 12- VII-1987, low coast coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 2); idem, Robinson’s Place, 11-VI- 1987, wet pineland, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 1); idem, Fresh Creek, Andros Twn Andriosa, 10-VII-1987, high interior coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 1); idem, 13-VII-1987, low interior coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 7; WOPC, 1); idem, 6-7-VII-1987, low coast coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (CMNC, 1); idem, 6-VIII-1987, interior coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (WOPC, 3); idem, 8-VIII-1987, high coppice, blacklight, J. Browne (WOPC, 1); Bahamas Islands, Nassau, New Providence Island, 16-IV-1953, at lights, E. B. Hayden (AMNH, 1); Abaco Cays, Green Turtle Cay, New Plymouth, 7-V-1953, E. B. Hayden & G. B. Rabb (AMNH, 1); Bahamas Islands, Exuma Island, Hummingbird Cay, W Georgetown, 10-VI-1968, B. K. Dozier (FSCA, 1).

D i a g n o s i s: Specimens of this species superficially resemble those of Neorthopleura uncoentis OPITZ, from which they differ by showing a dark brown cranium, a brown elytral disc, and the phallus has uncinate plates. The genus Neorthopleura BARR was revised by OPITZ (2013b).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 6.5 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 313. Color: Dark brown, except prothorax and mesoscutellum reddish, and faintly pale lunulate fascia behind middle of elytral disc. Head: Densely, finely punctate; antenna (Figs 28, 29) capitate, funicular antennomeres progressively shorter towards capitulum, antennomeres 9 and 10 with short (Fig. 29, female) or long (Fig. 28, male) collateral branch, antennomere 11 oblong; eyes large, finely facetted, eye wider (male) or less wider (female) than frons (EW/FW 33/20, male; EW/FW 35/30, female). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 196) convex, slightly transverse, profusely finely punctate; side margins linear (PW/PL 88/85); elytra moderately convex, disc densely sculptured with small setiferous punctures, with 8 shallow ridges; epipleural margin abruptly terminates at elytral middle (EL/EW 265/68). Abdomen: Pygidium oblong/scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 232.

Variation: Length 4.0-12.0 mm; width 1.4-4.0 mm. The faintly pale lunulate fascia behind the middle of the elytral disc is variable in appearance. The antennal capitulum and frons are sex dimorphic.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimens were collected from May to July, and during November.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, thomasi, is a patronymic that honors Michael C. Thomas for his many contributions to taxonomic Coleopterology.