Mimosticus tenuiformis Brunke et Solodovnikov, sp. n.

Mimosticus tenuiformis Brunke et Solodovnikov sp. n.

(Fig. 1 B, 2B, E–F, 3B, 4B, 6B, 7B, 8E, 9B, 10B (map))

Type material. Holotype [point-mounted, terminalia and aedeagus dissected and attached to the specimen in a plastic genitalia vial with glycerin]: male, “ COLOMBIA: Magdalena. PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Betoma, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 1700 m, Malaise 6–22.X.2001, J. Cantillo Leg. M.2339/ [SEMC barcode label]/ Holotype Mimosticus tenuiformis sp. n. Brunke et Solodovnikov des. 2014 [red label]” (SEMC)

Paratypes: Venezuela: Táchira: 1 male, San Cristobol, 10 km SE, Choro El Indio N.P., 1320 m, 7°44'3''N; 72°13'1''W, 28–31.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC); Mérida: 1 male, 42.4 km NW Mérida, near La Carbonera, 2360 m, 8°37'38''N; 74°21'10''W, 22–25.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC); Lara: 1 male, 1 female, Sanaré, 10.4 km SE, 1800 m, 9°41'44''N; 69°36'48''W, 16.V.1998, R. Anderson, in cloud forest leaf litter (ZMUC); 1 male, Sanaré, 10.4 km SE, 1800 m, 9°41'44'' N; 69°36'48'' W, 16–18.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC); 8 males, 13 females, Sanaré, 17.4 km SE, Yacambú N.P., 1510 m, 9°42'26'' N; 69°34'34'' W, 16–18.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC, ZMUC); 1 male, 1 female, Sanaré, 17.4 km SE, Yacambú N.P., 1510 m, 9°42'26'' N; 69°34'34'' W, 18.V.–1.VI.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, Malaise trap (SEMC); 1 male, 1 female, Sanaré, 14.4 km SE, Yacambú N.P., 1500 m, 9°42'22'' N; 69°34'42'' W, 16.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, in forest litter (SEMC); 8 males, 19 females, Sanaré, 14.2 km SE, Yacambú N.P., 1650 m, 9°41'45'' N; 69°36'48'' W, 18.V.–1.VI.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC); 1 female, Yacambu National Park, 13 km SE Sanaré, 1400 m, 4–7.III.1978, cloud forest, blacklight, J.B. Heppner (USNM); Aragua: 1 male, Rancho Grande Biol. Station, 10°21' N; 67°41' W, 1450 m, 1–8.V.1995, R.W. Brooks, flight intercept trap (SEMC); 1 male, Rancho Grande Biol. Station, 10°21' N; 67°41' W, 1370 m, 25–28.II.1995, R.W. Brooks, flight intercept trap (SEMC); 1 male, Rancho Grande Biol. Station, Pico Periquitos, 1300 m, 10°21' N; 67°41' W, 27.II.–6.III.1995, R.W. Brooks, flight intercept trap (SEMC); 3 males, Rancho Grande Biol. Station, 1550 m, 10°21'38''N; 67°41'38''W, 12–14.V.1998, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley, flight intercept trap (SEMC). Colombia: Magdalena: 1 male, PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Bella Vista, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 1500 m, 15–17.XII.2001, ex. Winkler eclector, leg. J. Cantillo (SEMC); 1 female, PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Bella Vista, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 2200 m, 13–15.XII.2000, ex. Winkler, leg. J. Cantillo (SEMC); 4 males, PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Bella Vista, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 1500 m, 30.VIII–27.XI.2001, ex. Malaise traps, leg. J. Cantillo (SEMC, ZMUC); 2 males, 2 females, PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta San Lorenzo, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 2200 m, 22.XI.2000 – 5.V.2001, ex. Malaise traps, leg. J. Cantillo (SEMC); 1 male, 2 females, PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Betoma, 10°48'N; 73°39'W, 1700 m, 15.VI.–20.XI.2001, ex. Malaise traps, leg. J. Cantillo (SEMC, ZMUC).

Material excluded from type series (see ‘Note’ below): Peru: Cusco: 1 female, Cock of the Rock Lodge, NE Paucartambo, 13°03'3'' S; 71°32'7''W, 1120 m, 4–9.XI.2007, D. Brzoska, flight intercept trap (SEMC).

Description. Measurements: HL 1.0–1.1; HW 1.1–1.2; PL 1.3–1.5; PW 1.5–1.6; EL 2.0–2.1; EW 2.2–2.3. Total body length 10.5–11.5 mm.

Blackish, with more or less distinct golden iridescence on head and pronotum; elytra dull, metallic greyishblue; abdomen strongly iridescent. Some parts of legs can be paler: dark-brown. Last two antennomeres often distinctly paler: brown to pale brown.

Head without dorsal portion of nuchal ridge. Eyes large, in dorsal view appear 3–3.5 times as long as tempora, the latter distinctly less than half of the length of eye. Antennae as in Fig. 2 B, with relatively short antennomeres: antennomere 4 about 2 times as long as wide.

Pronotum about as wide as long.

Elytra slightly wider and distinctly longer than pronotum.

Male: sternite VIII with broadly rounded apical margin (Fig. 4 B); sternite IX with basal stalk distinctly narrower than broad apical portion, which is broader toward the apex (Fig. 6 B); tergite X with pair of long dark macrosetae and with distinct, broad notch on apical margin (Fig. 7 B). Aedeagus as in Fig. 8 E, 9B: paramere narrowed apically, slightly pointed, with pale, sensory peg setae-like structures; internal sac with strongly sclerotized, densely packed, spine-like structures that are grouped in fields differing in size and degree of sclerotization.

Comparison. Externally, Mimosticus tenuiformis is most similar to M. viridipennis. Both species are unique in Mimosticus for the following characters: nuchal ridge not visible in dorsal view, eyes relatively large (short tempora) and less elongate antennomeres. Mimosticus tenuiformis differs from M. viridipennis by the more dull, greyish blue to greyish-green elytra, darker abdominal apex (segment VIII not distinctly bicoloured) and by the slightly more elongate antennomeres (Fig. 1 B, 2B). Males of M. tenuiformis can be easily separated from males of M. viridipennis by sternite IX that is distinctly narrower basally, forming a ‘stalk’, by the broadly rounded apex of sternite VIII and by the distinctly notched apical margin of tergite X. Additional differences exist in the aedeagus: paramere with peg setae-like structures, with narrower and more pointed apex, and internal sac with coarser and denser armature.

Distribution and bionomics. Mimosticus tenuiformis is known from several localities in northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia, as well as from one outlying locality in southern Peru based on a single female. This species has been collected in montane forests at elevations between 1120 m (record from Peru) and 2360 m (record from Venezuela). Most of the specimens were collected by flight intercept traps, some by Malaise traps, and some were sifted from leaf litter. One specimen was attracted to blacklight.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the slender body shape of this species compared to others of the genus.

Note. A single female from Peru was not included in the type series because of its outlying distribution. In this case, a corresponding male would be needed to confirm this species identification.