Description.

Body length 1.08–1.18 mm, width 0.70–0.81 mm, elongate, relatively flat in lateral view (2.18 times as long as thick). Color brown without metallic luster, legs slightly lighter and antennae, except last antennomere, darker, almost black.

Head (Figs 4, 5) flat in lateral view. Frons and vertex forming nearly straight line (Fig. 5) in lateral view. Facial part of head elongate. Supraorbital pore situated near outer corner of antennal callus, poorly visible. Antennal calli well developed, slightly longer than wide, oblique, separated from each other by wide midfrontal sulcus. Supracallinal sulcus deep, convex. Suprafrontal and supraantennal sulci well developed, deep. Supraorbital sulcus slightly impressed. Orbit as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Interantennal space nearly as wide as transverse diameter of eye and as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Frontal ridge narrow, lowering in front of anterofrontal ridge. Anterofrontal ridge not separated from frontal ridge, long and swollen. Two ridges situated laterally of frontal ridge from lower margin of antennal socket to outer corner of mouth. Long seta situated at beginning of each ridge under antennal socket. Another long seta located on both sides of frontal ridge. Eyes small, slightly protruding laterally, 0.72 times as wide as long. Vertex covered with few large and deep punctures. Labrum with six setiferous pores, apically slightly incised. Labium with three palpomeres per palpus, distal palpomere longer than wide (Fig. 6). Maxillary palpus with four palpomeres, distal palpomere conical, slightly longer than preapical, sensilla patch with three setae (Fig. 8). Antenna with 11 antennomeres. First antennomere slightly wider and much longer than second and rest of antennomeres separately. Third and fourth antennomeres much thinner than second. Antennomeres gradually widening distally (Fig. 7).

Pronotum (Fig. 1) 1.34 times wider than long (measured in middle), without impressions, covered with large, deeply impressed punctures. Sides weakly rounded and relatively narrowly explanate, with maximum width in front of middle. Marginal anterolateral callosity situated perpendicularly to midline of body, 3.71 times shorter than lateral margin. Posterolateral callosity protruding laterally. Basal margin evenly convex, slightly extends posteriorly, with distinct border. Procoxal cavity open. Intercoxal prosternal process relatively narrow and parallel-sided in middle, with longitudinal ridge bordered by two deep grooves laterally, abruptly expanding beyond procoxae. Scutellum flat, wider than long, apex sharply triangular, sides straight. Mesocoxae separated by both meso- and metasterna. Mesosternum not covered by metasternum, horizontal (Fig. 9). Metasternum (Fig. 9) protruding anteriorly between mesocoxae, wide, nearly flat at apex.

Elytron (Fig. 1) widest near mid-length. Humeral callus absent. Elytral punctures arranged in nine rows not counting scutellar row. Punctures large, about as large as space between rows. Elytral apex narrowly rounded, surrounded by distinct border. Epipleura broad, slightly oblique, gradually narrowing posteriorly, not attaining sutural margin of elytron. Elytron with sensilla distributed evenly throughout surface, others concentrated in single sensilla patches (Fig. 14). Elytra fused. Elytral lock consists of longitudinal groove along its suture (Fig. 14). Wings absent.

Pro- and mesofemora normally round, only slightly flat dorsoventrally. Metafemur robust, flat dorsoventrally, fairly symmetrical (Fig. 10), 2.15 times as long as wide. Pro- and mesotibiae cylindrical, slightly wider in distal 1/3, without spurs apically. Metatibia (Figs 1, 9) straight in dorsal and lateral views, generally cylindrical, gradually widening distally (in dorsal view), dorsal surface convex nearly to apex. Apical spur long, slightly shorter than tarsal claw. Claw appendiculate near base. Third tarsomere deeply incised (Fig. 11). First metatarsomere as long as two following tarsomeres together.

Abdomen with five distinctly visible sternites. Apical sternite shorter than three preceding sternites combined, without appendages basally. Basal sternite longer than four following sternites together.

Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 12) simple, robust, slightly and evenly curved in lateral view, without any sculpture ventrally.

Type species.

Borinken elyunque Konstantinov & Konstantinova, new species.

Etymology.

This genus is based on the native Taino Indian name for the Island of Puerto Rico, Borinquen. The name is masculine.

Diagnosis and comparison.

Borinken is very different from other flea beetle genera that are known to occur in mosses in the New World (Kiskeya in the West Indies, Nicaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini in Nicaragua, and Ulrica Scherer in the West Indies and Central and South America). Based on the general shape of the body, shape of the base of the pronotum without a lobe extending posteriorly, general shape of the metatibia and tarsal claw, Borinken is similar to Benedictus Scherer, which inhabits mosses in Asia and does not occur in the New World (Sprecher-Uebersax et al. 2009). It can be easily distinguished from that genus by the unique shape and details of the head, subquadrate apical antennomeres, and absence of the prebasal impression on the pronotum.

Borinken is also very different from any other West Indian or New World flea beetle genera. Among New World genera it is somewhat similar to Centralaphthona Bechyné based on the presence of antennal calli, lack of the prebasal groove on the pronotum, regular elytral striae and open procoxal cavities. Borinken can be easily differentiated from Centralaphthona by the following features: elongate facial part of head (normally short in Centralaphthona); antennal calli longer than wide (usually shorter than wide in Centralaphthona); apical antennomeres much wider than basal (about same width in Centralaphthona); vertex, pronotum, and elytra strongly punctured (punctation normally small in Centralaphthona; overall, this kind of coarse punctation is rare among flea beetles); apex of metatibia convex up to tarsomere (flat in Centralaphthona).

Description.

Body length 1.08–1.18 mm, width 0.70–0.81 mm, elongate, relatively flat in lateral view (2.18 times as long as thick). Color brown without metallic luster, legs slightly lighter and antennae, except last antennomere, darker, almost black. Vertex covered with large punctures, shiny, without wrinkles. Oblique fold situated between orbit and antennal callus. Proportions of antennomere lengths in male: 14:9:6:6:6:4:5:5:5:7:10. Antennomeres widened abruptly beginning from antennomere 7 (it is 0.71 times as long as wide). Pronotum evenly covered with large punctures, their diameter much larger than distance between them. Ventral side of body without many setae. Elytron with nine complete rows of punctures. Additional scutellar row incomplete. Punctures large, about as large as space between rows. Interspaces shiny with wrinkles or punctures. Proportions of tarsomere lengths of male as follows: protarsomeres 5:4:4:11; mesotarsomeres 5:4:4:11; metatarsomeres 9:4:5:11.

Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 12) robust in ventral view, with apex evenly convex without apical denticle. Apex slightly swollen in lateral view. Ventral side flat, without membranous window.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the type locality.

Ecology.

Unidentified moss samples that contained Borinken elyunque were collected in the forest from a variety of substrates (rocks, tree stumps, trunks and branches) (Figs 59, 60).

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Puerto Rico: El Yunque, El Toro trail, 18°16.850'N, 65°49.753W, 1066m, 14.VI.2008, moss (unsifted) leg. A. Konstantinov (USNM). Paratype ♂, same label as holotype (USNM). Paratypes 2 ♂, same label as holotype except the date, 16.VI.2008 and moss being “unsifted” (USNM).

Discussion.

Distigmoptera was first recorded in the West Indies by Medvedev (2004) who described a new species from the Dominican Republic. Fourteen previously described species of this genus are known to occur in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Among the West Indian genera of Monoplatini, Distigmoptera is mostly similar to Apleuraltica Bechyné. Apart from characters mentioned in the key (see below), Distigmoptera can be differentiated from Apleuraltica by the antennae that are not clearly clubbed, antennomere six in males is only slightly different from antennomere seven (the antennae are clearly clubbed, antennomere six in males is markedly different from antennomere seven in being much shorter and narrower than seven in Apleuraltica) and by the metatibial apex without a sharp denticle (the metatibial apex has a sharp denticle in Apleuraltica).

Description.

Body (Figs 15, 18) length 1.72–2.27 mm, width 0.91–1.14 mm, pubescent, oval and moderately flat in lateral view. Head, except mouthparts, antenna, except antennomere five in males and five and six in females, pronotum, base of elytron, and metafemur dark brown to blackish. Mouthparts, antennomere five in male and five and six in female, front and middle legs and metatibia yellowish to very light brown. Apex of protibia and apical part of elytron (larger in female than in male) slightly darker. Lighter part of elytron with two transverse dark bands, narrower and better separated in female and wider and poorly visible in male. Lighter parts of elytron covered with setae lighter in color, darker parts covered with setae darker in color.

Head (Figs 16, 17) slightly convex in lateral view, evenly and strongly rugose and pubescent. Frons and vertex forming slightly convex line in lateral view. Supraorbital pore indistinguishable. Antennal callus clearly visible, nearly quadrate, its surface situated above surface of vertex. Midfrontal sulcus wide and deep. Supracallinal and supraorbital sulci poorly visible. Suprafrontal and supraantennal sulci shallow. Orbit relatively narrow, 2.50 times narrower than transverse diameter of eye. Interantennal space as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Antennal socket rounded. Frontal ridge wide, parallel sided. Anterofrontal ridge merged with frontal ridge forming denticle in middle. Eyes small, slightly protruding laterally, inner margin curved. Labrum deeply notched in middle, with six setiferous pores. Apical maxillary palpomere as wide as long, conical, much smaller than preceding palpomere. Labial palpomeres of equal length, apical conical. Antenna with 11 antennomeres, antennomeres widening apically. Antennomere four thinnest (Fig. 18). Proportions of antennomere lengths in male: 12:4:6:5:5:5:7:7:7:6:9; in female: 12:6:5:5:5:6:6:6:6:7:9.

Pronotum (Figs 15, 18) 1.47 times wider than long. Pronotal disc anteriorly raised in two wide ridges separated by shallow and wide impressions. Anterior margin straight, with distinct border. Lateral margins subparallel, very slightly convex, without explanation. Posterior margin nearly straight, without distinct border. Anterolateral callosity globular and evenly rounded, bearing seta and not forming denticle posteriorly. Posterolateral callosity absent. Pronotal surface covered with large closely placed punctures and a few yellow, whitish and black setae. Scutellum triangular, densely covered with yellow setae. Prosternal surface densely covered with irregular punctures. Prosternal intercoxal process extended posteriorly beyond coxa and truncate posteriorly. Posterior end about twice as wide as middle. Procoxal cavities closed posteriorly. Mesosternum shorter than prosternal process, quadrate, rugose and pilose. Metasternum smooth and pilose, convex in lateral view, as long as pro- and mesosterna together. Posterior margin with sharp notch.

Elytral surface punctate (Figs 15, 18), with punctures forming nine striae (not counting marginal and short scutellar striae), densely pilose with black setae near base and yellow setae in posterior half. Interspaces between puncture rows two and three, four and five, six and seven form convex ridges. Humeral callus absent. Base of elytron with callus situated between suture and humeral corner. Epipleura wide, nearly vertical, narrowing abruptly at elytral apex but not reaching it. Elytral apex narrowly truncate.

Pro- and mesofemora slightly dilated and tibiae subcylindrical, somewhat enlarged towards apical edge (Fig. 17); pubescence sparsely distributed. Metafemur greatly enlarged, 1.82 times longer than wide and 1.72 times longer than metatibia. Pro- and mesotibiae without apical spurs. Metatibia straight in lateral view, slightly curved in dorsal view. Outer and inner lateral dorsal ridges more or less straight with apical third with numerous denticles. Metatibial spur well developed. First metatarsomere inserted preapically and about as long as two subsequent tarsomeres together. Claw tarsomere swollen. Claw split in male and appendiculate in female.

Abdomen pubescent, with five visible sternites. Apical sternite shorter than three preceding sternites combined, without appendages basally (Fig. 26). Basal sternite shorter than three following sternites together. Last abdominal tergite of female without groove in middle, evenly covered with long setae.

Median lobe simple, slightly curved in lateral view with more abrupt curvature near middle; in ventral view, with lateral margins almost parallel, apex subtriangular without denticle (Fig. 22). Ventral side apically flatter than basally.

In female genitalia, posterior part of sternite eight sclerotized along its entire margin (Fig. 25). Tignum with rounded anterior margin, evenly sclerotized, bearing many moderately long setae (Fig. 25). Vaginal palpi (Fig. 24) elongate, anteriorly and along middle strongly sclerotized and merged anteriorly for more than half of their length, each with about eight setae at apex, with posterior sclerotization shorter than anterior (Fig. 24). Spermatheca curved (Fig. 23), with receptacle and pump not differentiated from each other (pump about as wide as receptacle). Apex of pump with flattened projection. Spermathecal duct long, forming “S” coils.

Diagnosis and comparison.

Distigmoptera chamorrae can be easily differentiated from all continental speciesof Distigmoptera by the bicolorous antennae with antennomeres five in the male and five and six in the female being yellowish, much lighter than the rest of the antennae. It can be distinguished from the only other West Indian species (Distigmoptera antennata Medvedev) by the absence of wings (Distigmoptera antennata is winged).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym dedicated to Lourdes Chamorro who collected the only known specimens.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Puerto Rico: Toro Negro, 18°11.850'N, 66°29.533'W, 904 m, 20.VI.2008, leg. M. L. Chamorro (USNM). Paratype ♀, same label as holotype (USNM).

Discussion.

Discovery of about a hundred specimens of a third species of Kiskeya in Puerto Rico provided additional material that allowed us to observe structures that were not available for study at the time of the description of the genus (Konstantinov and Chamorro-Lacayo 2006).

Labrum 1.54 times as long as wide and 0.57 times longer than thorma (Fig. 31). Labium as long as wide. Apical labial palpomere conical, longer than wide, slightly longer than palpomeres two and three separately (Fig. 30). Mandible with 4 denticles and well developed prostheca (Fig. 33). Pro- and mesotibia flat, widening apically and abruptly narrowing from apical one-third to apex (Figs 35, 36). Metendosternite typical to one of flightless flea beetles with short stalk and relatively long arms with poorly developed tendons (Fig. 34).

Description.

Body length 0.81–0.92 mm, width 0.52–0.65 mm. Color black with light greenish luster. Femur dark brown, rest of legs and antenna dark yellow. Vertex smooth, without punctures or wrinkles. Supraantennal sulcus absent. Pronotum with tiny, sparse, sharp punctures. Antennal club with 3 antennomeres (Fig. 32). Elytron (Fig. 29) convex in lateral view [length (from apex to connection with pronotum) nearly equal to height], with tiny, sparse, barely visible punctures. Proportions of protarsomeres of female (starting with first) 4:2:3:10; mesotarsomeres 4:2:3:10; metatarsomeres 11:2:3:10. In male, proportions as follows: protarsomeres 5:2:3:10; mesotarsomeres 5:2:3:10; metatarsomeres 10:2:2:10. Apex of median lobe of aedeagus without acute denticle in ventral view (Fig. 38). Vaginal palpi with eight long setae posteriorly (Fig. 40), curved towards middle. Anterior sclerotizations widening anteriorly, strongly diverging. Spermatheca (Fig. 39) with receptacle longer and wider than pump. Outer and inner sides of receptacle nearly equally convex. Tignum curved laterally. Posterior sclerotization of tignum wider than middle, arrow shaped (Fig. 41).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the type locality.

Diagnosis and comparison.

Kiskeya elyunque is the only species of Kiskeya known to occur in Puerto Rico. It can be easily differentiated from the other two known species of the genus based on the key below.

Ecology.

Unidentified moss samples which contained Kiskeya elyunque were collected in the forest from a variety of substrates (rocks, tree stumps, trunks and branches) (Fig. 59, 60).

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Puerto Rico: El Yunque, El Toro trail, 18°11.850’N, 66°29.533'W, 1066m, 14.VI.2008, moss (unsifted) leg. A. Konstantinov (USNM). Paratypes: 45 specimens, same label as holotype (USNM); 37 specimens, same label as holotype except the date, 16.VI.2008 and moss being “unsifted” (USNM).

Key to speciesof Kiskeya

Discussion.

The only three previously described species of Ulrica are known from Venezuela. There are about 20 more species that remain undescribed in various collections, but they were also collected from Venezuela. Among West Indian genera, Ulrica can be recognized based on the following key. The five specimens of Ulrica that were collected in Puerto Rico come from the same mountain region, El Yunque. Based on the labels, the substrate that they came from differs for two species: it is moss for Ulrica eltoro and leaf litter for Ulrica iviei. The exact collecting locations for Ulrica ivieiare unknown.

Description.

Body length 1.94–2.16 mm, width 1.18–1.29 mm. Color chestnut brown with appendages lighter (Fig. 47). Head surface shiny with few small punctures (Fig. 48), supraorbital pore much larger than a few small punctures on vertex. Supracallinal sulcus clearly separates antennal calli and vertex medially. Frontal ridge wide, longer than antennal calli. Anterofrontal ridge making long denticle about as long as half clypeus length. Pronotum and elytron with fine punctures. Interspaces of elytron flat. Proportions of tarsomeres of male as follows: protarsomeres 7:4:4:9; mesotarsomeres 7:4:4:9; metatarsomeres 10:4:4:9. Median lobe of aedeagus more or less parallel sided in ventral, median lobe view, with ridge in middle being wider at base, narrowing towards middle and widening and disappearing towards apex. In lateral, median lobe view slightly curved with bump on ventral side beyond middle (Fig. 50).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the type locality.

Diagnosis and comparison.

Ulrica eltoro can be easily differentiated from Ulrica ivieibased on the key below.

Ecology.

Unidentified moss samples that contained Ulrica eltoro were collected in the forest from a variety of substrates (rocks, tree stumps, trunks and branches) (Figs 59, 60).

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Puerto Rico: El Yunque, El Toro trail, 18°16.850'N, 65°49.753'W, 1066m, 14.VI.2008, moss (unsifted) leg. A. Konstantinov (USNM). Paratype ♂, same label as holotype (USNM).

Description.

Body length 1.89–2.05 mm, width 1.08–1.29 mm. Color chestnut brown to almost black with appendages lighter (Figs 51, 52). Head surface dorsally shiny, ventrally with some wrinkles (Fig. 53). Vertex with several large punctures, supraorbital pore as large as a few punctures on vertex near it. Supracallinal sulcus not separating antennal calli and vertex medially. Frontal ridge wide, about as long as antennal calli (Fig. 53). Anterofrontal ridge making long denticle about as long as entire clypeus. Pronotum and elytron with coarse punctures. Interspaces of elytron flat on disc, slightly convex apically. Proportions of tarsomeres of male as follows: protarsomeres 5:4:5:9; mesotarsomeres 5:4:5:9; metatarsomeres 10:5:5:9. Median lobe of aedeagus with more or less curved sides in ventral view, with ridge in middle being wider at base, narrowing towards middle and widening towards apex. In lateral view slightly curved without bump on ventral side beyond middle (Fig. 55). Spermatheca with pump at base wider than receptacle and duct making coils (Fig. 56). Sternite eight nearly fully sclerotized with tignum sharply bent anteriorly (Fig. 58). Vaginal palpi merged at about apical one third (Fig. 57).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym dedicated to Mike Ivie who collected the holotype.

Diagnosis and comparison.

Ulrica ivieican be easily differentiated from Ulrica eltoro based on the key below.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Puerto Rico: Caribbean Nat. For. Pico El Yunque, El Toro trail, 975 m, 23 Sept. 1987, leg. M. A. Ivie, dwarf forest litter (WIBF). Paratypes ♂ and ♀, Puerto Rico El Yunque, Mt. Britton Tr. VIII.11.1999, C. W. O’Brien, P. Kovarik (MLBU, USNM).

Key to species of Ulrica from Puerto Rico Key to Monoplatini genera of the West Indies

In addition to Distigmoptera and Ulrica, six other Monoplatini genera are reported in the West Indies: Aedmon Clark, Apleuraltica, Bonfilsus Scherer, Homotyphus Clark, Hypolampsis Clark, and Physimerus Clark (Takizawa 2003). Aedmon, Apleuraltica, and Bonfilsus are West Indian endemics, relatively small (with the exception of Aedmon) and relatively well circumscribed. However, Homotyphus (with about 20 species mostly from South America and just one in the West Indies), Hypolampsis (with about 50 species from North, Central, and South America and just two in the West Indies), and Physimerus (with about 60 species from Central and South America and one in the West Indies) are poorly understood; their identity, distinguishing characters and composition need extensive review. Below we provide a key for Monoplatini genera of the West Indies based on the West Indian species.