Diagnosis

Head not depressed above eyes; frons slightly narrower than narrowest part of the rostrum in dorsal view (Fig. 1); rostrum convex, curved (Fig. 2); scape slightly shorter than funicle and at most reaching eye, funiculus with seven segments, antennal club compact and only one segmented (Figs. 3 and 34). Pronotum simple and scutellum present (Figs. 4 and 33). Pectoral canal on prosternum open behind and passing anterior margin of mesocoxae, rostrum not touching middle coxa, but ending in receptacle on mesosternum, mesosternal process cavernous, forming receptacle, receptacle at least as long as wide, its inner margin U-shaped; mesosternum truncate between middle coxae, width of mesosternum separating middle coxae wider than the dorsal apex of the rostrum (Fig. 34); metasternum longer than ventrite 3, metepisterna distinct, sclerolepidia present (Fig. 45); elytrotergal stidulatory organs present (Figs. 42 and 43); abdominal process narrower than a coxa, ventrite 1 with a semicircular, elevated concavity delimited by a carina (Figs. 7, 23 and 36), ventrite 2 subequal to 3 or shorter than 3+4. Femora unidentate, sulcate beneath, the sulci bare (Fig. 40); outer margin of the tibia even, not serrate, tibia with the inner carina of the tibial apex not laminate, middle tibia with tibial apex 2 rows of outer setose (Fig. 39), and hind tibial uncus with knob-like structures (Fig. 41), and tarsal claws simple.

Remarks

This new genus is like Shirahoshizo Morimoto 1962 as regards its single femoral tooth, femora sulcate beneath, the sulci bare and the absence of the lamination in the inner carina of tibial apex (Morimoto 1962). However, it is distinct in view of the 2 rows of outer setose fringe in the apex of the middle tibia, semicircular elevated concavity on the ventrite 1, and presence of knob-like structures on the uncus of hind tibia. The genus Ampagia (Pascoe, 1870) is the only one to share this character of ventrite, but the present new genus is distinct due to its sclerolepidia, and pair of knobs on the uncus of the hind tibia as could be ascertained from Lyal (1993). However, more species of Ampagia remain to be studied to reach a conclusion in this regard.

In the key to the genera of Cryptorhynchinae of the United States by Kissinger (1964), this new genus runs to the Cryptorhynchus Illiger (1807). The status of the Cryptorhynchus has since undergone several changes; it is to be noted that it has never been shown to possess the unique character of concavity on the ventrite 1 and the pair of knob-like structures on the uncus of the hind tibia; moreover, all Cryptorhynchus have bidentate femora.

Further, this new genus shares some characters with the western Palearctic Onyxacalles Stüben 1999, like the curved apex (hook) of the aedeagus and presence of knob-like structures on the tibial uncus in some of its species; however, it is distinct in the semicircular elevated concavity on the ventrite 1; in Onyxacalles, the median lobe of the aedeagus seems to be not arcuate while herein, it is strongly arcuate (Stüben 1999).

Integument reddish black, slightly paler at the apex of the rostrum and tibiae, and much paler in the antennae; and set with truncate, whitish, brown and dark brown recumbent scales, with the scales sparse, separate and not covering the entire surface (Figs. 20, 21 and 22).

Head slightly transverse, finely granulate, set with sparse, elongate, brown, recumbent scales (Fig. 37); frons set with whitish scales, with a small pit between the posterior margin of the eyes, 0.83 × (0.67–0.83 ×) as broad as narrowest portion of the rostrum; rostrum 3.26 × (3.26–3.60 ×) as long as broad, coarsely and densely punctate (Fig. 1), two thirds of rostrum set with whitish scales, rostrum curved (Fig. 2) and slightly dilated at the apical third, with a median carina distinct medially. Antennae (Fig. 34) inserted laterally at two thirds of the rostrum (Fig. 2); scape slightly shorter than funicular segments (Fig. 3) and at most reaching eye, 0.78 × (0.65–0.78 ×) as long as 1st–7th funicular segments combined, set with fine pubescence, and not touching the eyes; funicle 1 2.29 × (2.29–2.48 ×) as long as broad, 1.54 × (1.54–1.71 ×) as long as funicle 2; funicle 2, 2.74 × (2.59–2.79 ×) as long as broad; funicular segments 1st–7th progressively decreasing in length, and longer than broad, set with few, elongate setae; club compact, subcylindrical, and 2.58 × (2.40–2.62 ×) as long as broad.

Pronotum slightly transverse (Figs. 5 and 31), 0.72 × (0.68–0.72 ×), as long as broad, broadest at the base, apical portion 0.57 × (0.54–0.57 ×) as broad as base, punctations small, deep and dense, semicircular, each punctation set with subtriangular scales (Fig. 32). Middle of the pronotum with 2 spots separated by longitudinal rows of pale brown scales (Figs. 5 and 20), median carina only at the basal portion; pronotum smoothly rounded at the dorsum and shallowly constricted towards the apex; apex slightly rounded and base bisinuate (Fig. 5); with postocular lobe on anterior margin of pronotum immediately behind eyes. Scutellum (Figs. 4 and 33) shining, trapezoidal, 1.15 × (1.15–1.20 ×), as long as broad, and set with few fine pubescence.

Elytra 1.43× (1.34–1.43 ×) as long as broad (Fig. 6), with reduced humeri, parallel upto the middle, then shallowly constricted towards the apex, roundly convex at the middle, trisinuate at the base and subtruncate at the apex; protuberances on interstria absent, interstria 2.61 × (2.61–3.30×) as broad as stria (Fig. 35), and at little higher level than stria, stria very narrow with punctations oblong; and scales on the sutural margin comparatively smaller than the other. Elytrotergal stridulatory organs present, with elytral strigil (file-like structures) on the apical portion of the ventral sides of the elytra (Figs. 42 and 43), with distinct peg-like structures on the middle of the posterior ends of the tergite VII (Figs. 11 and 24); structures on left elytra more prominent than those on the right side; and other structures (layers of short file-like structures) on the sutural margin of the ventral side (Fig. 42).

Ventrally the prosternal canal ends at the middle of the middle coxae, width of mesosternum at the separation between middle coxae wider than the dorsal apex of the rostrum, and 1.25 × (1.22–1.29 ×) as long as width of the apex of the rostrum, mesosternal receptacle U-shaped and nearly as long as broad and cavernous (Fig. 34). Metasternum concave, with a deep vertical sulcus from the middle of the anterior portion to that of the posterior portion, and longerthan ventrite 3; metepisternite distinct, not concealed by elytra; mesepisternum complete, reaching the marginal line of the metasternum. Abdominal process narrower than a coxa, ventrite 1 feebly fused with ventrite 2 medially and with an elevated, semicircular concavity delimited by a carina (Figs. 7, 23 and 36). Sutures between the ventrite laterally deep; ventrite 1, 1.59 × (1.55–1.62 ×) as long as ventrite 5, ventrite 2 0.51 × (0.36–0.51 ×) as long as ventrite 3+4 combined, ventrite 3 nearly as long as ventrite 4 and 0.37 × (0.33–0.39×) as long as metasternum; and ventrite 3+4 with a transverse, feeble carina at their middle portion.

Sclerolepidia distinct (Figs. 44 and 45) with a row of yellowish scales, called “plumose sclerolepidia” (‘type 4' of Lyal et al. 2006) (Fig. 45), between metepisterna and metasternum; and this sclerolepidia raised among the reticulations in the reflexed wall of the metasternal groove, into which fits the ventral margin of the metepisternum (Fig. 44).

Legs with the femora unidentate, dentation at the middle, sulcate beneath with the sulci bare (Fig. 40), middle femora longer than the other two, 1.17 × (1.17–1.21 ×) as long as fore femora and 1.05 × (1.00–1.10×) as long as hind femora, fore and middle femora sublinear dorsally (Figs. 8 and 9), while the hind femora clavate (Fig. 10); trochanter oblique; tibiae broader at the base and smoothly tapering towards the apex, with outer margin even, not serrate, inner carina of the tibial apex not laminate, middle tibia 1.12 × (1.12–1.19 ×) as long as fore tibia and 0.93 × (0.89–0.93 ×) as long as hind tibia; fore tibia set with a row of comb-like outer setose fringes at apex (Fig. 38), while the middle and hind tibia with 2 rows of comb-like, outer setose fringes (Figs. 39 and 41), of which the proximal one is weak and less regular than the distal one, inner flange of the tibial apex largely exposed; hind tibial uncus with a pair of knob-like structures, while fore and middle tibia with only a feeble knob (Figs. 41, 38 and 39); first tarsal segment longer than the others (Fig. 40), 0.89 × (0.89–0.93 ×) and as long as the remaining segments combined, with tarsal claws simple.

Male genitalia with aedeagus 7.04 × as long as broad (Figs. 15, 16, 17, 26 and 27) and aedeagal apodeme nearly as long as median lobe, broader at their joining; median lobe subcylindrical for some part beyond the middle and then abruptly pointed towards the apex (Fig. 18), strongly sclerotised, slightly membranous at the middle, internally with a pair of strongly sclerotised, pointed hooks, with points facing towards the aedeagal apodeme (Figs. 27 and 28), covered with a thin, transparent layer (Fig. 19); endophallus between aedeagal apodeme with 2 pairs of pointed, sclerotised structures, one pair with curved, hollow, cone-like structure in which another pair is placed (Fig. 29); aedeagus in profile strongly arcuate, abruptly narrowed and hooked at the apex (Figs. 15 and 26); tegmen with Y-shaped structure (Fig. 13); spiculum gastrale 3.52× as long as broad at the base, with thick and Y-shaped symmetrical arms (Figs. 14 and 30).

Tergite VII strongly transverse, subrectangular, 0.35× as long as broad, with a pair of spinose patches on the anterior portion, with a pair of setiferous tubercles on the middle of the posterior end (Figs. 11 and 24). Tergite VIII rounded much convex, 0. 94× as long as broad, with few scales only at the median portion (Figs. 12 and 25).

Measurements

Length: 3.0–3.5 mm; breadth: 1.5–2.0 mm.

Type Material

HOLOTYPE 1 Male, INDIA: Karnataka, Coorg; Makut. N 12° 04′ 39″ E 75°43′ 33″, 909 m, 5-IV-2005, Coll. Y.B. Srinivas, (NPC); PARATYPES, 2 males, data same as of holotype (NPC).

Etymology

This new genus and species are named after Prof. C. A. Viraktamath, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore and Mr. Y. B. Srinivas, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, India.

Remarks

In addition to the characters given in the genus description, this new species is unique and distinct in the following combination of charac ters: rostrum coarsely and densely punctate, with a median carina distinct medially; pronotum at the middle with 2 spots separated by longitudinal rows of pale brown scales; interstria broader than stria; aedeagus with the median lobe in profile strongly arcuate, abruptly narrowed and slightly hooked at the apex, endophallus with a pair of hook-like structures, and with 2 pairs of pointed sclerotized structures between apodeme.