Nicaltica new genus and new species (N. selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini) from moss habitat in Nicaragua are described and illustrated. Nicaltica is compared to Kiskeya Konstantinov and Chamorro-Lacayo, Monotalla Bechyne ́, and Normaltica Konstantinov

Chamorro-Lacayo, Maria Lourdes

Konstantinov, Alexander S.

Savini, Vilma P.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 4-22-2009 A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA Alexander S. Konstantinov Maria Lourdes Chamorro-Lacayo Vilma P. Savini Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUAALEXANDER S. KONSTANTINOVSystematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research ServiceU.S. Department of Agriculture, c/o Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012National Museum of Natural HistoryMRC 168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USAalex.konstantinov@ars.usda.govMARIA LOURDES CHAMORRO-LACAYODepartment of EntomologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint-Paul, MN 55108, USAcham0138@umn.eduANDVILMA P. SAVINIMuseo del Instituto de Zoologı´a AgricolaFacultad de Agronomı´aUniversidad Central de VenezuelaApdo 4579, Maracay 2101-AEstado Aragua, VENEZUELAvsgioia@gmail.comAbstractNicaltica new genus and new species (N. selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo andSavini) from moss habitat in Nicaragua are described and illustrated. Nicaltica is comparedto Kiskeya Konstantinov and Chamorro-Lacayo, Monotalla Bechyne´, and NormalticaKonstantinov.Moss and leaf litter constitute a specific environment for leaf beetles(Chrysomelidae) which normally are found on the foliage of the flowering plantson which they feed. Among the approximately 50,000 species of leaf beetlesworldwide, only about 40 species are known to inhabit mosses. They all are fleabeetles (Alticini), a group of about 11,000 species worldwide. So far the only knownNew World flea beetles living in mosses, two species of Kiskeya Konstantinov andChamorro-Lacayo, were found in the Dominican Republic. Recent collecting inNicaragua revealed another, previously unknown, genus described below.Beetles were retrieved from sifted moss samples by Berlese extraction. Dissectingtechniques and terminology for most internal and external structures followKonstantinov (1998). Terminology for thoracic structures follows Chamorro-Lacayo and Konstantinov (2004). Specimens are deposited in the collection of theNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.(USNM) and Museo del Instituto de Zoologı´a Agricola, Facultad de Agronomı´a,Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay (MIZA).The Coleopterists Bulletin, 63(1):1–12. 2009.1Nicaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini, new genus(Figs. 1–28)Description. Body length 1.38–1.55 mm, width 1.05–1.15 mm, rounded, convexin lateral view (1.78 times as long as thick). Color black without metallic luster,legs and antennae more pale.Head (Figs. 3, 4, 11) nearly hypognathous, flat in lateral view. Frons and vertexforming slightly convex line (Fig. 11) in lateral view. Supraorbital pore welldeveloped with no other pores nearby. Antennal calli well developed, very short,oblique, not connected to each other. Supracallinal sulcus deep, straight.Midfrontal sulcus absent. Suprafrontal and suprantennal sulci well developed,deep. Supraorbital sulcus slightly impressed ventrally, absent dorsally. Subgenalsuture shallow dorsally, absent ventrally. Orbit 0.45 times as wide as transversediameter of eye. Interantennal space as wide as transverse diameter of eye and 2.1times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Frontal ridge wide.Anterofrontal ridge not separated from frontal ridge. Both ridges form swollen,loosely defined triangle covered with shallow, longitudinal wrinkles. Eyes slightlyprotruding laterally. Vertex sometimes with oval impression in middle. Labrumwith six setiferous pores, apically deeply incised. Labium with three palpomeresper palpus, two distal palpomeres longer than wide. Maxillary palpus with fourpalpomeres, distal palpomere conical, slightly longer than preapical. Antennawith 11 antennomeres. First antennomere slightly wider and much longer thatsecond. Third and fourth antennomeres much thinner than second. Distalantennomeres wider than third and fourth.Pronotum (Fig. 6) 1.62 times wider than long (measured in middle), withoutimpressions, covered with sharp slightly longitudinal punctures. Sides weaklyrounded and relatively narrowly explanate, converging gradually from base toapex. Marginal anterolateral callosity 3.7 times shorter than lateral margin.Posterolateral callosity not protruding. Basal margin extends posteriorly, withdistinct border. Procoxal cavity closed. Intercoxal prosternal process relativelywide, longitudinally channeled, parallel-sided, flat at apex (Fig. 7).Mesoscutellum flat, broadly triangular (Fig. 1). Mesocoxae separated by bothmeso- and metasterna. Mesosternum covered by metasternum, vertical (Figs. 7,8).Metanotum with well developed medial groove (Fig. 10). Metasternum (Fig. 8)protruding anteriorly between mesocoxae, forming obtuse denticle at apex.Elytron (Fig. 1) widest near mid-length. Humeral callus poorly developed.Elytral punctures arranged in nine rows. Space between last row and lateralmargin convex. Interspaces with tiny punctures, shiny. Elytral apex narrowlyrounded, surrounded by distinct border. Epipleura broad, oblique, graduallynarrowing posteriorly, nearly attaining sutural margin of elytron. Lateral marginof elytron continued ventrally beyond epipleura near pronotum, delimitingepipleura dorsolaterally. Elytron with sensilla distributed evenly throughoutsurface, others concentrated in two sensilla patches (Figs. 13–17). Wing with a setof veins common in flea beetles (Konstantinov 2002), but CuA 3+4, RP-mp2, andRP poorly sclerotized and barely visible (Fig. 28).Pro- and mesofemur slightly flattened dorsoventrally. Metafemur robust, flatdorsoventrally, fairly symmetrical (Fig. 12), 1.95 times as long as wide. Pro- andmesotibiae cylindrical, slightly wider in distal 1/3, without spurs apically.Metatibia (Fig. 18) slightly curved in dorsal view, straight in lateral view,generally cylindrical, abruptly widening distally (in dorsal view), flat only at apex,2 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009Figs. 1–2. Nicaltica selvanegra male, habitus. 1) dorsal view; 2) lateral view.THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 3Figs. 3–10. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 3, 4) head, frontalview; 5) head, ventral view; 6) pronotum; 7) prothorax, ventral view; 8) metasternum andabdomen; 9) antenna; 10) metanotum.4 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009Figs. 11–17. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 11) head and thoraxin lateral view; 12) metafemur; 13–17) internal side of elytron, a, b—sensilla patches.THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 5without serration on the outer and inner edges and without preapical excavationson either inner or outer edges; apical spur as long as tarsal claw. Clawappendiculate (Fig. 19). Third tarsomere deeply incised (Fig. 20). First metatar-somere as long as two following tarsomeres together.Abdomen with five distinctly visible sternites (Figs. 8, 26). Apical sternite aslong as three preceding sternites combined, without appendages basally. Apicaltergite of female broadly triangular, unevenly covered with long setae, weaklysclerotized in middle and at anterolateral corners, with sclerotized groove inmiddle (Fig. 24).Spermatheca (Fig. 22) with receptacle gradually transitioning into pumpwithout distinct border. Receptacle much longer and wider than pump. Ductstraight, with base of gland situated nearly at mid length. Tignum (Fig. 23)narrowing anteriorly, slightly narrower than posteriorly. Vaginal palpi (Fig. 25)slender, connected on distal 1/3, distal sclerotizations narrow and curved.Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 27) simple, convex in lateral view, without anysculpture ventrally.Type species. Nicaltica selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini.Etymology. This genus name is derived from the country in which these beetlesoccur, Nicaragua, and the name of the type genus of the tribe. The name isfeminine.Figs. 18–21. Legs of N. selvanegra. 18) metatibia and tarsus; 19) metatibial apex andmetatarsus in lateral view; 20) metatarsus in dorsal view; 21) setae on bottom ofmetatarsomere 3.RFigs. 22–27. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 22) spermatheca; 23)tignum; 24) apical abdominal tergite; 25) vaginal palpi; 26) abdominal ventrites; 27) medianlobe of the aedeagus.6 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 7Host plant. Unidentified mosses (Fig. 30), although feeding was not observed.Diagnosis and comparison. Based on the general shape of the body, shape of thebase of the pronotum with a lobe extending posteriorly, metatibia and tarsal claw,Nicaltica is similar to Normaltica (Konstantinov 2002). It can be easilydistinguished by the unique shape of the antennal calli, which are short andoblique, delineated from the vertex by the deep supracallinal sulcus (in Normalticathe antennal calli are long and poorly separated from the vertex); frontal andanterofrontal ridges forming a swollen triangle (in Normaltica the frontal andanterofrontal ridges form a rectangular structure); mostly filiform antennae (inNormaltica the antennae are clavate); deeply incised labrum (it is solid inNormaltica); mesosternum covered by metasternum (it is not covered inNormaltica); slender vaginal palpi (they are robust in Normaltica), and generallyless sclerotized wing, particularly CuA 3+4 vein (Fig. 28).Nicaltica is superficially similar to Kiskeya (Konstantinov and Chamorro-Lacayo 2006) and Monotalla Bechyne´ (Savini and Furth 2001). Among featuresthat most readily separate Nicaltica from Kiskeya and Monotalla are 11-segmented, filiform antennae (they are 9- and 10-segmented accordingly and alsoclavate in Kiskeya); the head with a nearly full set of sulci (most sulci,supracallinal in particular, are absent in Kiskeya and Monotalla); the firstabdominal sternite lacking a longitudinal ridge (the ridge is present in Kiskeya);and the metatibia nearly cylindrical (it is flattened dorsoventrally withlongitudinal groove on the dorsal side in Kiskeya and Monotalla).The meso- and metasternites of Nicaltica are as short as in most flightless fleabeetles, so we very much doubt that the flight muscles are significantly developed.Although these beetles have wings (Fig. 28), they probably cannot fly, as in thecase of some Neotropical cicindelines (Zerm and Adis 2002).Nicaltica selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini, new species(Figs. 1–28)Description. Body length 1.38–1.55 mm, width 1.05–1.15 mm. Color blackwithout metallic luster. Legs and last 5 antennomeres dark brown, remainder ofantenna dark yellow. Vertex smooth, without punctures, covered with shallow,oblique wrinkles. Proportions of antennomere lengths in female:15:9:9:8:8:9:9:10:9:10:15; in male: 15:11:8:7:8:7:9:10:9:10:15. Pronotum evenlycovered with sharp, slightly longitudinal punctures. Distance between puncturesmany times more than diameter of puncture. Elytron with nine complete rows ofFig. 28. Wing of N. selvanegra.8 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009punctures. Additional scutellar row incomplete. Distances between punctures inrows and between rows about three times diameter of puncture. Interspacesslightly shagreened, with only few, sparse, barely visible punctures. Middle of firstabdominal ventrite covered with large punctures, remainder bare. Proportions oftarsomere lengths of female (starting with first): protarsomeres 10:6:7:15;mesotarsomeres 10:6:7:15; metatarsomeres 15:8:8:16. In male, proportions asfollows: protarsomeres 11:7:8:13; mesotarsomeres 11:7:8:15; metatarsomeres17:6:8:17.Spermatheca (Fig. 22) with receptacle slightly constricted above one third.Spermathecal pump much shorter than receptacle, strongly curved. Spermathecalduct without loop away from receptacle. Tignum (Fig. 23) expanding intomembranous sclerite anteriorly with two patches of setae on sides. Vaginal palpi(Fig. 25) with posterior sclerotizations narrow and curved outwards.Median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 27) in lateral view with apex straight and inventral view abruptly narrowing without well defined denticle.Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the typelocality.Ecology. Unidentified moss samples that contained N. selvanegra were collectedin the forest from a variety of substrates (rocks, tree stumps, trunks and branches)(Figs. 29, 30).Selva Negra is located with easy access to the virgin cloudforest of one of thehighest peaks of the serranı´a Dariense, El Picacho (1,580 m). The serranı´aDariense is one of three mountain ranges traversing the central Nicaraguanlandscape. The mountain ranges gradually decrease in size from west to east intothe large expanses of lowland rainforest along the Atlantic region of Nicaragua.The westernmost serranı´a Isabelia has the highest peaks, followed by the serranı´aDariense, with the easternmost serranı´a Chontalen˜a reaching no more than 1,220m (Cumaica) (Incer Barquero 2000). All three mountain ranges are separated bylarge river valleys. Several high and isolated peaks with similar forest and mosscover, on both the serranı´a Dariense and Isabelia, are located near Selva Negra /El Picacho, representing prime habitat for additional moss-inhabiting species offlea beetles. Some [cerro Saslaya (1,651 m) and cerro El Toro (1,652 m)] arelocated at the edge of the one of the largest expanses of largely unexplored virginforests in Mesoamerica, reserva de biosfera Bosawas (8,000 km2) (Incer Barquero2000). Yet, within the serranı´a Dariense exist several high peaks much closer to ElPicacho, which may also uncover additional Nicaltica individuals.The Nicaltica specimens were collected from one collecting event during theearly wet season in Selva Negra. This has been the first sampling of mosses inCentral America. However, further moss sampling in the Neotropical region willundoubtedly reveal new material from mosses.The massive peaks of the serranı´as act as barriers to the westerly winds of theAtlantic where the humidity falls in the form of rain or condenses on the highestpeaks. The wet season in the central highlands region lasts between 7–8 months ofthe year with an annual precipitation of more than 2,000 mm. The temperatureon peaks above 1,500 m is above 20uC (Incer Barquero 2000).Several peaks discussed above are located within national protected areas, suchas Kilambe, Saslaya, and Pen˜as Blancas. The ever growing agricultural frontthreatens the forests, consequently the associated flora and fauna, on the majorityof these peaks. Moss is directly affected as a result of deforestation either throughdirect downing of host trees or as a result of drying from loss of canopy cover andhumidity retention.THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 9Fig. 29. Forest at Selva Negra reserve, habitat of N. selvanegra. Photo by R. Stanley.10 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009Type material. Holotype male. Labels: 1) Nicaragua: Matagalpa Prov., 4.1 miN Matagalpa, Selva Negra 13u0093560N, 85u549010W, 1,450 m 18-19.VI.2007,moss sifting, leg. A.Konstantinov & L.Chamorro; 2) Holotype Nicalticaselvanegra des. A. Konstantinov, L. Chamorro & V. Savini, 2008 (USNM).Paratypes: 3 females, 3 males, same labels as holotype (USNM), 2 males and 1female (MIZA).Fig. 30. Moss on a side of a tree, microhabitat of N. selvanegra. Photo by L. Chamorro-Lacayo.THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 11AcknowledgmentsWe are grateful to S. Lingafelter, R. Stanley, and N. Woodley forcompanionship and comradery during the collecting trip to Nicaragua and toJean-Michel Maes for his help in obtaining necessary permits.We thank S. McKamey and A. L. Norrbom (Systematic EntomologyLaboratory, ARS, USDA, Washington, DC), A. K. Tishechkin (Department ofEntomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA) for reviewing earlierversions of this manuscript and providing useful suggestions, and S. W.Lingafelter (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Washington,DC) for valuable editorial suggestions.Literature CitedChamorro-Lacayo, M. L., and A. S. Konstantinov. 2004. Morphology of the prothorax andprocoxa in the New World Cryptocephalini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptoce-phalinae). Zootaxa 676:1–46.Incer Barquero, J. 2000. Geografia dina´mica de Nicaragua (2nd ed.). Managua: Hispamer,281 pp.Konstantinov, A. S. 1998. Revision of the Palearctic species of Aphthona Chevrolat andcladistic classification of the Aphthonini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae).Memoirs on Entomology, International, Associated Publishers, Gainesvillev.11:1–429.Konstantinov, A. S. 2002. A new genus of flea beetles from the Greater Antilles (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae). Zootaxa 124:1–24.Konstantinov, A. S., and M. L. Chamorro-Lacayo. 2006. A new genus of moss-inhabiting fleabeetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the Dominican Republic. The Coleopter-ists Bulletin 60(4):275–290.Savini, V., and D. G. Furth. 2001. The status of Heikertingerella, Monotalla, Pseudodibolia,and Sphaeroderma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) in the New World.Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 103(4):903–912.Zerm, M., and J. Adis. 2002. Flight ability in nocturnal tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae:Cicindelinae) from Central Amazonian floodplains (Brazil). The ColeopteristsBulletin 56(4):491–500.(Received 22 June 2008; accepted 13 September 2008. Publication date 22 April 2009.)12 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009

A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA

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Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 
4-22-2009 
A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES 
(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA 
Alexander S. Konstantinov 
Maria Lourdes Chamorro-Lacayo 
Vilma P. Savini 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research 
Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion 
in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of 
Nebraska - Lincoln. 
A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES
(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA
ALEXANDER S. KONSTANTINOV
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture, c/o Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012
National Museum of Natural History
MRC 168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
alex.konstantinov@ars.usda.gov
MARIA LOURDES CHAMORRO-LACAYO
Department of Entomology
University of Minnesota
Saint-Paul, MN 55108, USA
cham0138@umn.edu
AND
VILMA P. SAVINI
Museo del Instituto de Zoologı́a Agricola
Facultad de Agronomı́a
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Apdo 4579, Maracay 2101-A
Estado Aragua, VENEZUELA
vsgioia@gmail.com
Abstract
Nicaltica new genus and new species (N. selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and
Savini) from moss habitat in Nicaragua are described and illustrated. Nicaltica is compared
to Kiskeya Konstantinov and Chamorro-Lacayo, Monotalla Bechyné, and Normaltica
Konstantinov.
Moss and leaf litter constitute a specific environment for leaf beetles
(Chrysomelidae) which normally are found on the foliage of the flowering plants
on which they feed. Among the approximately 50,000 species of leaf beetles
worldwide, only about 40 species are known to inhabit mosses. They all are flea
beetles (Alticini), a group of about 11,000 species worldwide. So far the only known
New World flea beetles living in mosses, two species of Kiskeya Konstantinov and
Chamorro-Lacayo, were found in the Dominican Republic. Recent collecting in
Nicaragua revealed another, previously unknown, genus described below.
Beetles were retrieved from sifted moss samples by Berlese extraction. Dissecting
techniques and terminology for most internal and external structures follow
Konstantinov (1998). Terminology for thoracic structures follows Chamorro-
Lacayo and Konstantinov (2004). Specimens are deposited in the collection of the
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
(USNM) and Museo del Instituto de Zoologı́a Agricola, Facultad de Agronomı́a,
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay (MIZA).
The Coleopterists Bulletin, 63(1):1–12. 2009.
1
Nicaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini, new genus
(Figs. 1–28)
Description. Body length 1.38–1.55 mm, width 1.05–1.15 mm, rounded, convex
in lateral view (1.78 times as long as thick). Color black without metallic luster,
legs and antennae more pale.
Head (Figs. 3, 4, 11) nearly hypognathous, flat in lateral view. Frons and vertex
forming slightly convex line (Fig. 11) in lateral view. Supraorbital pore well
developed with no other pores nearby. Antennal calli well developed, very short,
oblique, not connected to each other. Supracallinal sulcus deep, straight.
Midfrontal sulcus absent. Suprafrontal and suprantennal sulci well developed,
deep. Supraorbital sulcus slightly impressed ventrally, absent dorsally. Subgenal
suture shallow dorsally, absent ventrally. Orbit 0.45 times as wide as transverse
diameter of eye. Interantennal space as wide as transverse diameter of eye and 2.1
times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Frontal ridge wide.
Anterofrontal ridge not separated from frontal ridge. Both ridges form swollen,
loosely defined triangle covered with shallow, longitudinal wrinkles. Eyes slightly
protruding laterally. Vertex sometimes with oval impression in middle. Labrum
with six setiferous pores, apically deeply incised. Labium with three palpomeres
per palpus, two distal palpomeres longer than wide. Maxillary palpus with four
palpomeres, distal palpomere conical, slightly longer than preapical. Antenna
with 11 antennomeres. First antennomere slightly wider and much longer that
second. Third and fourth antennomeres much thinner than second. Distal
antennomeres wider than third and fourth.
Pronotum (Fig. 6) 1.62 times wider than long (measured in middle), without
impressions, covered with sharp slightly longitudinal punctures. Sides weakly
rounded and relatively narrowly explanate, converging gradually from base to
apex. Marginal anterolateral callosity 3.7 times shorter than lateral margin.
Posterolateral callosity not protruding. Basal margin extends posteriorly, with
distinct border. Procoxal cavity closed. Intercoxal prosternal process relatively
wide, longitudinally channeled, parallel-sided, flat at apex (Fig. 7).
Mesoscutellum flat, broadly triangular (Fig. 1). Mesocoxae separated by both
meso- and metasterna. Mesosternum covered by metasternum, vertical (Figs. 7,
8).
Metanotum with well developed medial groove (Fig. 10). Metasternum (Fig. 8)
protruding anteriorly between mesocoxae, forming obtuse denticle at apex.
Elytron (Fig. 1) widest near mid-length. Humeral callus poorly developed.
Elytral punctures arranged in nine rows. Space between last row and lateral
margin convex. Interspaces with tiny punctures, shiny. Elytral apex narrowly
rounded, surrounded by distinct border. Epipleura broad, oblique, gradually
narrowing posteriorly, nearly attaining sutural margin of elytron. Lateral margin
of elytron continued ventrally beyond epipleura near pronotum, delimiting
epipleura dorsolaterally. Elytron with sensilla distributed evenly throughout
surface, others concentrated in two sensilla patches (Figs. 13–17). Wing with a set
of veins common in flea beetles (Konstantinov 2002), but CuA 3+4, RP-mp2, and
RP poorly sclerotized and barely visible (Fig. 28).
Pro- and mesofemur slightly flattened dorsoventrally. Metafemur robust, flat
dorsoventrally, fairly symmetrical (Fig. 12), 1.95 times as long as wide. Pro- and
mesotibiae cylindrical, slightly wider in distal 1/3, without spurs apically.
Metatibia (Fig. 18) slightly curved in dorsal view, straight in lateral view,
generally cylindrical, abruptly widening distally (in dorsal view), flat only at apex,
2 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009
Figs. 1–2. Nicaltica selvanegra male, habitus. 1) dorsal view; 2) lateral view.
THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 3
Figs. 3–10. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 3, 4) head, frontal
view; 5) head, ventral view; 6) pronotum; 7) prothorax, ventral view; 8) metasternum and
abdomen; 9) antenna; 10) metanotum.
4 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009
Figs. 11–17. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 11) head and thorax
in lateral view; 12) metafemur; 13–17) internal side of elytron, a, b—sensilla patches.
THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 5
without serration on the outer and inner edges and without preapical excavations
on either inner or outer edges; apical spur as long as tarsal claw. Claw
appendiculate (Fig. 19). Third tarsomere deeply incised (Fig. 20). First metatar-
somere as long as two following tarsomeres together.
Abdomen with five distinctly visible sternites (Figs. 8, 26). Apical sternite as
long as three preceding sternites combined, without appendages basally. Apical
tergite of female broadly triangular, unevenly covered with long setae, weakly
sclerotized in middle and at anterolateral corners, with sclerotized groove in
middle (Fig. 24).
Spermatheca (Fig. 22) with receptacle gradually transitioning into pump
without distinct border. Receptacle much longer and wider than pump. Duct
straight, with base of gland situated nearly at mid length. Tignum (Fig. 23)
narrowing anteriorly, slightly narrower than posteriorly. Vaginal palpi (Fig. 25)
slender, connected on distal 1/3, distal sclerotizations narrow and curved.
Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 27) simple, convex in lateral view, without any
sculpture ventrally.
Type species. Nicaltica selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini.
Etymology. This genus name is derived from the country in which these beetles
occur, Nicaragua, and the name of the type genus of the tribe. The name is
feminine.
Figs. 18–21. Legs of N. selvanegra. 18) metatibia and tarsus; 19) metatibial apex and
metatarsus in lateral view; 20) metatarsus in dorsal view; 21) setae on bottom of
metatarsomere 3.
R
Figs. 22–27. Details of morphological structures of N. selvanegra. 22) spermatheca; 23)
tignum; 24) apical abdominal tergite; 25) vaginal palpi; 26) abdominal ventrites; 27) median
lobe of the aedeagus.
6 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009
THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 7
Host plant. Unidentified mosses (Fig. 30), although feeding was not observed.
Diagnosis and comparison. Based on the general shape of the body, shape of the
base of the pronotum with a lobe extending posteriorly, metatibia and tarsal claw,
Nicaltica is similar to Normaltica (Konstantinov 2002). It can be easily
distinguished by the unique shape of the antennal calli, which are short and
oblique, delineated from the vertex by the deep supracallinal sulcus (in Normaltica
the antennal calli are long and poorly separated from the vertex); frontal and
anterofrontal ridges forming a swollen triangle (in Normaltica the frontal and
anterofrontal ridges form a rectangular structure); mostly filiform antennae (in
Normaltica the antennae are clavate); deeply incised labrum (it is solid in
Normaltica); mesosternum covered by metasternum (it is not covered in
Normaltica); slender vaginal palpi (they are robust in Normaltica), and generally
less sclerotized wing, particularly CuA 3+4 vein (Fig. 28).
Nicaltica is superficially similar to Kiskeya (Konstantinov and Chamorro-
Lacayo 2006) and Monotalla Bechyné (Savini and Furth 2001). Among features
that most readily separate Nicaltica from Kiskeya and Monotalla are 11-
segmented, filiform antennae (they are 9- and 10-segmented accordingly and also
clavate in Kiskeya); the head with a nearly full set of sulci (most sulci,
supracallinal in particular, are absent in Kiskeya and Monotalla); the first
abdominal sternite lacking a longitudinal ridge (the ridge is present in Kiskeya);
and the metatibia nearly cylindrical (it is flattened dorsoventrally with
longitudinal groove on the dorsal side in Kiskeya and Monotalla).
The meso- and metasternites of Nicaltica are as short as in most flightless flea
beetles, so we very much doubt that the flight muscles are significantly developed.
Although these beetles have wings (Fig. 28), they probably cannot fly, as in the
case of some Neotropical cicindelines (Zerm and Adis 2002).
Nicaltica selvanegra Konstantinov, Chamorro-Lacayo and Savini, new species
(Figs. 1–28)
Description. Body length 1.38–1.55 mm, width 1.05–1.15 mm. Color black
without metallic luster. Legs and last 5 antennomeres dark brown, remainder of
antenna dark yellow. Vertex smooth, without punctures, covered with shallow,
oblique wrinkles. Proportions of antennomere lengths in female:
15:9:9:8:8:9:9:10:9:10:15; in male: 15:11:8:7:8:7:9:10:9:10:15. Pronotum evenly
covered with sharp, slightly longitudinal punctures. Distance between punctures
many times more than diameter of puncture. Elytron with nine complete rows of
Fig. 28. Wing of N. selvanegra.
8 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009
punctures. Additional scutellar row incomplete. Distances between punctures in
rows and between rows about three times diameter of puncture. Interspaces
slightly shagreened, with only few, sparse, barely visible punctures. Middle of first
abdominal ventrite covered with large punctures, remainder bare. Proportions of
tarsomere lengths of female (starting with first): protarsomeres 10:6:7:15;
mesotarsomeres 10:6:7:15; metatarsomeres 15:8:8:16. In male, proportions as
follows: protarsomeres 11:7:8:13; mesotarsomeres 11:7:8:15; metatarsomeres
17:6:8:17.
Spermatheca (Fig. 22) with receptacle slightly constricted above one third.
Spermathecal pump much shorter than receptacle, strongly curved. Spermathecal
duct without loop away from receptacle. Tignum (Fig. 23) expanding into
membranous sclerite anteriorly with two patches of setae on sides. Vaginal palpi
(Fig. 25) with posterior sclerotizations narrow and curved outwards.
Median lobe of the aedeagus (Fig. 27) in lateral view with apex straight and in
ventral view abruptly narrowing without well defined denticle.
Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition based on the type
locality.
Ecology. Unidentified moss samples that contained N. selvanegra were collected
in the forest from a variety of substrates (rocks, tree stumps, trunks and branches)
(Figs. 29, 30).
Selva Negra is located with easy access to the virgin cloudforest of one of the
highest peaks of the serranı́a Dariense, El Picacho (1,580 m). The serranı́a
Dariense is one of three mountain ranges traversing the central Nicaraguan
landscape. The mountain ranges gradually decrease in size from west to east into
the large expanses of lowland rainforest along the Atlantic region of Nicaragua.
The westernmost serranı́a Isabelia has the highest peaks, followed by the serranı́a
Dariense, with the easternmost serranı́a Chontaleña reaching no more than 1,220
m (Cumaica) (Incer Barquero 2000). All three mountain ranges are separated by
large river valleys. Several high and isolated peaks with similar forest and moss
cover, on both the serranı́a Dariense and Isabelia, are located near Selva Negra /
El Picacho, representing prime habitat for additional moss-inhabiting species of
flea beetles. Some [cerro Saslaya (1,651 m) and cerro El Toro (1,652 m)] are
located at the edge of the one of the largest expanses of largely unexplored virgin
forests in Mesoamerica, reserva de biosfera Bosawas (8,000 km2) (Incer Barquero
2000). Yet, within the serranı́a Dariense exist several high peaks much closer to El
Picacho, which may also uncover additional Nicaltica individuals.
The Nicaltica specimens were collected from one collecting event during the
early wet season in Selva Negra. This has been the first sampling of mosses in
Central America. However, further moss sampling in the Neotropical region will
undoubtedly reveal new material from mosses.
The massive peaks of the serranı́as act as barriers to the westerly winds of the
Atlantic where the humidity falls in the form of rain or condenses on the highest
peaks. The wet season in the central highlands region lasts between 7–8 months of
the year with an annual precipitation of more than 2,000 mm. The temperature
on peaks above 1,500 m is above 20uC (Incer Barquero 2000).
Several peaks discussed above are located within national protected areas, such
as Kilambe, Saslaya, and Peñas Blancas. The ever growing agricultural front
threatens the forests, consequently the associated flora and fauna, on the majority
of these peaks. Moss is directly affected as a result of deforestation either through
direct downing of host trees or as a result of drying from loss of canopy cover and
humidity retention.
THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 9
Fig. 29. Forest at Selva Negra reserve, habitat of N. selvanegra. Photo by R. Stanley.
10 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009
Type material. Holotype male. Labels: 1) Nicaragua: Matagalpa Prov., 4.1 mi
N Matagalpa, Selva Negra 13u0093560N, 85u549010W, 1,450 m 18-19.VI.2007,
moss sifting, leg. A.Konstantinov & L.Chamorro; 2) Holotype Nicaltica
selvanegra des. A. Konstantinov, L. Chamorro & V. Savini, 2008 (USNM).
Paratypes: 3 females, 3 males, same labels as holotype (USNM), 2 males and 1
female (MIZA).
Fig. 30. Moss on a side of a tree, microhabitat of N. selvanegra. Photo by L. Chamorro-
Lacayo.
THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009 11
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to S. Lingafelter, R. Stanley, and N. Woodley for
companionship and comradery during the collecting trip to Nicaragua and to
Jean-Michel Maes for his help in obtaining necessary permits.
We thank S. McKamey and A. L. Norrbom (Systematic Entomology
Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Washington, DC), A. K. Tishechkin (Department of
Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA) for reviewing earlier
versions of this manuscript and providing useful suggestions, and S. W.
Lingafelter (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Washington,
DC) for valuable editorial suggestions.
Literature Cited
Chamorro-Lacayo, M. L., and A. S. Konstantinov. 2004. Morphology of the prothorax and
procoxa in the New World Cryptocephalini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptoce-
phalinae). Zootaxa 676:1–46.
Incer Barquero, J. 2000. Geografia dinámica de Nicaragua (2nd ed.). Managua: Hispamer,
281 pp.
Konstantinov, A. S. 1998. Revision of the Palearctic species of Aphthona Chevrolat and
cladistic classification of the Aphthonini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae).
Memoirs on Entomology, International, Associated Publishers, Gainesville
v.11:1–429.
Konstantinov, A. S. 2002. A new genus of flea beetles from the Greater Antilles (Coleoptera:
Chrysomelidae). Zootaxa 124:1–24.
Konstantinov, A. S., and M. L. Chamorro-Lacayo. 2006. A new genus of moss-inhabiting flea
beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the Dominican Republic. The Coleopter-
ists Bulletin 60(4):275–290.
Savini, V., and D. G. Furth. 2001. The status of Heikertingerella, Monotalla, Pseudodibolia,
and Sphaeroderma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) in the New World.
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 103(4):903–912.
Zerm, M., and J. Adis. 2002. Flight ability in nocturnal tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae:
Cicindelinae) from Central Amazonian floodplains (Brazil). The Coleopterists
Bulletin 56(4):491–500.
(Received 22 June 2008; accepted 13 September 2008. Publication date 22 April 2009.)
12 THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 63(1), 2009


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A NEW GENUS OF MOSS-INHABITING FLEA BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA

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