The genus Fuscatelia Nikitsky & Belov, 1982, stat. nov. with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera: Melandryidae: Melandryinae)

Abstract: Fuscatelia Nikitsky & Belov, 1982, described as a subgenus of Lederia Reitter, 1879 and endemic to Chile, is formally elevated to genus rank. Fuscatelia oviformis (Fairmaire & Germain, 1863) is redescribed and illustrated, while F. cupula sp. nov. and F. metallica sp. nov. are newly described.


Etymology:
The name of this species refers to the cupshaped (Latin "cupula") of the metaventral depression of male specimens.Description: Length: 1.30-1.60mm; width: 0.70-0.86mm; depth: 0.53-0.65 mm.Body (Figs 1-3) oval in dorsal view, equally rounded anteriorly and posteriorly, 1.8 times longer than wide, widest around middle; convex in lateral view.Body dark brown to black, posterior margin of pronotum and often apical third of elytra reddish; ventral side mostly brownish; legs, antennae, palpi reddish to yellowish.Head with strong punctation becoming slightly rough anteriorly, surface with weak microreticulation.Antennae (Fig. 16) short, slightly exceeding posterior margin of pronotum; antennal club distinct; relative length of antennomeres: 13-10-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-16.Antennomeres I, II, and XI elongate; antennomeres III, IV as long as wide; antennomeres VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X transverse.Distal article of maxillary palpi 1.3 times longer than wide, widest at base; internal margin straight to concave; external margin rounded; apex pointed.Pronotum 0.45 times longer than wide, widest at base; surface covered with weak transverse microreticulation, sometimes evanescent, and shallow to indistinct punctation; pronotonal lateral margins edged from posterior angle to half of eye (in lateral view).Elytra 1.4 times longer than wide, widest in anterior third; with strong but sparse punctation, surface smooth and shining, complete (sometimes weakly indicated), metacoxae directed antero-laterally and not narrowing anteriorly, and length of longest metatarsal spur slightly exceeding metatarsomere I.
Comments: Fuscatelia seems to be treated as a genus by Nikitsky & Pollock (2011).However, there is no trace of the formal elevation of this taxon from subgenus to genus rank, unlike that done for Lederina Nikitsky & Belov, 1982(Nikitsky, 1994) or Paralederia Nikitsky & Belov, 1982(Nikitsky, 2008).The actual subdivision of Orchesiini into genera is based on the presence/absence and size of suture dividing the metaventrite and the metanepisterna, the direction and form of the metacoxae, as well as the presence or absence of scutellum, and of wings.In this study, Fuscatelia is explicitly elevated to genus rank to accommodate the generic subdivision of the Orchesiini.

Distribution and natural history:
The actual available information suggests that this genus is endemic to Chile.As many other Orchesiini, it is found in decaying plant material and litter of forest floors.

Comments:
The aedeagus of the male is small and less sclerotized than in F. oviformis and therefore more similar to the aedeagus of F. metallica.Specimens of the latter species are larger with a completely dark body exhibiting a metallic sheen.Diagnosis: Individuals of this species are larger than F. cupula and have a metallic sheen similar to that seen in F. oviformis.They can be distinguished from the latter species by their dark coloration (even on ventral side) and by the proportion of the antennomeres: elongate in F. metallica (Fig. 17) and mostly transverse in F. oviformis (Fig. 18).Additionally, males are well characterized by the shape of their metaventrite medial areas with a shallow lineiform impression in F. oviformis (Fig. 14), while F. metallica has a wider depression (Fig. 9).

Etymology:
The name of this species refers to its metallic shine.Diagnosis: Individuals of this species have a metallic sheen, unlike F. cupula.They can be distinguished from F. metallica by their brownish ventral coloration and by the proportion of the antennomeres, mostly transverse.

Description:
Males are easy to identify by the examination of their metaventrite medial area: F. oviformis (Fig. 14) has a shallow lineiform impression, F. cupula (Fig. 4) an oval depression, and F. metallica (Fig. 9) an elongate depression.
Etymology: Fairmaire & Germain (1863) do not give an explanation for the choice of this specific epithet.However, it seems reasonable to assume that it was inspired by the rounded shape of individuals of this species.

Distribution and natural history:
The type material of this species originates from Chiloe Island, situated in the Los Lagos region, Chile.All the additional material examined was collected in the same region, on Chiloe Island as well as in continental Chile.
According to Fairmaire & Germain (1863) this species can be found under decaying tree trunks but is rare.The recent specimens were collected by sifting forest floor litter, mosses and other vegetation debris, often in contact with dead tree trunks.Orchesiini have modified saltatory posterior legs and are known to be good jumpers (Sasaji, 1995).Fuscatelia oviformis can jump up to one half meter (ca 300x its own body length!) (Fairmaire & Germain, 1863).

Comments:
The type material designated by Faimaire & Germain could not be located in the MNHN.
Nevertheless, according to the original description and the figures of Nikitsky & Belov (1982), it seems reasonable to assume that the redescription and other information given above are referable to the actual F. oviformis.
Distribution and natural history: This species is only known from the regions of Los Ríos and Los Lagos in central Chile.Specimens were collected by sifting forest floor litter.