Anthrenus (Anthrenus) mumbaiensis Holloway 2023, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Holloway, Graham J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Dermestidae
Anthrenus
Anthrenus mumbaiensis

description: Anthrenus (Anthrenus) mumbaiensis sp. nov. (Figures 1–3)
Specimen examined. New record (holotype) for Anthrenus mumbaiensis sp. nov. India, Mumbai (approx. 19.1N, 72.9E). Labelled Bombay, 1893, Pascoe leg. Holotype ♁ NHML, London. Paratype ♀ NHML, London.
Holotype habitus (Figure 1A) (BL = 2.25 mm, BW/BL = 0.756), and paratype habitus (Figure 1B) (BL = 2.5 mm, BW/BL = 0.74). Ventrites (Figure 1C). The male (holotype) was brittle and the antennae difficult to display without damage, so Figure 1D shows a female antenna.
Anthrenus mumbaiensis has a single ocellus on the vertex, typical of Dermestidae (except Dermestinae) and a notch on the inner margin of the eye, typical of Anthrenus subgenus Anthrenus. Anthrenus mumbaiensis is coated in broad orange and white scales on a background of black scales. Each elytron has three clear white spots of scales close to the outer margin: sub-basally, just past mid-point, and sub-apically. In addition, there are two further clear white spots of scales close to the elytral suture: sub-apically and mid-point. The elytral suture carries orange scales as a thin band from the elytral apex to the mid-point white spot and from there to the scutellum region the orange scales form a broader band admixed with white scales, with orange and white scales fanning out left and right from the scutellum. Otherwise, orange scales are randomly scattered across the elytra on a background of black scales. The pronotum carries two patches of white scales at the anterior margin of the pronotum directly behind each eye. More white patches occur along the outer margins admixed with orange scale and at approximately halfway along the outer margin orange and white scales form a loose band across the pronotum. The middle of posterior margin of the pronotum carries another patch of white scales bordered anteriorly by orange scales.
The ventrites (Figure 1C) are coated in white scales with small patches of black scales at the outer margins of the 2 nd to 5 th sternites. There is a large, square patch of black scales in the centre of the 5 th sternite. There is no black patch of scales (maybe one or two scales) on the outer margin of the 1 st sternite.
The female antennae (Figure 1D) remained attached and intact during dissection. One of the male antennal clubs snapped off but remains associated with the dissected specimen. ♁ AL = 189 µm, AW = 145 µm. ♀ AL = 162 µm, AW = 126 µm. All antennomeres are dark red. All components of the legs are also red.
Figures 2A and 2B shows the dorsal aspect and ventral aspect of the aedeagus, respectively. The anterior halves of the parameres are slim with the outer and inner margins converging slightly. The posterior halves of the parameres are broad, flat and knife-shaped. The outer margins curve smoothly round to pointed tips, and from the tips the inner margins are convex. The dorsal surfaces (Figure 2A) of the posterior halves of the parameres carry some scattered, relatively short setae. On the ventral surfaces (Figure 2B), the paramere tips carry long, inward pointing, pubescence. These pubescent setae continue for a short way down the inner margins of the parameres. The pubescence is concentrated on the ventral surface although visible between the parameres in Figure 2A. The median lobe falls short of the paramere tips. The median lobe narrows gradually from the base towards the tip. Close to the tip, the margins converge more noticeably to meet at a sharp tip. PL = 425 µm.
Figure 2C shows sternite IX. The sternite was damaged during dissection and one anterior horn became detached. The outer margins of the posterior lobe are covered in short, spikey setae, many of which are curved at the tip. The tip of the posterior lobe forms a flattened curve with a small central nipple. Moving towards the anterior horns the outer margins converge slightly to form a slight neck before expanding to form the anterior horns. SL = 500 µm.
Figure 3 shows the collection location of A. mumbaiensis. Anthrenus mumbaiensis is only known from two specimens, both from Mumbai.
description: Published as part of Holloway, Graham J., 2023, Anthrenus (Anthrenus) mumbaiensis sp. nov. from India and a morphometric examination of Anthrenus (Anthrenus) festivus (Coleoptera, Dermestidae, Anthrenini), pp. 377-384 in Zootaxa 5306 (3) on pages 378-380, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5306.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/8063047