Bothronotoxenus tishechkini Eldredge, 2011

Eldredge, K. Taro, 2011, Bothronotoxenus Eldredge, A New Genus Of Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) From Arizona, U. S. A., The Coleopterists Bulletin 65 (4), pp. 381-386 : 383-384

Bothronotoxenus tishechkini Eldredge , new species

Holotype. ♀, “ ARIZONA: Cochise Co. / Chiracahua Mts., 2 mi /NW Portal. 31°55.5′N / 109°09′W. UV light. 17/July 2001 / A. Tishechkin // LSAM/0043201 ” ( Field Museum of Natural History ; abdominal apex from segment VII, both maxillae and labial complex dissected and preserved as described in Material and Methods).

Description. Body ( Figs. 1–2 ) approximately 2.2 mm in length and overall color flavus. Head and pronotum glabrous, except for a few scattered inconspicuous setigerous punctures; elytra with setae extending towards apicolateral angles; abdominal terga III-VII with 1 row of extremely long and fine setae at apical margin, tergite VIII with secondary setae throughout but not as long as on preceding segments; all abdominal sterna with extremely long and fine secondary setae throughout, not restricted to apical margin. Head: Antennae ( Figs. 1–2 ) approximately 2.5 times longer than head (AL = 1.08 mm, AL/HL = 2.57); antennomeres IV-X subquadrate, XI slightly longer than wide (antennomere XI W = 0.15 mm, L = 0.18, W/L = 0.83). Lacinia ( Fig. 5 ) with distal comb comprised of 6 teeth and proximally followed by small medial dilation, margin proximal to distal comb covered in multiple layers of setae; galea long, length approximately 4 times width at base, slightly dilated towards apex and distal lobe with numerous setulae forming tuft; base of palpi ventrally covered by membrane that appears granulose when cleared, segment II subulate and III elongate. Labium ( Fig. 3 ) with setulae b and y absent (in addition, holotype with setula g of left sclerite of second palpomere migrated to base of outer lateral portion, consequently chaetotaxy asymmetrical), prementum with 2 pairs of real pores and 1 pair of setal pores present, pseudopores absent, lateral apodemes relatively short and medial apodeme prominent. Abdomen: Tergite VIII ( Fig. 7 ) with slight constriction at spiracle, distally sides straight and converging to apicolateral angles which run to apicomedial point on distal margin; 4 pairs of inconspicuous macrosetae present along lateral margin (in addition, holotype with pair of large pores that most likely represent macrosetal pores near apicomedial margin); fine secondary setae not nearly as long as those on preceding tergites, sparsely scattered throughout disk. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 8 ) arcuate throughout with rounded apical margin; 4 pairs of inconspicuous macrosetae, 3 pairs along lateral margin and 1 pair just proximal of lateral margin; extremely long and thin secondary setae sparsely scattered throughout disk and row of shorter setae at apical margin. Spermatheca ( Fig. 4 ): Distally somewhat squared and internally bearing cone-like umbilicus; proximally with short bend followed by series of constrictions, creating bunched appearance; elbowed bend followed proximally by medially, asymmetrically inflated stem with inflated portion occupied by less sclerotized section of spermatheca; proximal end terminates in loop that gives rise to spermathecal duct.

Etymology. The species name is a patronym dedicated to Alexey Tishechkin, the sole collector of this species and other valuable guests of army ants.

Remarks. The morphology of the antennae (compact and robust) and pronotum (cordiform with deep depressions) in B. tishechkini suggests it is myrmecophilous. Based on the shared derived structure of the spermatheca, it is hypothesized that B. tishechkini belongs in a clade along with Dinocoryna , Ecitocala , Ecitoxenidia , and Microdonia . Among these genera, all species with available life history information are known to be guests of Neivamyrmex ( Formicidae : Ecitoninae ) army ants ( Seevers 1959, 1965; Frank and Thomas 1981; Kistner et al. 1996; Newton et al. 2000; Kistner and Berghoff 2008). Therefore, it is likely, based on phyletic affinities, that B. tishechkini is a guest of Neivamyrmex but further collecting efforts will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Habitus images of Bothronotoxenus tishechkini, holotype, prior to dissections. 1) Dorsal view; 2) Lateral view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figs. 3–8. Bothronotoxenus tishechkini, holotype. 3) Labium, ventral view; 4) Spermatheca; 5) Left maxilla, ventral view; 6) Mentum, ventral view; 7) Sternite VIII; 8) Tergite VIII. Abbreviations: mp = median pore; tp = twin pores. Scale bars: I) Fig. 5, 0.1 mm; II) Figs. 7–8, 0.2 mm; III) Fig. 4, 0.1 mm; IV) Fig. 6, 0.2 mm; V) Fig. 3, 0.2 mm.