Baeocera gutierrezberaudi Fierros-López, 2010

López, Hugo Eduardo Fierros-, 2010, Description of Two New Species of Baeocera Erichson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) from México, Journal Of The Kansas Entomological Society 83 (3), pp. 201-207 : 204-206

Baeocera gutierrezberaudi Fierros-López new species ( Figs. 7–12 )

DIAGNOSIS: this species can be easily recognized by maculated elytra and the following combination of characters: scutellum exposed at apex; basal stria complete; mesocoxal line parallel; mesepimeron covering L of anapleural line; aedeagus symmetrical; basal portion longer than apex; apical portion of median lobe acute, extendind behind tip of median lobe.

DESCRIPTION: Length 1.8 mm.

Coloration: head, pronotum, venter of thorax, median area of femora, tibia and basal segments of abdomen brownish black; apex of femora, tibia, tarsus, first two segments of antennae, area between antennal insertions and hypomeron ochreous; elytra yellow with a irregular black spot on disc, sutural border dark brown; apical segments of abdomen brown with lighter apex.

Head: spherical, shiny, with few scattered punctures and some whitish setae. Antennae filiform ( Fig. 7 ); second segment little longer than third; third segment longer than fourth.

Thorax: pronotum trapezoidal, wider at base; lateral borders with carinae; disc surface smooth, shiny, with scattered punctures; microsculpture scattered at 50X magnification; scutellum almost completely covered by pronotal lobe; elytron rectangular ( Fig. 8 ), widest near the middle; basal stria complete, joining lateral stria; punctures strong and more abundant compared to those of pronotum; mesocoxal line parallel ( Fig. 9 ), basal pits rounded, not extended laterally; mesepimeral length about L of anapleural line; mesosternum polished; metasternum with lateral area widened, with few punctures and setae, ventral area with abundant punctures bearing setae; metepisternum wide, weakly widened at apex; legs elongated, first three basal tarsomeres slightly expanded laterally, with abundant ventral setae; mesotarsomeres with ventral setae.

Abdomen: conical, with few punctures and ventral setae; microsculpture not evident; first visible ventrite with basal pits elongated; aedeagus ( Figs. 10–12 ): length 0.77 mm symmetrical, basal portion of median lobe bulbous and longer than apical, apex acute, abruptly curved upright; inner sac with basal irregular filamentous sclerites; apical portion of internal sac with transversal rows of denticles; parameres extended behind tip of median lobe; slightly curved toward apex, in lateral view, widened subapically.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named in honor to Gerardo Gutierrez-Beraud, enthusiastic entomologist interested in dermestids, talented writer and excellent friend.

TYPE LOCALITY: El Floripondio, San Gabriel, Jalisco, Mexico .

DISTRIBUTION: known only from the type locality in Jalisco, México.

BIONOMICS: the species was found in oak-fir cloud forest, using the collecting method of fogging rotting logs, in association with sporophores of Ganoderma australe and unidentified species of Poria and Trichia ; other scaphidiinae beetles associated with this species were Baeocera pulchella , Scaphisoma opochtli Fierros- López, and one undetermined species of Toxidium .

VARIATION: (6 males, 10 females). Length: male 1.68–1.88 mm, avg. 1.8 mm, stdv. ± 0.1; female 1.6–1.84 mm, avg. 1.7 mm, stdv. ± 0.1 mm. Pronotum: male 0.58– 0.66 mm, avg. 0.6, stdv. ± 0 mm, female 0.58–0.7 mm, avg. 0.6, stdv ± 0 mm. Elytra: male 1.02–1.24 mm, avg. 1.2 mm, stdv, ± 0.1 mm, female 1–1.2 mm, avg. 1.1 mm, stdv. ± 0.1 mm. Elytral maculation varies in shape from a rectangular fascia with regular borders to irregular spots with extensions.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype: male, labeled as follows: MÉXICO: Jalisco, San Gabriel, El Floripondio , bosque mesófilo de montaña, km 4 R.M.O Las Víboras , 19 Julio 2007, 19 ° 37 ' N, 103 ° 37 ' O, ex tronco con micelio, H. E Fierros-López . Paratypes: same data as holotype except: km 6 R.M.O. Las Víboras , 9 agosto 2007 (4 males, 8 females) ; same data except: 1 septiembre 2007; ex Ganoderma australe (1 male) ; same data except: 23 septiembre 2007, ex Poria sp. y Trichia sp. (1 male, 2 females) .

Figures

Figs. 7–12. Morphology of Baeocera gutierrezberaudi new species. 7. Antenna; 8. Dorsal view of elytron; 9. lateral view of thorax; 10–12. Aedeagus. Scale bar equals 1 mm.