Scaphobaeocera lata, Löbl, 2021

Löbl, Ivan, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of the Scaphisomatini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) of Mindanao, Philippines, Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in WALLACEA and NEW GUINEA, Riga: The Entomological Society of Latvia, pp. 265-272 : 270

Scaphobaeocera lata sp. nov. (

Figs 11–12 )

Holotype ♂ MHNG: Mindanao , Araibo, Pantukan , Compostela Valley, 900 m, Candalaga / Mts., 7°16’35.3’’N, 126°10’12.8’’E, 4.5.2019 Shavrin A.V. leg .

Paratype ♂ PCAS: Mindanao , Davao Prov., Mt. Talomo ( Mt. Apo ) Catigan , / 800-1000 m, 7°01’21.0’’N, 125°22^30.5’’E, 29.4. - 1.5. 2019, A.V. Shavrin leg .

Derivatio nominis. The species epithet is a Latin adjective meaning wide, referring to the wide parameres.

Description: Length 1.35 mm, width 0.69 mm, dorsoventral diameter 0.71 mm. Head and body dark brown with somewhat reddish shine, apical abdominal segments and appendages lighter, reddish-brown. Length/width rations of antennomeres as: III 17 /7: IV 22 /5: V 27 /5: VI 22 /7: VII 33 /9: VIII 18 /8: IX 30/19: X 33 /14: XI 40 /14. Thorax not microsculptured, pronotum very finely punctate. Tip of scutellum exposed. Elytra with strigulate microsculpture hardly visible at 100 times magnification, not iridescent, with punctation similar with that of pronotum; sutural striae starting near pronotal lobe, parasutural striae hardly visible. Hypomeron without longitudinal stria. Middle part of metaventrite impressed, lacking stria, densely and finely punctate and bearing short pubescence on posterior half, impunctate in middle of anterior half. Sides of metaventrite sparsely, extremely fine punctate, with fairly long pubescence. Mesocoxal lines with row of fine punctures not exceeded laterally along mesepimera; mesocoxal areas about 0.04 mm long, almost as fourth of shortest intervals to metacoxae. Metanepisterna flat, 0.06 mm wide, narrowed apically, with curved suture. Tibiae straight. Abdomen with strigulate microsculpture and very finely punctate. Basal punctures of ventrite I rather coarse. Male segments I to III of protarsi distinctly widened, segment I narrower than apex of protibia. Aedeagus ( Figs 11–12 ) 0.42 mm long.

Differential diagnosis: The aedeagal characters suggest relationships of this new species with the Philippine S. episternalis LÖbl,2011 , though it would fall under the couplet 18 in the key to the Philippine species ( LÖbl, 2011b). It differs drastically from S. episternalis by the much narrower metanepisterna, darker body, not iridescent elytra, and much wider parameres. The two species given under the couplet 18, S. pseudotenella LÖbl, 2011 and S. data LÖbl, 2011 , may be easily distinguished by the shape of the internal sac. Prominent articular processes are present in several congeners, such as S. cognata LÖbl, 1984 , S. difficilis LÖbl, 1979 , S. jirkai LÖbl, 2018 , S. ornata (Pic) , S. papuana Csiki, 1909 , S. stipes LÖbl, 1971 , S. tenella LÖbl, 1990 and S. uncata LÖbl, 1990 . These species differ conspicuously from S. lata sp. nov. either by the shape of the apical process of the median lobe or by the narrow basal section of the parameres (seen in lateral view).

Figures

Figures 11–15. Scaphidiid aedeagi. 11–12 – Scaphobaeocera lata sp. nov., dorsal (11) and lateral (12) view [scale bar 0.1 mm]; 13–15 – Scaphoxium shavrini sp. nov. 13 – Aedeagus, dorsal view [scale bar 0.1 mm]; 14 – Parameres, ventral view [scale bar 0.1 mm]; 15 – Internal sac [scale bar 0.1 mm].