Bolitogyrus erythrurus (Kraatz, 1858)

Brunke, Adam J. & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2014, A revision of the Neotropical species of Bolitogyrus Chevrolat, a geographically disjunct lineage of Staphylinini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 423, pp. 1-113 : 24-25

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Bolitogyrus erythrurus (Kraatz, 1858) Figs 25 I–K, 29B (map)

Cyrtothorax erythrurus Kraatz, 1858: 368

Cyrtothorax erythrurus : Scheerpeltz 1974: 182 (in key)

Type locality.

"Nova Grenada" [=Panama/Columbia]

Type material.

Cyrtothorax erythrurus Kraatz, 1858.

Syntype (♀, DEI): Nov. Gren. [green label, script]/ Coll. Kraatz [white label, printed]/ erythrurus [green label, script]/ Syntypus [red label, printed] / Syntype ♀, Cyrtothorax erythrurus Kraatz, 1858, det A. Brunke 2013 [red printed label].

As Kraatz (1858) did not provide evidence that only one specimen was studied, the only specimen located in DEI with Kraatz’s labels is interpreted as a syntype.

Other material.

COSTA RICA:Puntarenas: Las Mellizas, Térraba Valley, 2 km NW of Triplets [from INBIO database], Fca. Cafrosa, P.N. La Amistad, 1300m, 8.8915, -82.7929 [from INBIO database], V-1990, M. Ramirez & G. Mora, INBIO 000259065, 1 ♀ (INBIO). PANAMA: Chiriquí: 20 km N of Gualaca, Finca La Suiza, 1350m, 8°39'N, 82°12'W, 10-VI-1995, ex. fogging fungusy log, J. Ashe & R. Brooks, SM0037994, 1 ♀ (SEMC); Boquete, 15.VI.1978, G.J. Umphrey, 1 ♀ (DEBU).

Diagnosis.

Head without central protuberance; antenna distinctly bicolored (Fig. 5A); genital segment, abdominal segment VIII and narrow apex of VII distinctly paler than previous segments; female procoxa completely dark; female tergite X with elongate, raised area, that is widest near base and distinctly converges toward apex, outline of female tergite X widest near middle, strongly pigmented area not as strongly incised at apicolateral margin as in Bolitogyrus buphthalmus (Fig. 25 I–K); female secondary gonocoxite not distinctly swollen at base.

Redescription.

Measurements ♀ (n=4): HW/HL 1.47-1.61; PW/PL 1.41-1.50; EW/EL 1.24-1.32; ESut/PL 0.79-0.80; PW/HW 1.14; forebody length 4.9-5.3 mm.

Similar to Bolitogyrus buphthalmus and differing only in the following: legs bicolored or not (legs of syntype not distinctly bicolored, possibly discolored due to killing agent or age); with metallic reflections as in Bolitogyrus costaricensis ; narrow apex of segment VII, segment VIII and genital segment yellow to orange, distinctly contrasting with previous segment; female tergite X with raised area more elongate and widest near base; outline of female tergite X widest near middle.

Distribution.

Figure 29B. Bolitogyrus erythrurus is known from the Talamanca Mountain Range: southern Puntarenas in Costa Rica and the adjacent province of Chiriquí in Panama.

Bionomics.

Specimens were collected from May-June at elevations ranging from 1300-1350m. One specimen was pyrethrum-fogged from a fungusy log.

Comments.

The female syntype and three other females studied differ from others of the Buphthalmus Group by the pale abdominal apex, bicolored antennae and overall shape of female tergite X. The shape of female tergite X is roughly similar to that of Bolitogyrus buphthalmus , Bolitogyrus costaricensis and Bolitogyrus sallei but some slight differences were observed (see Description). Previous authors, including Kraatz, apparently overlooked the pale abdominal apex of the holotype, which was partially retracted into the preceding segments and less noticeable due to the teneral coloration of the remaining abdomen. This dark red coloration on abdominal segments V–VII described by Kraatz (1858) is not significant, as this occurs variably in other species of the Buphthalmus Group, possibly due to incomplete sclerotization after eclosion. Bolitogyrus erythrurus is most similar to Bolitogyrus costaricensis but is allopatric with it and is tentatively retained as a valid species, pending the availability of similarly colored males from the Talamanca Mountains.