Halobrecta algae ( Hardy, 1851 )

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2004, A revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Halobrecta Thomson, 1858 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) with notes on some Palaearctic species of the genus, Zootaxa 746, pp. 1-25 : 19-21

Halobrecta algae ( Hardy, 1851)

( Figs. 52–61 )

Homalota algae Hardy, 1851: 78 .

Homalota puncticeps Thomson, 1852: 133 .

Halobrecta puncticeps: Thomson, 1858: 35 .

Halobrecta puncticeps: Thomson, 1859: 39 (misspelled as Halobrectha ; as valid species). Halobrecta puncticeps: Thomson, 1861: 49 (misspelled as Halobrectha ; as valid species).

Atheta (Halobrecta) algae: Fenyes, 1920: 185 (as synonym both of Ha. flaviceps and Ha. pucticeps ).

Atheta (Halobrecta) puncticeps: Fenyes, 1920: 185 (as valid species).

Atheta (Halobrecta) algae: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 621 (as synonym both of Ha. flavipes and Ha. puncticeps ).

Atheta (Halobrecta) puncticeps: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 621 (as valid species).

Halobrecta puncticeps: Benick & Lohse, 1974: 219 (as valid species).

Halobrecta algae: Hammond, 2000: 275 (as valid species).

(other references are omitted) Type material. Lectotype of Homalota puncticeps (here designated): ɗ, "Lā [Lomma, Sweden]" (MZLU). Paralectotypes: ɗ, 2ΨΨ, "Lā [Lomma, Sweden]" (MZLU (Thomson collection)).

Additional material. SWEDEN: ɗ, Ψ, Oskarshamn, 10.vi.1941 (H.Bachlund) ( KSEM).

Diagnosis. See Benick and Lohse (1974). Male tergum 8 and aedeagus: Figs. 52 , 56–60 .

Discussion. The lectotype of Ho. puncticeps agrees with accepted concept of Ha. algae (see Benick & Lohse 1974; as Ha. puncticeps ). Halobrecta puncticeps has not been recorded outside Europe, unlike Ha. algophila , Ha. flavipes and Ha. sp. cf. halensis . However, considering the wide distribution ranges of the last three species, it is possible that Ha. puncticeps has also been introduced to other parts of the world. Examined Mediterranean specimens, externally similar to Ha. algae , differ in the shape of the aedeagus, particularly in having a narrower median lobe (in parameral view: cf. Fig. 62 and Fig. 56 ) and in less bent median lobe (in lateral view: cf. Fig. 63 and Fig. 58 ). These Mediterranean specimens are likely to belong to an undecribed species. Revision of European species of Halobrecta is outside the scope of this paper. A revision of the British species of Halobrecta is being prepared by Peter Hammond.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 55. Abdominal segment 8 of Halobrecta algae (Hardy) (male lectotype (52 – 53) and female paralectotype of Homalota puncticeps Thomson (54 – 55 )). 52 — male tergum 8; 53 — male sternum 8; 54 — female tergum 8; 55 — female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 56 – 61. Genitalia of Halobrecta algae (Hardy) (male lectotype (56 – 60) and female paralectotype of Homalota puncticeps Thomson (61 )). 56 — median lobe, parameral view; 57 — apex of median lobe, parameral view; 58 — median lobe, lateral view; 59 — apex of median lobe, lateral view, 60 — apex of left paramere, marginal view; 61 — spermatheca. Scale bar 0.1 mm (57, 59 – 61), 0.2 mm (56, 58).

FIGURES 62 – 65. Details of Halobrecta sp. aff. algae (Hardy) (male, Grado, Italy (62 – 63 )) and Ha. sp. cf. halensis Mulsant & Rey, 1873 (male, Lignano, Italy (64 – 65 )). 62 — median lobe with everted internal sac, parameral view; 63 — median lobe with everted internal sac, lateral view; 64 — median lobe with partially everted internal sac, parameral view; 65 — median lobe with partially everted internal sac, lateral view. Scale bar 0.2 mm.