Pseudolathra nigerrima ( CAMERON , 1924) Assing, 2012

Assing, V., 2012, The Pseudolathra species of the East Palaearctic and the Oriental regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 62, pp. 299-330 : 320-322

Pseudolathra nigerrima ( CAMERON, 1924) , comb. n. ( Figs 45-51 , Map 2 )

Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron, 1924: 192 f.

Type material examined:

Lectotype ♂, present designation:“Malhan Range, Siwaliks. Dr. Cameron, 24.IX.22. / Lathrobium nigerrimum Cam. / H. Stevens. Brit. Mus. 1922-307. / Type / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955- 147. / Lectotypus ♂ Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2011 / Pseudolathra nigerrima (Cameron) , det. V. Assing 2011” ( BMNH) . Paralectotype ♂: “Arni Gad. Mussoorie / Dr. Cameron, 28.V.21 / Cotype / L. nigerrimum Cam / Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron / Coll. W. Champman in Coll. P. Griveau, MHNG - 2007 / nigerrimum Cam. / Paralectotypus Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron / Pseudolathra nigerrima (Cameron) , det. V. Assing 2011” ( MHNG) .

Comment:

The original description is based on an unspecified number of syntypes, among them at least one male, from “Siwaliks; Mussorie District; Arni Gad, Kaligad” ( Cameron 1924). A male syntype was located in the collections of the BMNH; an additional male syntype was found in the collections of the MHNG. The specimen deposited in the BMNH is in better condition and designated as the lectotype. An examination of these specimens revealed that the species belongs to Pseudolathra .

Additional material examined:

Nepal: 2 ♀♀, Ilam district , between Mai Pokhari and Ilam, 1330 m, arable land, 1.IV.1980, leg. Martens & Ausobsky ( SMNS, cAss) ; 1 ♂, trail from Pokhara to Ghoropani, leg. Franz ( NHMW) ; 1 ♀ [teneral], Phulchoki , near Dalikhel, 2000 m, leg. Franz ( NHMW) .

India: 3 exs., Haldwani District , Kumaon, leg. Champion ( BMNH, cAss) .

Redescription:

Body length 7.0- 9.5 mm; length of forebody 4.0- 4.4 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 45 . Coloration: head and abdomen black; pronotum and elytra blackish-brown; legs and antennae dark-yellowish.

Head ( Fig. 46 ) distinctly transverse, approximately 1.15 times as broad as long; posterior angles marked; dorsal surface with few macropunctures laterally and with sparse micropunctation; interstices without microsculpture. Eyes large, more than twice as long as postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna long and slender, almost 3 mm long.

Pronotum ( Fig. 46 ) approximately as long as broad and approximately 1.05 times as wide as head, lateral margins straight, weakly converging posteriorly in dorsal view, posterior angles broadly rounded; on either side of midline with a dorsal series of 6-7 coarse punctures, laterad of these series with very few macropunctures; micropunctation very sparse; microsculpture absent.

Elytra ( Fig. 46 ) almost 0.9 times as long as pronotum, humeral angles marked; macropunctation arranged in one sutural and three dorsal series; microsculpture and micropunctation absent. Hind wings probably fully developed.

Abdomen narrower than elytra; punctation very fine and rather sparse; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

♂: tergite VIII strongly convex posteriorly; sternite VII posteriorly weakly and broadly concave, on either side of middle with comb of stout, black, spine-like setae increasing in length and stoutness laterad ( Fig. 47 ); sternite VIII oblong, with deep and narrow posterior excision almost reaching middle of sternite ( Fig. 48 ); aedeagus approximately 1.1 mm long, shaped as in Figs 49-51 .

Comparative notes:

This species is readily distinguished from all the preceding species by the different morphology of the aedeagus, darker coloration, and larger size.

Distribution:

This species has been recorded from several localities in North India and Nepal ( Cameron 1931, Coiffait 1975).

Figures

Map 2: Distributions of Pseudolathra himalayana (filled triangles), P. nigerrima (open squares), P. sagittata (open diamond), and P. regularis (filled circles), based on revised records.

Figs 45-51: Pseudolathra nigerrima, lectotype: habitus (45); forebody (46); male sternite VII (47); male sternite VIII (48); aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view (49-50); apical portion of aedeagus in ventral view (51). Scale bars: 45-46: 1.0 mm; 47-51: 0.5 mm.