Andrikothelyna limbata, Nozaki, 2023

Nozaki, Tsubasa, 2023, Taxonomy of the genus Andrikothelyna Pace, 2000 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae Aleocharinae), with description of three new species from Taiwan and Japan, Zootaxa 5264 (1), pp. 64-76 : 69-71

Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov.

( Figs 2–3, 6–7 , 20–28 )

(Japanese name: tsumaki-toguro-hanekakushi)

Diagnosis. Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov. is similar to A. orientis but can be distinguished based on yellow semicircular maculation on the posterior margin of elytra ( Figs 2–3 ). This new species also may be distinguished from other species of the genus based on the following characteristics: posterior margin of abdominal tergite VIII having four teeth ( Fig. 20 ); median lobe of male aedeagus, bulb, and flagellum spiraled three-dimensionally ( Figs 23–25 ), flagellum having cluster of spines at apex; extremely narrow paramere ( Fig. 26 ); basal part of female spermatheca ( Figs 27–28 ) bent at the middle.

Material examined. Holotype. Male, “JAPAN Kyushu / Kaijin Shrine / TSUSHIMA Is. / 3. VI. 2016 / Tateo ITO leg.” ( KUM) . Paratypes. JAPAN: Honshu: Gifu-ken: 1♂, 1♀, Sengen-yama , Kukuri, Kani-shi [33.38°N, 137.12°E] (alt. 200–370 m), 7.VIII.2018, Masato Ando leg. ( KUM). Kyoto-fu : 2♂, 2♀, Kawakita Nature & Athletic Park, Hayashinomoto, 12, Yawata-shi, 5. V.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM) ; 2♂, 1♀, same locality, 11.VII.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 3♂, 4♀, Kawakita Nature & Athletic Park, Motohiraki , Oyamazaki-cho, Otokuni-gun, 19.VIII.2015, Tateo Ito leg. (cI); 1♂, 1♀, same locality, 22.VIII.2015, Tateo Ito leg. (cI); 1♀, same locality, 26.VIII.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 1♂, same locality, 2.XI.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 1♀, same locality, 28.IX.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 2♂, same locality, 27.X.2015, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 1♂, same locality, 17.III.2016, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 1♂, same locality, 14. V.2020, Tateo Ito leg. (cI) ; 6♂, 2♀, same locality, 1. VI.2020, Tateo Ito leg. (cI) ; 1 unsexed, 1♂, 2♀, same locality, 17. VI.2020, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM) ; 1♂, 1♀, same locality, 16.VII.2020, Tateo Ito leg. ( KUM); 1♀, Kawara , Maidzuru-shi, (from fallen tree), 27. VI.2007, Yuzo Kuroda leg. (cI) . Okayama-ken: 2♀, Handayama , Hokaiin , Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, 2. VI.2004, Seidai Nagashima leg. ( KUM) ; 1♀, Kasaiyama , Hataayu , Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, 15.I.1974, Osamu Yamaji leg. ( KUM). Shikoku : Kochi-ken: 1♀, Tôwa Uragoshi , Kubogawa, Shiman-chô, 8. V.2010, Takasuke Miyata & Toshie Miyata leg. (car-net) ( KUM). Kyushu : Nagasakiken : 3♂, Kaijin Shinto Shrine , Minemachikisaka, Tsushima-shi, 3. VI.2016, Tateo Ito leg. (same data as holotype) ( KUM). Kagoshima-ken : 1♂, 1♀, Ôura river estuary, Ôura-chô, Minamisatsuma-shi, 4. V.1994, Kaoru Haga leg. ( KUM). Ryukyu : Kagoshima-ken: Amami-Ôshima Is.: 1♀, Mt. Yuwan. 19.IV.1971, M. Sakai leg. ( EUM); 1♂, Hatsuno , 4. V.1977, M.Sakai & A. Oda leg. ( EUM). Okinawa-ken : Ishigaki Is.: 10♂, 4♀, Reverbed of Tôro Riv. , Shiraho, Ishigaki-shi., 28–29. V.2021, N. Tsuji & S. Imada leg. ( KUM, one pair for cI); 2♂, Inoda Auto Camping Ground , Tôzato, Ishigaki-shi, 19.III.2020, Takuto Hashizume leg. ( KUM); 1♀, same locality, 22.III.2020, Takuto Hashizume leg. ( KUM); 1 unsexed, same locality, 23.III.2020, Takuto Hashizume leg. ( KUM); 1♀, same locality, 26.X.2020, Tsubasa Nozaki leg. ( KUM); 6♂, 2♀, Inoda , Ishigaki-shi [24.46°N, 124.25°E], 30. V.2021, N. Tsuji & S. Imada leg. ( KUM) .

Description. Body ( Figs 2–3, 6–7 ) robust; dorsal surface glossy, distinctly reticulated.

Color. Body dark brown to black, pronotum brownish red to dark brown, posterior margin of each elytron with yellow semicircular maculation; antennae dark brown with segments I and II brownish yellow and the third yellowish brown, maxillary palpi dark brown to brownish yellow; forelegs reddish yellow to yellow, meso- and metalegs reddish brown to yellowish brown.

Head. Eyes large, as long as 1/3 of head; infraorbital carina developed.Antennae longer than head and pronotum combined; segments II–X slightly dilated; segments V–X distinctly transverse; segment XI elongate, round at apex; approximate relative length of segments from basal to apex: 16: 18: 13: 10: 11: 10: 11: 10: 10: 11: 38.

Thorax. Pronotum, postero-lateral angle obtuse. Elytra, postero-lateral angle gently sinuate; longitudinal row of granules along suture strong; near lateral margin gently carinate, granulated, and curved upward ( Figs 6–7 ). Mesoventral process, apex varying truncated to round.

Abdomen. Tergite VIII ( Fig. 20 ) weakly granulated with two medial granules; posterior margin with four teeth; lateral teeth long, less curved, medial teeth slightly shorter than lateral teeth; medial grub distinctly shallower than lateral grub, depth 1/3 of lateral grub.

Legs. Moderately slender in general; tibiae covered with fine setae. Approximate relative length of mesotarsal segments from basal to apex: 32: 10: 11: 34, and that of metatarsal segments: 42: 11: 10: 10: 28.

Male. Tergite VII with two posteromedial granules; posterior margin of sternite VIII ( Fig. 21 ) without medial notch and finely sinuate. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs 23–25 ) length about 0.75 mm, very narrow; bulb itself spiraled three-dimensionally; flagellum spiraled, having flag-like appendage at base and cluster of spines at apex. Paramere ( Fig. 26 ) very narrow; velum remarkably elongate; apical lobe of paramerite digitate.

Female. Tergite VII without or with one posteromedial granule; posterior margin of sternite VIII ( Fig. 22 ) with medial notch. Spermatheca ( Figs 27–28 ), apical part short and subspherical; basal part smooth and bent at middle.

Measurements. (population of Honshu and Kyushu, n = 5): BL ≈ 1.36–2.96; AL, 0.67–0.86; PL, 0.3–0.42; PW, 0.59–0.8; EL, 0.32–0.46; EW, 0.66–0.94; HTL, 0.36–0.52; PW/PL, 1.85–1.95; EW/EL, 2–2.08; AL/PL, 1.88–2.21. Measurement (population of Ishigaki Is., n = 5): BL ≈ 1.84–2.32; AL, 0.62–0.8; PL, 0.32–0.42; PW, 0.56–0.74; EL, 0.33–0.44; EW, 0.62–0.88; HTL, 0.34–0.48; PW/PL, 1.75–1.98; EW/EL, 1.88–2; AL/PL, 1.92–2.07.

Variation. Sexual dimorphism was evident in the number of posteromedial granules on tergite VII and a presence of a notch on sternite VIII.

Geographical variations were detected in body coloration, the degree of gloss on the dorsal surface, and the shape of the spermatheca in this species. The population from Honshu and Kyushu ( Figs 2, 6 , 27 ) revealed the following characteristics: body color dark brown; pronotum brownish red; maxillary palpi dark brown; forelegs reddish yellow; meso- and metalegs reddish brown; body surface less glossy; spermatheca weakly sclerotized, whereas the population from Ryukyu ( Figs 3, 7 , 28 ) exhibited the following characteristics: body black; pronotum dark brown; maxillary palpi brownish yellow; forelegs yellow; meso- and metalegs yellowish brown; body surface glossier compared to that of the other populations, antennae longer than that in the other.

Regardless of the region, intra-species variations were found in the following characters: the apical shape of the mesoventral process and the presence of a posteromedial granule of female tergite VII.

Etymology. The specific name of the species is derived from the Latin adjective “ limbâtus,” meaning “bordered,” and refers to yellow maculation on the posterior edge of the elytra.

Distribution. Japan: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu (Amami Ôshima Is., Ishigaki Is.).

Bionomics. On Ishigaki Island, this new species was spotted walking on the dead branches of the living trunks of beach hibiscus, Talipariti tiliaceum (L.) Fryxell ( Figs 29–30 ) and observed walking on the branches at night and were collected.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Habitus of Andrikothelyna spp. 1, 5―Holotype of Andrikothelyna rubiginosa sp. nov., female; 2, 6―Holotype of Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov., male (Kyushu); 3, 7―Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov. male (Ishigaki Is.); 4, 8―Holotype of Andrikothelyna naomichii sp. nov. male.

FIGURES 20–28. Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov. 20―abdominal tergite VIII, male; 21―abdominal sternite VIII male; 22― abdominal sternite VIII female; 23–25―median lobe of male aedeagus: 23―lateral view; 24―ventral view; 25―lateral view; 26―paramere of male aedeagus; 27―female spermatheca (Kyushu); 28―female spermatheca (Ishigaki Is.).

FIGURES 29–30. Habitat of Andrikothelyna limbata sp. nov. 29―dead branch of beach hibiscus, Talipariti tiliaceum from which the species is collected; 30―the zoomed image of the arrowed area.