Pseudolathra puncta ( LAST , 1984) Assing, 2014

Assing, V., 2014, A revision of Palaearctic and Oriental Pseudolathra. IV. New species, new combinations and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (2), pp. 1151-1166 : 1158-1159

Pseudolathra puncta ( LAST, 1984) , nov.comb.

( Fig. 12 , Map 2 )

Lathrobium punctum LAST, 1984: 122 .

Type material examined: Holotype [mid-legs missing]: " Agakomotuso , 7000 ft., New Guinea, 26.11.1965, R. Hornabrook / Holotype / Brit. Mus. 1985-401 / Lathrobium punctum sp.n., H.R. Last. det., Type / Pseudolathra puncta (Last) , det. V. Assing 2014" ( BMNH).

Comment: The original description is based on a female holotype from "Agakomotuso" and a female paratype from "Okapa" ( LAST 1984). The species clearly belongs to Pseulolathra. The specific epithet is interpreted as the past participle of the Latin verb pungere (to stab, to sting). It would seem unlikely that LAST (1984) meant it to be a noun (punctum = puncture).

Redescription: Moderately large species; body length 9.5 mm; length of forebody 4.9 mm. Forebody somewhat flattened. Coloration: body black; legs blackish, with the tarsi and the narrow bases of the tibiae paler brown; antennae reddish, with antennomere I and the apices of antennomeres II and III infuscate.

Head ( Fig. 12 ) distinctly transverse, 1.16 times as broad as long; lateral margins subparallel behind eyes in dorsal view; dorsal surface with few scattered coarse macropunctures in anterior and lateral portions, otherwise impunctate; microsculpture absent. Eyes large, longer than postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna slender, 2.6 mm long; all antennomeres oblong; antennomeres IV-X approximately twice as long as broad.

Pronotum ( Fig. 12 ) short, 1.05 times as long as broad and 1.13 times as broad as head; with subparallel lateral margins in dorsal view; dorsal series broadly separated, each composed of 1+5 coarse punctures; lateral portions with few scattered macropunctures; microsculpture absent.

Elytra ( Fig. 12 ) 0.95 times as long as pronotum; epipleural line pronounced (lateral view); dorsal surface with a sutural series composed of approximately 8 punctures, a median series composed of 6-7 punctures, and a lateral series composed of 6-9 punctures, otherwise impunctate. Hind wings fully developed. Metatarsomere I as short as II. Protarsomeres I-IV strongly dilated.

Abdomen slightly narrower than elytra; punctation rather sparse; interstices with microreticulation; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

: unknown.

Comparative notes: Based on the external characters, P. puncta probably belongs to the P. nigerrima group (see ASSING 2012a, 1013a, b). Among the species of this group, it is characterized particularly by the somewhat smaller eyes, the small head (in relation to the pronotum), and the punctation pattern of the elytra.

Distribution: LAST (1984) recorded P. puncta from two localities in Papua New Guinea, the type locality (not identified) and Okapa (6°30'S, 145°36'E) ( Map 2 ).

Figures

Map 2: Distributions of Pseudolathra armata (black triangles), P. bisinuata (star), P. sepikensis (white circle), P. naviculum (black circle), P. puncta (white triangle), and P. cyanea (diamond).

Figs 12-17: Pseudolathra puncta (LAST), holotype (12), P. cyanea (LAST), holotype (13), and P. armata nov.sp., holotype (14-17): (12-14) forebody; (15) antenna; (16-17) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view. Scale bars: 12-15: 1.0 mm; 16-17: 0.5 mm.