Domene giachinoi, Assing, 2007

Assing, V., 2007, The first anophthalmous species of Domene FAUVEL from Greece (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (2), pp. 757-760 : 757-759

Domene giachinoi nov.sp. ( Figs 1-7 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype: Grecia, nom. Thesprotía, O. Soulíou dopo Petoúsio, m 1000, 22.VI.1992 / 23.VI.1993, Giachino & Vailati leg. / Holotypus Domene giachinoi sp.n. det. V. Assing 2007 (coll. Assing).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements (in mm) and ratios: length of antenna: 4.1; head length from anterior margin of clypeus to posterior margin of head (HL): 1.63; head

*

Results of the program "Research Missions in the Mediterranean Basin" sponsored by the World Biodiversity Association onlus. XIX. contribution. width (HW): 1.36; length of pronotum (PL): 1.53; width of pronotum (PW): 1.18; length of elytra at suture from apex of scutellum to posterior margin (EL): 1.12; combined width of elytra (EW): 1.18; width of abdomen at segment VI (AW): 1.31; length of metatibia (TiL): 1.96; length of metatarsus (TaL): 1.36; length of median lobe of aedeagus from apex of ventral process to base: 1.16; total length: 9.6; HL/HW: 1.20; PW/HW: 0.87; PL/PW: 1.29; EL/PL: 0.73; EW/PW: 1.00; AW/EW: 1.12; TiL/TaL: 1.44.

Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Head distinctly oblong (see measurements and ratio HL/HW) and of oval shape; puncturation fine and dense, interstices distinctly narrower than diameter of punctures (except for a small area in the median dorsal region, where they are approximately as wide as the diameter of the punctures); microsculpture absent; pubescence depressed; neck 1/3 as wide as head ( Fig. 2 ). Eyes reduced to minute puncture-like rudiment ( Fig. 3 ). Maxillary palpus long and slender; penultimate palpomere slightly longer than antennomere III. Antenna long and slender; antennomere III much longer than IV; IV-X distinctly oblong and of gradually decreasing length; IV approximately 2.5 times as long as wide, X about twice as long as wide; XI slightly longer than X ( Fig. 4 ).

Pronotum oblong and distinctly narrower than head (see ratios PW/PL and PW/HW), maximal width near anterior angles; puncturation somewhat less fine and sparser than that of head, interstices wider than diameter of punctures; midline impunctate; microsculpture absent ( Fig. 2 ).

Elytra as wide as and at suture slightly shorter than pronotum; dorsal surface extensively impressed across middle and with smaller impression on either side of scutellum; puncturation rather coarse, granulose, and somewhat ill-defined; surface only with subdued shine, almost matt ( Fig. 2 ). Hind wings reduced. Legs long and slender (see measurements and ratio TiL/TaL); metatarsomere I approximately as long as the combined length of II-IV.

Abdomen wider than elytra (see ratio AW/EW), widest at segment VI ( Fig. 1 ); puncturation fine and rather dense; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII weakly convex.

: sternite VII not distinctly modified; sternite VIII with deep and broad posterior excision, postero-lateral angles pointed ( Fig. 5 ); aedeagus of distinctive shape ( Figs 6-7 ).

: unknown.

C o m m e n t: A description of the natural coloration of the holotype is not possible, since it has evidently turned blackish post mortem, probably as a result of being exposed to a chemical agent of unknown identity.

E t y m o l o g y: The species is gratefully dedicated to Pier Mauro Giachino, one of the collectors, also in appreciation of the generous gift of the holotype.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Domene giachinoi is readily distinguished from all other described species known from the Balkans and adjacent regions by its conspicuous external appearance (large size, long appendages, reduced eyes, etc.) alone. In addition, it is separated from all its congeners by the highly distinctive morphology of the aedeagus. For illustrations of the male primary sexual characters of Domene species recorded from the Balkans see COIFFAIT (1982).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The species is known only from one locality, the Óri Soulíou [=Sulíu; ca. 39°30'N, 20°36'E] in Thesprotía province , Ipiros, northwestern Greece, where it was collected with a subterranean trap at an altitude of 1000 m. The adaptive reductions of the eyes and the wings, as well as the elongated legs and antennae suggest that it is truly endogean and microcavernicolous .

Figures

Figs 1-7: Domene giachinoi nov.sp.: (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3) head in lateral view; (4) antenna; (5) male sternite VIII; (6-7) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view. Scale bars: 1: 2.0 mm; 2, 4: 1.0 mm; 3, 5-7: 0.5 mm.