Geostiba (Sibiota) kirghisica, Assing, 2008

Assing, V., 2008, New species and additional records of Geostiba from the Eastern Mediterranean region and from Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (2), pp. 1327-1335 : 1330-1331

Geostiba (Sibiota) kirghisica nov.sp. ( Figs 1-9 )

Holotype [right elytron missing]: Kirghizia: Chatkalskij Alatau , Sary-Celek, 27.- 31.5.1993, 1400-1600 m, leg. Schawaller / Holotypus Geostiba kirghisica sp. n. det. V. Assing 2007 ( SMNS). Paratype: same data as holotype (cAss).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Body length 2.7-2.8 mm. Coloration: body uniformly yellowish; abdominal segment VI and anterior half of segment VII of holotype weakly infuscate .

Head approximately as wide as long ( Fig. 1 ); punctation extremely fine, barely noticeable; surface with shallow to distinct microreticulation. Eyes small and not protruding from lateral contours of head, approximately as large as antennomere V in cross section ( Fig. 2 ). Antennae moderately incrassate apically; antennomere X approximately twice as wide as long.

Pronotum 1.15-1.20 times as wide as head and approximately 1.15 times as wide as long ( Fig. 1 ); punctation extremely fine, barely noticeable; microreticulation similar to that of head.

Elytra 0.70-0.75 times as long as pronotum ( Fig. 1 ); punctation with sexual dimorphism; microreticulation very shallow to almost obsolete. Hind wings reduced.

Abdomen slightly wider than elytra; punctation very fine and sparse; microreticulation shallow to distinct everywhere; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

: pronotum in holotype with deep, extensive, and somewhat irregular impression (artefact?); elytra with sparse and distinctly granulose punctation ( Fig. 1 ); tergite VII with pair of long, sharply elevated, and subparallel carinae in posterior half ( Fig. 3 ); posterior margin of tergite VIII produced, in the middle with small concavity ( Fig. 4 ); posterior margin of sternite VIII obtusely pointed in the middle; median lobe of aedeagus with slender ventral process, with very narrow crista apicalis, with pronounced crista proximalis, and without internal spines in internal sac ( Figs 6-7 ); apical lobe of paramere short and stout ( Fig. 8 ).

: elytra with fine, non-granulose punctation; tergite VIII with almost straight posterior margin; sternite VIII weakly concave in the middle ( Fig. 5 ); spermatheca simply Sshaped, duct not twisted ( Fig. 9 ).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (adjective) is derived from the ancient name of the region where the species was discovered.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Geostiba kirghisica is the first Geostiba species from Kyrgyzstan and the first representative of the subgenus to become known from Middle Asia. It is distinguished from other Sibiota species especially by the primary and secondary sexual characters.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: Thetypelocality is situated near Arkit [41°48'N, 71°57'E], northwestern Kyrgyzstan, where the type specimens were collected at an altitude of 1400-1600 m.

Figures

Figs 1-8: Geostiba kirghisica nov.sp.: (1) forebody (holotype); (2) head in lateral view; (3) posterior portion of male tergite VII; (4) male tergite VIII; (5) female sternite VIII; (6-7) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (8) apical lobe of paramere. Scale bars: 1: 0.5 mm; 2-5: 0.2 mm; 6-8: 0.1 mm.

Figs 9-21: Geostiba kirghisica nov.sp. (9) and G. sultanica nov.sp. (10-21): (9, 21) spermatheca; (10) male habitus; (11) male forebody; (12) head in lateral view; (13-14) male tergites VII-VIII in dorsal and in lateral view; (15) male sternite VIII; (16-18) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (19) apical lobe of paramere; (20) female sternite VIII. Scale bars: 10: 1.0 mm; 11: 0.5 mm; 12-15, 20: 0.2 mm; 9, 16-19: 0.1 mm; 21: 0.05 mm.