Tychus vaucheri Jeannel, 1956

Sabella, Giorgio, Besuchet, Claude & Kurbatov, Sergey A., 2011, A review of the Tychus algericus species group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), North Africa, Zootaxa 3065, pp. 38-48 : 44-45

Tychus vaucheri Jeannel, 1956

( Figs. 3 , 11–12 , 17 )

Tychus vaucheri Jeannel, 1956: 135 , Fig. 137; Kocher, 1958: 212; Besuchet, 1962: 365; 1963: 230.

Type material. Holotype, 3. MOROCCO, RIF: Tangeri-Tétouan region: Tangeri, VII.1897 (H. Vaucher) ( MNHN, general collection); Paratype: Ƥ, same data of holotype (H. Vaucher) ( MNHN, general collection).

Additional material examined. MOROCCO, RIF: Tangeri-Tétouan region: Ƥ, Tangeri, XII.1893 ( MNHN, general collection); 3 and Ƥ, idem, 31.III.1959 (C. Besuchet) ( MHNG); 3, idem (M. Escalera) ( MHNG); 3 and Ƥ, Dardara (near Xauen), 30.III.1959 (C. Besuchet) ( MHNG); 3 and Ƥ, Habib Mount (between Larache and Tétouan), 29.III.1963 (R. Mussard) ( MHNG); Ƥ, idem, 03.V.1963 (R. Mussard) ( MHNG); 3, Maroc ( MHNG).

Redescription. Body length 1.25–1.35 mm, colour dark brown with red elytra and black abdomen, some specimens paler; reddish antennae and legs, yellow palpi.

Head slightly wider (0.245–0.250 mm) than long (0.235–0.240 mm), frontal rostrum 0.130–0.135 mm wide and 0.070 mm long. Eyes with 10–18 ommatidia. Last segment of maxillary palpi 0.175–0.180 mm long and 0.075 mm wide. Antennae ( Fig. 3 ) 0.600– 0.620 mm long, club 0.250–0.260 mm long; scape and antennomere II distinctly longer than wide; III slightly longer than wide, antennomeres IV–VIII slightly wider than long.

Pronotum wider (0.300– 0.310 mm) than long (0.260–0.275 mm).

Elytra wider (0.525–0.540 mm) than long (0.375–0.440 mm).

Abdomen with 1st tergite 0.160–0.175 mm long.

Male. Posterior margin of mesotrochanters extended into very short median spine, mesotibiae with small subapical spur, metatibiae with very small apical spur, all abdominal sternites apparently unmodified. Aedeagus ( Figs. 11– 12 ) 0.300– 0.310 mm long, with a sinuate and canaliculate dorsal apophysis of median lobe ending in spine-like apex, its lateral margin bearing two shorts spine-like apophyses in distal third that are directed laterally; mesal margin prolonged as short spine directed medially and upwards in distal third. Ventral portion of median lobe large at base and restricted to middle from apex. Apex directed laterally and bearing spine-like apophysis that is sinuate and directed medially.

Female. Eyes smaller (10–12 ommatidia) than male (16–18 ommatidia), telisternite as in Fig. 17 .

Comparative notes. Tychus vaucheri can be distinguished from the other species of the group by the peculiar shape of ventral portion and dorsal apophysis of the median lobe of the aedeagus, feature of the female telisternite (cfr. Figs. 15, 16 , 17 and 18 ), and by the thinner antennae.

Distribution. The species is known only from the Moroccan Rif: Tangeri, Dardara (near Xauen), Lexchab Mount and Habib Mount (between Larache and Tetouan).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Antennae of Tychus algericus group species. Scale: 0, 1 mm. 1 — Tychus algericus, male from Fernana. 2 — Tychus depexus, male from Mouzaia Mount. 3 — Tychus vaucheri, male from Dardara. 4 — Tychus similis sp. n., holotype, male from Dély Ibrahim.

FIGURES 11 – 12. Aedeagus of Tychus vaucheri, male from Tangeri. Scale: 0, 1 mm. 11 — Ventral view. 12 — Lateral view.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Telisternites of female of Tychus algericus group species, dorsal view. Scale: 0, 1 mm. 17 — T. vaucheri, female from Habib Mount. 18 — T. similis sp. n., paratype, female from Dély Ibrahim.

FIGURES 15 – 16. Telisternites of female of Tychus algericus group species, dorsal view. Scale: 0, 1 mm. 15 — T. algericus, female from Akfadou Forest. 16 — T. depexus, female from Mouzaia Mount.