Erichsonius (Sectophilonthus) jelineki, Uhlig & Janák, 2009

Uhlig, Manfred & Janák, Jiří, 2009, Erichsonius (Sectophilonthus) jelineki sp. nov., the first representative of the genus from the Seychelles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 695-710 : 697-708

Erichsonius (Sectophilonthus) jelineki sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–38 )

Type locality. Seychelles, Mahé, Trois Frères, 600–620 m, 4°38′10″S / 55°26′39″E.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘SEYCHELLES: Mahé, Trois Frères, 600–620 m, 4°38′10″S / 55°26′39″E, 21.– 27.11.2007, J. Janák lgt. // forest spring area treading’ ( MFNB) . PARATYPES: SEYCHELLES: same data as holotype, 20 JJ 25 ♀♀ ( JJPC: 17 JJ 21 ♀♀, MFNB: 2 JJ 2 ♀♀, NMPC: 1 J 1 ♀) ; same data as holotype, but ‘forest sifted litter’, 1 J ( JJPC) ; ‘ SEYCHELLES, Mahé , Mont d‘Or, 200–300m, 4°38′58″S, 55°24′55″E, J. Janák lgt. 8.12.2007 // Cinnamon forest decaying Artocarpus fruit’, 4 JJ 3 ♀♀ ( JJPC) ; ‘ SEYCHELLES, Mahé, Pied du Morne, 400–500m, 4°37′36″S, 55°26′08″E, J. Janák lgt., 24.11.2007 // forest spring area treading’, 11 JJ 8 ♀♀ ( JJPC) ; ‘ SEYCHELLES, Mahé, Le Niol, 150m, 4°37′12″S, 55°25′39″E, J. Janák lgt., 24.– 28.11.2007 // decaying Artocarpus fruit’, 1 J 1 ♀ ( JJPC) .

Description. Length LCo [mm] 4.3 ± 0.4 (4.7 / 3.7–4.9). Anterior body length LCa [mm] 2.2 ± 0.1 (2.3 / 2.0–2.4).

Colour. Head, pronotum and scutellum pitchy brown to almost black. Posterior margin of pronotum indistinctly reddish brown. Elytra yellow, each with large black spot occupying about two thirds but leaving the suture, posterior margin, broad anterior margin and shoul- der yellow. Deflexed lateral parts of elytra dark, especially in the posterior part, where they connecting with black dorsal spot. Abdomen pitchy brown with tergites II and X yellow and posterior margins of remaining tergites reddish yellow. Legs yellow, with tibiae slightly infuscate. Antennae with antennomere I and base of antennomere II yellow, antennomeres II to VII infuscate, from antennomere VIII onwards gradually more yellowish, at least antennomeres X and XI yellow. Mouthparts yellow, mandibles reddish yellow.

Head ( Figs. 32, 35 ) of rounded square to slightly transverse-rectangular shape, slightly shorter than wide across eyes [i LC: TO 0.93 ± 0.02 (0.94 / 0.89–0.97)], temples parallelsided, eyes slightly prominent to prominent [i TO: TTe 1.11 ± 0.04 (1.04 / 1.03–1.22)], as long as to distinctly longer than temples [i LO: TTe 1.16 ± 0.09 (1.07 / 0.97–1.33)]. Head transversally convex, shorter than pronotum [i LC: LP 0.84 ± 0.02 (0.84 / 0.79–0.89)] and as wide as pronotum [i TO: TP 1.00 ± 0.02 (0.97 / 0.97–1.05)].

Antennae ( Figs. 31, 35 ) long and slender, all segments longer than wide [i L5: T5 1.217 ± 0.078 (1.143 / 1.075–1.395)], [i L10: T10 1.006 ± 0.058 (1.125 / 0.906–1.154)]; see also Tables 1 and 2.

Pronotum ( Figs. 33, 35 ) longer than wide [i LP: TP 1.11 ± 0.02 (1.10 / 1.06–1.16)], of rectangular shape with rounded angles, parallel-sided to slightly narrowed posteriorly, broadest at anterior third to midlength, transversally convex.

Scutellum ( Fig. 34 ) moderate finely and sparingly punctate, slightly denser than elytra.

Elytra ( Fig. 34, 35 ) distinctly longer [i LE: LP 1.30 ± 0.03 (1.30 / 1.24–1.38)] and wider [i TE: TP 1.34 ± 0.03 (1.30 / 1.27–1.41)] than pronotum. Elytra together longer than wide [i LE: TE 1.08 ± 0.02 (1.09 / 1.03–1.12)], of rounded rectangular shape, sides slightly rounded and dilated posteriorly, broadest at fourth fifth of their length. Elytra slightly convex transversally.

Posterior wings completely developed.

Abdomen ( Fig. 35 ) staphylininae-shaped with urite IV broadest. Terga III to V with feeble basal impressions. Tergum VII with complete membranous palisade fringe at its posterior margin.

Pubescence, punctation and microsculpture. Pubescence dark. Punctation of head ( Fig. 32 ) and pronotum ( Fig. 33 ) moderate and sparse, microsculpture weak, consisting of transverse meshes and waves, meshes mostly broad and moderately dense. Punctures of elytra ( Fig. 34 ) moderately dense and moderately fine. Elytra without microsculpture. Abdomen ( Fig. 35 ) finely and densely punctate, microsculpture more distinct than on pronotum, consisting of transverse meshes and waves, meshes broad and dense. Interior puncture series of pronotum consisting of 1+8 ± 1 (8|9 / 6–9) punctures.

Male. Tarsomeres 1 to 4 of protarsus dilated, nearly as broad as apex of protibia. Abdominal tergite X ( Figs. 6, 7 , 24 ) curved apically and slightly emarginate in middle, posterior margin with (3)2-0-2(3) long and strong bristles and fine cuticular fringes. Posterior margin of sternite VIII ( Figs. 9, 10 , 22 ) with broad arcuate emargination and moderately long and moderately strong bristles. Sternite IX ( Figs. 5, 8 , 23 ) rather broad, nearly parallel-sided with an asymmetrical basal process, posterior margin feebly truncate and slightly emarginated in middle, with (3)2-(1)-2(3) long and strong bristles and 4–6 medium-sized or fine apical bristles at posterior margin.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 1–4 , 15–21 ). Parameral side facing ventrally when in rest (rest position of aedeagus 0° according to COIFFAIT (1972)). For measurements and proportions see Table 2. Parameres distinctly exceeding top of median lobe [i (DA-Pm): LPm +0.157 ± 0.012 (0.163 / 0.122–0.175)]. Median lobe apically with broad protuberance forming a rounded, rhomboidal, transversely flatly curved apical piece. Distal orifice situated dorso-apically. Parameres in basal half parallel to median lobe, in apical half forceps-shaped, dilated and somewhat twisted along longitudinal axis; apical part slender, spoon-like, at inner side with few fine hairs, but with neither peg nor apical setae. Internal sac with fine spines, squamous structures and V-shaped basal sclerite ( Figs. 1–3 , 17–21 ).

Female. In general appearance similar to male. Anterior tarsomeres less dilated than in males. Abdominal tergite X ( Figs. 11, 12 , 25–27 ) rounded, wedge-shaped, broadly truncate at apex, bearing (4)3-0-3(4) rather long apical setae and fine cuticular fringes. Valves (lateral sternal sclerites IX + coxite + stylus) with lateral sternal sclerites IX slightly longer than coxite + stylus ( Figs. 13, 14 , 28–30 ). Coxite long and rather broad, stylus moderate. Chaetotaxic formula (for explanation see UHLIG (1988) and UHLIG & WATANABE (1992)): Valve = 0: 0: 0: x2(1-3)

y1: y2: y3α,β(γ,δ): y4: y5α(β): y6: y7(15-19)

z1: z2: 0: 0.

Valval chaetotaxy consists of digging spines, bristles and fine setae. Digging spines: z1, y2. Large and strong bristles: y3(α),β, y4, y5α. Large and thin bristles: z2, y3(α)(γ,δ), y5(β). Fine setae: All others.

Measurements, indices and variability. See Table 2. The elytra of one paratype are yellow without any dark spot.

Differential diagnosis. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov. belongs to the subgenus Sectophilonthus

Tottenham, 1949 with fully developed wings. The new species differs from other Erichsonius species by the combination of following characters:

• medium-sized: length 3.7–4.9 mm, anterior body length 2.0– 2.4 mm;

• body pitchy brown to almost black, elytra yellow, usually with distinct but vaguely delimited black spot on each elytron;

• eyes as long as to distinctly longer than temples (eye/temple length index i LO: LTe = 0.97–1.33);

• head slightly shorter than wide measured across eyes (i LC: TO = 0.89–0.97);

• pronotum width TP = 0.55–0.71 mm;

• pronotum slightly longer than wide (length/width index of pronotum i LP: TP = 1.06–1.16);

• interior puncture series of pronotum with 1+6 to 1+9 punctures;

• elytra longer than wide (length/width index of elytra i LE: TE = 1.03–1.12);

• tergite VII with complete membranous palisade fringe at posterior margin;

• aedeagus with parameral side facing ventrally when in rest (rest position 0°);

• parameres distinctly exceeding apex of aedeagus (i (DA-Pm): LPm = +0.122 to +0.175);

• parameres with neither peg setae nor apical setae but with hairs at inner side of apical dilatation;

• valves with digging spines z1 and y2;

• sexual characters, e.g. shape of aedeagus, structures of internal sac, shape and chaetotaxy of tergum X and sterna VIII and IX in males and shape and chaetotaxy of tergum X and valves in females as in Figs. 1–30 .

Remarks and comparisons. Because about two thirds of all described Erichsonius species are poorly described and not attributed to either a species group or a subgenus, it is necessary to distinguish any new species from all Erichsonius of both subgenera and the “species incertae sedis”. Rather complete and useful identification keys are available only for the Nearctic region ( FRANK 1975, 1981), for the West Palaearctic region ( COIFFAIT 1965, 1974) including Central Europe ( UHLIG & STERRENBURG 1990 and UHLIG 1989b) and for Japan ( UHLIG & WATANABE 1992). BERNHAUER’ s key (1944) to the Palaearctic species covers less than half and TOTTENHAM’ s key (1956) to the continental Afrotropical species covers less than one fifth of the currently described species of the respective region, not to mention some hundreds of undescribed species. There are no identification keys for the Oriental Region, Madagascar and the islands in the Indian Ocean but Mauritius ( UHLIG 1988). Only the Nearctic, West Palaearctic and Japanese species are completely grouped in subgenera and species groups. Phylogenetic and comparative taxonomic studies were published only for the Afrotropical Erichsonius robustus group ( MASCH 1993, MASCH & UHLIG 1990).

Because most of the Erichsonius species have, contrary to the new species from the Seychelles, completely dark elytra and eyes shorter than temples, the new species should be distinguished in more detail from species with black-spotted or completely yellow, red or reddish-brown elytra and from species with eyes longer than temples.

Erichsonius (S.) jelineki sp. nov. differs from other Erichsonius species with black-spotted or completely yellow, red to reddish-brown elytra by the following characters:

• larger eyes (the following species have eyes shorter than temples: E. basalis ( Motschulsky, 1858) and E. castaneipennis ( Kraatz, 1859) , E. (S.?) comorensis Uhlig, 1991 , E. (S.) hannemanni Uhlig, 1990 , E. humeralis Cameron, 1920 , E. (S.) naomii Uhlig & Watanabe, 1992, E. uhligi Lecoq, 1996 , and all Palaearctic and Nearctic species with pale elytral colour);

• longer elytra ( E. franzi Lecoq, 1990 has elytra shorter than pronotum);

• narrower pronotum ( E. rufipennis ( Bernhauer, 1932) and E. variolosus Tottenham, 1956 , have pronotum wider than 0.74 mm);

• fewer punctures in the inner puncture series of pronotum ( E. tristis ( Cameron, 1932) and E. venustus Tottenham, 1956 have more than 1+10 punctures);

• less densely punctate head, pronotum and elytra, and different aedeagus ( E. gentyi Levasseur, 1969 has parameres not distinctly exceeding top of median lobe but E. bamakoensis Levasseur, 1969 , has a pointed aedeagus without protuberance).

Erichsonius (S.) jelineki sp. nov. differs from other Erichsonius species with eyes longer than temples by the following characters:

• elytra yellow with black spots (the following Afrotropical species have dark (black, pitchy brown, brown or dark reddish-brown) elytra and different genitalia: E. aequiventris Tottenham, 1956 , E. allardi Levasseur, 1969 , E. ampliceps Tottenham, 1961 , E. andringitranus Jarrige, 1978 , E. boops ( Fauvel, 1905) , E. confusus Levasseur, 1971 , E. crebriceps ( Bernhauer, 1933) , E. curtipennis ( Bernhauer, 1933) , E. dundoensis Tottenham, 1956 , E. gabonicus Levasseur, 1980 , E. girardi Levasseur, 1969 , E. griveaudi Jarrige, 1978 , E. kamerunensis ( Bernhauer, 1915) , E. katanganus Levasseur, 1969 , E. kolweziensis Levasseur, 1969 , E. lamtoensis Levasseur, 1969 , E. laticeps ( Cameron, 1918) , E. leonensis Tottenham, 1956 , E. (S.) lohsei Uhlig, 1990 , E. longipennis Jarrige, 1970 , E. modestus Tottenham, 1956 , E. musonoiensis Levasseur, 1969 , E. ophthalmicus, Tottenham, 1956 , E. parcior Tottenham, 1956 , E. parvus Tottenham, 1961 , E. scotti ( Bernhauer, 1931) , E. silvaticus ( Bernhauer, 1931) , E. silvestris ( Bernhauer, 1931) , E. terebrans Tottenham, 1956 , E. triangularis Tottenham, 1961 , and E. ziloensis Levasseur, 1969 ).

The new species should also be compared with the following three species from the Oriental Region.

• E. flavicornis ( Fauvel, 1895) has pitchy brown elytra with yellowish-brown shoulders, suture and posterior margin and aedeagus in distal half with a median keel dilated in an oval, pointed protuberance;

• E. laticeps ( Cameron, 1918) has pitchy brown elytra and aedeagus without protuberance;

• E. humeralis ( Cameron, 1920) has pitchy brown elytra with reddish shoulders and suture and a similar aedeagus with parameres distinctly exceeding the top of median lobe and forceps-shaped in apical half (but the parameres are more strongly dilated and somewhat twisted along longitudinal axis) and median lobe apically with broad protuberance forming a rounded rhomboidal apical piece. However, eyes are distinctly shorter than temples.

Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Dr. Josef Jelínek from the Department of Entomology, National Museum, Prague ( Czech Republic), on the occasion of his 70 th birthday.

Distribution. Erichsonius (S.) jelineki sp. nov. is known from four localities on the Mahé Island ( Seychelles) only ( Figs. 37 , 38 ).

Relationships. According to the available data, the new species is phylogenetically close to the Oriental species of Erichsonius .

Figures

Figs. 1–8. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov. (1–3, 5–8 – male paratypes, Trois Frères; 4 – male paratype, Pied du Morne). 1 – aedeagus with internal sac, ventral; 2 – aedeagus, 1/3 lateral; 3 – aedeagus, lateral; 4 – apex of median lobe, dorsal; 5, 8 – male sternite IX; 6 – male tergite IX/X (right tergo-stylus and bristles omitted); 7 – male tergite X. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figs. 9–14. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov. (9–10 – male paratypes, Trois Frères; 11–14 – female paratypes, Trois Frères). 9 – apex of male sternite VIII; 10 – apex of male sternite VIII (bristles omitted); 11 – female tergite IX/X (right tergo-stylus and bristles omitted); 12 – female tergite X; 13, 14 – valves. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figs. 15–21. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov., all Trois Frères. 15, 17–21 – aedeagi, ventral; 16 – aedeagus, 1/3 lateral; 19, 20 – tubus with internal sac and parameres; 21 – apical part of aedeagus and parameres. (15, 16 – HT; 17, 20 – J PT2, transmitted light; 18, 19, 21 – J PT1, transmitted light).

Figs. 22–30. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov., all Trois Frères. 22 – sternite VIII; 23 – sternite IX; 24 – tergite X; 25–27 – tergite X and partly tergite(s) IX; 28–30 – valve(s) and partly tergites IX. (22–24 – J PT2; 25, 28 – ♀ PT3; 26, 29 – ♀ PT1; 27, 30 – ♀ PT2).

Figs. 31–36. Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov., all Trois Frères. 31 – ♀ PT3, left antenna. 32–34 – J PT1; 32 – head; 33 – pronotum; 34 – elytra. 35–36 – holotype; 35 – mounting plate with holotype specimen, mounted aedeagus and genital segment; 36 – labels.

Fig. 37. Mount Trois Frères. Arrow indicates the type locality of Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov.

Fig. 38. Mount Trois Frères, the type locality of Erichsonius jelineki sp. nov. Arrows indicate the places at which the specimens were collected.