Nelmanwaslus, Smetana, Aleš, 2006

Smetana, Aleš, 2006, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus­complex ” (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 11. The genus Wasmannellus Bernhauer, 1920 and Nelmanwaslus gen. nov., Zootaxa 1316, pp. 33-43 : 37-40

Nelmanwaslus gen. nov.

( Figs. 3–6 )

Type species. Nelmanwaslus ornatus spec. nov., by original designation.

Diagnosis. The members of Nelmanwaslus differ from the habitually similar member of the genus Wasmannellus by the following character states: puncture bearing postocular seta on the head situated slightly closer to posterior margin of eye than to posterior margin of head; superior line of pronotal hypomeron moderately separated from inferior line anteriorly, becoming obsolete near anterior angle of pronotum; last segment of maxillary palpus truncate apically, about as wide apically as at middle; last segment of labial palpus expanded apically, slightly obliquely securiform; punctation on basal depression between the two subangulate extensions of the basal line of the first three visible abdominal tergites different (coarser) from that on rest of tergites.

Description. Mandibles each with one tooth, delimited basally from markedly wide mandibular base by a narrow, subbasal indentation. Mandibular prostheca with supporting structure moderately long and rather wide, with copious long ciliae at apex. Gular sutures fused. Maxillary palpus rather short, with last segment truncate apically, about as wide apically as at middle, asetose, about as long as segment 3. Labial palpus short, with last segment setose, short, expanded apically, slightly obliquely securiform. Puncture bearing postocular seta on head situated slightly closer to posterior margin of eye than to posterior margin of head. Superior line of pronotal hypomeron moderately, rather gradually deflected ventrad, anterior portion of superior line therefore situated only moderately below basal portion in lateral view; moderately separated from inferior line anteriorly and becoming obsolete near anterior angle of pronotum; puncture bearing first lateral macroseta on pronotum situated close to superior line, separated from it by about two diameters of puncture; deflected portion of pronotal disc visible in ventral view only from anterior edge of coxal insertion. Prothoracic epimeron absent. Prosternum short, with moderately impressed, margined anterior depression, sternacostal ridge with medial margin extended anteriad into sharp, finlike carina. Mesosternum short; intercoxal process with margins converging acutely; quite acute at apex, distinctly margined. Metasternum large, evenly convex, with anterior projection short, very broadly rounded at apex; middle coxal cavities margined posteriorly. Posterior basal line on first three visible abdominal tergites subangulately extended posteriad on each lateral portion, base of tergite between extensions markedly transversely impressed, with punctation different (markedly coarser) from that on rest of tergites. Dorsolateral face of front tibia with a few spines on apical third, that of middle tibia with several spines, dorsolateral face of hind tibia aspinose.

Male genital segment with tergite 10 wide, broadly arcuate apically ( Fig. 3 ); sternite 9 with long, slender basal portion, emarginate apically ( Fig. 4 ).

Recognition and comments. This is the genus briefly described as Wasmannellus in Smetana & Davies 2000. The genus contains at present two species: the type species N. ornatus spec. nov. and N. stevensi ( Cameron, 1932) , comb.nov. (from Wasmannellus ) (see Smetana & Davies 2000). The members of Nelmanwaslus may be easily distinguished from Wasmannellus tristis by the characters given in the Diagnosis above. The members of the genus Aulacocypus Müller, 1925 show a modification of the bases of the first four visible abdominal tergites that is similar to that of N. ornatus , but they differ mainly by the differently shaped mandibles (no subbasal indentation and each mandible with a similarly shaped, simple, sharp tooth in middle), and by having the dorsolateral face of hind tibia spinose. The members of the “ bisinuatus ­Group” of the genus Sphaerobulbus Smetana, 2003 also have the bases of the first four abdominal tergites modified in a similar way, but they differ by the entirely differently shaped aedoeagus (see Smetana 2003) and mandibles each without subbasal indentation and with a similarly shaped, simple, sharp tooth in middle (as in Aulacocypus ).

Etymology. The generic epithet Nelmanwaslus (gender masculine) is an anagram of the existing name Wasmannellus .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Details of Wasmannellus tristis (1 – 2) and Nelmanwaslus ornatus (3 – 6). 1 — right lateral sclerite of tergite 9 and tergite 10 of female genital segment; 2 — first and second gonocoxites of female genital segment; 3 — tergite 10 of male genital segment; 4 — sternite 9 of male genital segment; 5 — aedoeagus, ventral view; 6 — underside of apical portion of paramere of aedoeagus.