Scaphisoma gracilicorne Achard, 1920

Löbl, Ivan, 2015, On the Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Revue suisse de Zoologie 122 (1), pp. 75-120 : 109-111

Scaphisoma gracilicorne Achard, 1920

Figs 99-102

Lectotype: MNHN; ♂; by present designation, labelled: Sumatra Coll Grovelle (handwritten) TYPE (printed, red) / Scaphosoma gracilicorne TYPE (handwritten by Achard) J. Achard det. / Scaphisoma gracilicorne Achard det. Löbl 1974 / Lectotype Scaphisoma gracilicorne Achard det. I. Löbl, 2014. The right elytron and the antennae from 3rd segment on are broken off and missing.

Additional material examined: SMNS; 1 ♂; Indonesia, Lombok, Senaro N slope of Rinjani, 2.-5. Feb.1994, 1100 m, Bolm lgt. – MNHN; 1 ♂; Sumatra, Fort de Kock [= Bukittinggi ] 920 m 1925 leg. E. Jacobson.

Redescription: Length 1.50-1.55 mm, width 1.0- 1.05 mm. Head and body light reddish-brown to yellowish, middle part of elytra somewhat darkened, apical third to two fifth of elytra lighter. Apex of abdomen and appendages yellowish. Antennae fairly long, length/ width ratio of antennomeres as follows: III 12/7: IV 25/6: V 36/6: VI 32/6: VII 40/10: VIII 36/6: IX 44/10: X 40/12: XI 50/12. Antennomere III subtriangular. Pronotum finely punctate, with lateral margins evenly rounded, lateral margin carinae hardly visible near base or in basal half in dorsal view. Apex of scutellum exposed. Elytra with lateral margin carinae visible near bases or in basal third, in dorsal view, apical margins rounded, inner apical angle not prominent, situated posterior level of outer angles, sutural margin not raised, sutural striae deep, slightly converging apically, not curved at base and not extending laterad pronotal lobe, adsutural areas flat. Elytral punctation very fine and sparse on basal third, becoming more distinct in middle third and consisting of poorly defined, very shallow, dense and fine punctures, inconspicuous on apical third of elytra. Hypomera smooth. Mesepimera about 4 times as long as wide and 1.5 times as long as interval to mesocoxa. Metaventrite slightly flattened basomedially, lacking grooves or impressions, without microsculpture, very finely punctate. Submesocoxal areas 0.04 mm, about as third of interval to metacoxae, submesocoxal lines convex. Metanepisternum flat, hardly narrowed anteriad, with inner margin weakly rounded, somewhat impressed below margin of metaventrite. Tibiae straight. Abdomen with microsculpture consisting of transverse striae. Sternite 1 very finely punctate. Submetacoxal areas 0.06-0.07 mm, almost as half of interval to apical margin of sternite, submetacoxal lines convex, with fine margin punctures.

Male: Protarsal and mesotarsal segments 1 to 3 slightly widened. Aedeagus (Figs 99-102) 0.78-0.83 mm long, fairly strongly sclerotized, symmetrical. Median lobe with basal bulb large, longer than apical process, articular process inconspicuous. Ventral branch of apical process inflexed, with ventral side sinuate, subapical dorsal tooth followed by very fine dorsal crenulations, tip in dorsal and lateral views acute. Dorsal branches of apical process very short. Parameres fairly narrow in basal halves, each with large weekly sclerotized subapical lobe distinct in dorsal view, abruptly widened in apical halves in lateral view. Internal sac complex, with basal tuft of very dense spine-like structures, two admesal groups of large, curved denticles, followed by irregular rows of fairly robust mesal denticles. Membranes with scale-like structures.

Distribution: Indonesia: Sumatra, Lombok.

Comments: The species is a member of the Scaphisoma haemorrhoidale group, well characterized by its aedeagus. Achard (1920) failed to give any statement about the number of specimen examined and their depository. The specimen designated here as lectotype bears his original identification label and complies with his description except for the length he gave as 1 mm.