Pseudatheta Cameron, 1920

Hashizume, Takuto, Yamamoto, Shûhei & Maruyama, Munetoshi, 2023, Revision of the Genera Pseudatheta Cameron and Phymatura Sahlberg (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Japan, Zootaxa 5319 (1), pp. 27-47 : 29

Genus Pseudatheta Cameron, 1920

[Japanese name: Hime-kinokotsuyakeshi-hanekakushi-zoku]

Pseudatheta Cameron, 1920: 224 (original description;

type species: Pseudatheta elegans Cameron, 1920 ).

Remarks. Species of this genus often have intraspecific variation in body coloration, the ratio of the length and width of each antennomere, and the processes on the posterior margin of the tergite VIII of males, which do not necessarily correspond to those described or illustrated in this paper. The genus Pseudatheta can be distinguished from the genus Phymatura by following character states: mesoventrite without longitudinal carina; number of setose lobes on flabellum of hind wing varies from zero to one.

Key to species of the genus Pseudatheta in Japan

1. Body larger, forebody length 1.00– 1.25 mm; male sternite VI with small medial lobe on posterior margin ( Fig. 4C ); median lobe of aedeagus without ventral process; distal portion of spermatheca long, strongly curved ( Fig. 5C, F ).............. 2

- Body smaller, forebody length 0.86–1.01 mm; male sternite VI without medial lobe on posterior margin; median lobe of aedeagus with ventral process; distal portion of spermatheca short, not curved or slightly curved ( Fig. 7D, G )............ 3

2. Apical process of aedeagus dilated apically in lateral view ( Fig. 5B )........... Ps. crenulicauda (Bernhauer) , comb. nov.

- Apical process of aedeagus parallel to near apex, not dilated in lateral view ( Fig. 5E )............... Ps. taiwanensis Pace

3. Apical process of median lobe of aedeagus simply curved ( Fig. 7B ); ventral process of median lobe of aedeagus with a distinct angle on dorsal side ( Fig. 7C ); distal portion of spermatheca nearly conical shape ( Fig. 7D ).............. Ps. cooteri Pace

- Apical process of median lobe of aedeagus sinuate ( Fig. 7F ); ventral process of median lobe of aedeagus sinuate; distal portion of spermatheca nearly reniform ( Fig. 7G ).................................................. Ps. elegans Cameron

Remarks. Pseudatheta hilaris (Sharp) , comb. nov., is excluded from this key because only female specimens were available.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pseudatheta taiwanensis Pace, 2008. A. male elytra (white arrow indicates granules); B. male tergite VII (white arrow indicates granule); C. male sternite VI (white arrow indicates medial lobe).

FIGURE 5. Pseudatheta spp. A–C: Pseudatheta crenulicauda (Bernhauer, 1907), comb. nov., D–F: Pseudatheta taiwanensis Pace, 2008. A, D. male tergite VIII in dorsal view; B, E. median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; C, F. spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Pseudatheta spp. A–D: Ps. cooteri Pace, 1998, E–G: Ps. elegans Cameron, 1920. A, E. male tergite VIII in dorsal view; B, F. median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; D, G. spermatheca; C. ventral process of median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view, a: Yaku-shima Is., b: Iriomote-jima Is. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.