Scaphisoma confusum, Ivan Löbl & Ryo Ogawa, 2016

Ivan Löbl & Ryo Ogawa, 2016, On the Scaphisomatini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scaphidiinae) of the Philippines, IV: the genera Sapitia ACHARD and Scaphisoma LEACH, Linzer biologische Beiträge 48 (2), pp. 1339-1492 : 1419-1420

5.2.19.4. Scaphisoma confusum nov.sp. ( Figs 190-193 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype 6: Philippines Mindanao, Mainit Hot Spring 28. VII. 1970 M. Satô leg. (MHNG). Paratypes: with the same data as the holotype, 1♀ (MHNG); Mindanao, Davao Prov., Meran, E. slope Mt. Apo, 6000 ft., 5. XI.1946, leg. F.G. Werner, 1♀ and 7.XI.1946, original forest, leg. F.G. Werner, lot 116 Polyporus durus Jungh. 1 6 (FMNH, MHNG).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Length 1.50-1.55 mm, width 0.98-1.04 mm. Head, pronotum and hypomera ochreous, elytra and appendages lighter than pronotum, apical fourth of elytra yellowish. Mesoventrite and metaventrite, with epimeres and anepisterna as pronotum or somewhat darker, abdomen light brown to yellowish. Pronotum and elytra not microsculptured and not iridescent. Length/width ratio of antennomeres as: III 15/8: IV 32/8: V 57/9: VI 42/9: VII 63/13: VIII 47/10: IX 61/14: X 53/15: XI 62/17. Pronotum very finely and sparsely punctate, with lateral contours barely rounded, lateral margin carinae visible in dorsal view, lateral striae punctate. Exposed tip of scutellum fairly large. Elytra fairly flat, with lateral margin carinae entirely exposed in dorsal view, apical margins weakly rounded to truncate, inner apical angles not prominent, situated in level with outer angles; sutural margin not raised, sutural striae shallow, bent at base, not extended along basal margins, parallel posteriad to mid-length, converging toward apices, fairly coarsely punctate; adsutural areas narrow, flat, each with single puncture row, lateral striae punctate. Prevailing surface of elytral disc with punctation coarse and dense, puncture intervals to part smaller than puncture diameters, apical part of elytra finely punctate. Hind wings fully developed. Hypomera and mesanepisterna smooth. Mesepimera distinctly longer than intervals to mesocoxae, about four times as long as wide. Metaventrite in middle convex, with strigulate microsculpture between mesocoxae and metacoxae, not microsculptured on lateral surfaces and between mesocoxae, lacking mesal or apicomesal impressions or striae, impressed between metacoxae, punctation on prevailing surface very fine and sparse; antecoxal puncture rows present, narrow area between metacoxae fairly coarsely punctate. Submesocoxal areas 0.03 mm, about as sixth of intervals to metacoxae, submesocoxal lines convex, coarsely punctate. Metanepisternum flat, narrowed anteriad, inner margin rounded, impressed below margin of metaventrite. Tibiae straight. Abdomen with strigulate microsculpture, very finely punctate excepted on narrow basomedian area bearing few coarser punctures, submetacoxal areas 0.04 mm, about as fourth of intervals to apical margin of sternite 1, submetacoxal lines convex, coarsely punctate.

M a l e: Protarsomeres 1 to 3 slightly widened. Aedeagus ( Figs 190-193 ) 0.73 mm long, moderately sclerotized. Apical process of median lobe shorter than basal bulb, with concave ventral side, dorsal branches hardly visible in dorsal view, ventral branch curved, in apical section evenly narrow, tip blunt. Parameres widest posterior mid-length, strongly narrowed toward apices, with sinuate dorsal margin (lateral view). Internal sac complex, with long spine and teeth-like structures in apical section, large squamous basal bulb and denticular basolateral structures becoming elongate apically.

E t y m o l o g y: The species epithet is a Latin adjective meaning confusing and refers to the complex structures of the internal sac.

Co mp ar a t i v e n o t e s: This species is characterized by its colour pattern in combination with the unusual shape of the parameres. It may be readily distinguished from the Philippine congeners possessing a metaventrite with antecoxal puncture rows.

Figures

Figs 184 - 193: Aedeagi of Scaphisoma; (184, 185), S. conflictum nov. sp., in dorsal and lateral views, scale = 0.2 mm; (186), ditto, apical part of median lobe, in dorsal view, scale = 0.1 mm; (187, 188), ditto, internal sac in dorsal and ventral views, scale = 0.1 mm; (189), ditto, paramere in ventral view, scale = 0, 1 mm; (190, 191), S. confusum nov. sp., in dorsal and lateral views, scale = 0.2 mm; (192), ditto, parameres in lateral view, scale 0, 1 mm; (193), ditto, internal sac in dorsal view, scale = 0.1 mm.