Pseudobium pakistanicum, Assing, 2007

Assing, V., 2007, On the genus Pseudobium MULSANT & REY II. A new species from Pakistan and additional records (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (1), pp. 15-21 : 19-21

Pseudobium pakistanicum nov.sp. ( Figs 1-7 , Map 3)

Holotype Ƌ: Pakistan: Northwest Frontier Province : South Waziristan agency near Tanai village [ca. 32°12N, 69°41E] / 2.-12.IX.2005, 1500-2500 m, leg. V. Gurko / Holotypus Ƌ Pseudobium pakistanicum sp.n. det. V. Assing 2007 (cAss).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements (in mm) and ratios (holotype): AL: 1.36; HL: 0.57; HW: 0.44; PW: 0.41; PL: 0.65; EL: 0.65; EW: 0.59; AW: 0.51; TiL: 0.45; TaL: 0.32; ML: 0.47; TL: 4.4; HL/HW: 1.31; PW/HW: 0.93; PW/PL: 0.63; EL/PL: 1.00; EW/PW: 1.44; AW/EW: 0.87; TiL/TaL: 1.43.

Relatively small species (see measurements), of similar size as P. cypriacum and P. hellenicum . Coloration similar to that of P. anatolicum and P. hellenicum : body blackish, with the posterior margin of the elytra yellowish; legs reddish yellow to yellowish brown, with the meso- and metafemora slightly darker; antennae brown, with the basal two antennomeres reddish.

Head distinctly oblong ( Fig. 2 ), of quadrangular shape, lateral margins subparallel, posterior angles moderately marked; puncturation rather coarse and well-delimited, interstices in central dorsal area 1-2 times as wide as diameter of punctures; microsculpture absent; eyes large and projecting from lateral outline of head ( Fig. 2 ), slightly more than half the length of postocular region in dorsal view; antenna as in Fig. 3 .

Pronotum narrower than head and subparallel ( Fig. 1 ); dorsal rows composed of 15-20 punctures; microsculpture absent.

Elytra distinctly wider than and at suture as long as pronotum (see ratios EW/PW and EL/PL); punctures of similar size as those of pronotum and arranged in distinct rows, these rows becoming obsolete posteriorly. Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen narrower than elytra, widest at segment VII; tergites III-V with shallow anterior impression; puncturation of anterior impressions of tergites III-V moderately coarse, on remainder of tergal surfaces fine; microsculpture shallow; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

Ƌ: sternite VII unmodified; posterior margin of sternite VIII deeply excised, this excision anteriorly concave, not acute ( Fig. 4 ); aedeagus of highly distinctive shape ( Figs 5-7 ).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Lat., adj.) is derived from the name of the country where the species was discovered.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Pseudobium pakistanicum is distinguished from all its congeners by the distinctive morphology of the aedeagus, from most species also by the the shape of the posterior excision of the male sternite VIII (in Western Palaearctic congeners mostly acutely angled anteriorly). From geographically close Pseudobium species, some of whose primary sexual characters are unknown, it is separated as follows: * from P. asiaticum GUSAROV 1994 (Middle Asia) by the darker coloration of the forebody (P. asiaticum: head reddish brown, pronotum and abdomen brown, elytra reddish brown with three indistinct dark brown spots), and the different shape of the aedeagus (see GUSAROV (1994));

* from P. richteri and P. iranicum ( Iran) by distinctly smaller size, darker coloration, and the different shape of the aedeagus.

For illustrations of the male primary sexual characters of other Palaearctic Pseudobium species see COIFFAIT (1982), BOHÁČ (1988), GUSAROV (1993, 1994), and ASSING (2006).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The type locality is situated in northwestern Pakistan at an altitude of 1500-2500 m. The holotype was collected in September.

Figures

Figs 1-7: Pseudobium pakistanicum nov.sp. (holotype). (1) forebody; (2) head; (3) antenna; (4) male sternite VIII; (5-6) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (7) apical part of aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 1: 1.0 mm; 2-4: 0.2 mm; 5-7: 0.1 mm.