Lithocharodes somoleptoides, Irmler, 2021

Irmler, Ulrich, 2021, The Neotropical species of the genus Lithocharodes SHARP, 1876 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Xantholinini), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 71 (1), pp. 29-85 : 57-58

Lithocharodes somoleptoides spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0FBFC297-E285-4637-853C-2DC467FE2E1C

Figs 42 a-c, 45 L, 50 F

Type material: male, holotype: Mexico, Chiapas, Yerbabuena Reserve, 2.1 km NW Pueblo Nuevo, Solistahuacan , 2070 m elev., Liquidambar litter forest, 23.9.1992, leg. R. Anderson #92-114 ( NHM) . Paratypes: 5 males, 6 females with same data as holotype (9 KNHM, 2 UIC) .

Diagnosis: The species highly resembles species of the genus Somoleptus by the slender shape. Even the shape of the paramere is similar to that of most Somoleptus species. However, it has distinct interantennal furrows and the specific cone-like structure at the aedeagal orifice are absent. Within the genus Lithocharodes it mostly resembles L. elegans and L. surinamensis in size and overall colouration. Lithocharodes somoleptoides can be separated from these two species by the short elytra and eyes. Similarly short elytra are also found in L. curtipennis , but in L. curtipennis , elytra are still shorter than wide, whereas they are approximately quadrate in L. somoleptoides . Additionally, the endophallus with its several torsions distinctly differs from that of L. curtipennis .

Description: Length: 4.7 mm. Colouration: Brown, pronotum lighter brown than head and elytra; abdominal segments lighter brown than elytra; darkened posteriad except segment VII, being again light brown; legs and antennae light brown.

Head: 0.81 mm long, 0.61 mm wide; eyes small; postocular sides nearly 5 times as long as eyes; slightly divergent posteriad; posterior angles widely rounded; shape of posterior head nearly semi-circular; interantennal furrows reaching anterior third of eyes; setiferous punctation deep and moderately dense; on average, interstices at least as wide as diameter of punctures; narrow midline impunctate; surface with weak isodiametric microsculpture; moderately shiny. Antennae with first antennomere as long as half-length of head; second and third antennomere much longer than wide; both antennomeres combined approximately half as long as first antennomere; subsequent antennomeres much shorter, wider than long, and increasing in width; fourth antennomere twice as wide as long; tenth antennomere 2.5 times as wide as long; antennomeres four to eleven pubescent. Pronotum: 0.94 mm long, 0.59 mm wide; widest at anterior third; at widest width only weakly wider than at posterior margin; posterior angles obtuse; sub-rectangular; posterior margin slightly convexly curved; setiferous punctation on average deeper and distinctly denser than on head; wide midline impunctate; irregular line adjacent to midline with approximately 19 punctures; punctures of line partly coriaceous in posterior half; surface with weak isodiametric microsculpture; moderately shiny. Elytra: 0.68 mm long, 0.67 mm wide; humeral angles absent; sides distinctly divergent to posterior angles; posterior angles rectangular; posterior margin deeply retreated to suture forming triangular emargination; setiferous punctation deeper and denser than on head and pronotum; on average, interstices between punctures less than half as wide as diameter of punctures; isodiametric microsculpture even weaker than on head and pronotum; moderately shiny. Abdomen with weaker and sparser setiferous punctation than on fore-body; surface with transversely reticulate microsculpture; posterior margin of sternite VII of male semi-circularly prominent, posterior margin of tergite VII of male nearly straight. Meso- and metatibia with one subapical ctenidium each. Aedeagus oval; divergent posteriad; without anterior and posterior angles; endophallus as band with several torsions; covered by numerous medium-sized teeth; paramere slender; curved in apical third; with few short setae.

Etymology: The species name refers to the high similarity in shape with the genus Somoleptus .

Figures

Fig. 37–42: L.-??-group: Lithocharodes compacta (37), L. elegans (38), L. elongata (39), L. fuscula (40), L. rufula (41); aedeagus (a),