Lithocharodes spinigera SHARP, 1885

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 : 59

Lithocharodes spinigera SHARP, 1885

Figs 31 a-d, 43 D, 47 A

Lithocharodes spinigera SHARP, 1885: 491

Type material examined: male, lectotype (present designation): Guatemala, near city ( BMNH). I studied two of the twelve syntypes of Sharp’s collection, a male and a female. Both were fixed on one plate. The male was selected as lectotype and a lectotype label attached to the pin .

Additional material examined: Guatemala without more information, coll. Sharp ( BMNH).

Diagnosis: Lithocharodes spinigera can be separated from similarly large species with light brown colouration, such as L. simillima , by the sparser punctation of the head, in particular on the posterior vertex. The shape of the head is very similar to that in L. simillima . Males are easy to identify by the long triangular process of sternite VII and the absence of spines on the endophallus. In L. simillima , no process at sternite VII is present and the endophallus has several large spines. As SHARP (1885) already noted, the male’s spine on sternite VII is shorter and wider than in L. armata . Colouration, shape and punctation of head is very similar in both species. The aedeagus also resembles that of L. armata , but that of L. armata has lobes in the middle part of the endophallus, which are absent in L. spinigera .

Description: Length: 5.3 mm. Colouration: Dark brown; pronotum, legs and antennae slightly lighter brown.

Head: 0.74 mm long, 0.53 mm wide; eyes small; postocular sides slightly divergent to widely rounded posterior angles; postocular space 2.5 times as long as eyes; eyes not prominent; interantennal furrows weak and short; setiferous punctation irregular; on anterior vertex much denser than on posterior vertex; small midline impunctate except few irregular punctures; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as diameter of punctures or slightly shorter; on posterior vertex, interstices wider, 2 to 2.5 times as wide as diameter of punctures; laterally between setiferous punctures with moderately dense micro-punctation; surface without microsculpture; shiny. Antennae with first antennomere as long as one third of head-length; second and third antennomere conical; longer than wide; subsequent antennomeres distinctly wider than long; fourth antennomere twice as wide as long; tenth antennomere nearly three times as wide as long; fourth to eleventh antennomeres pubescent; fourth to tenth antennomeres with apical crown of short setae. Pronotum: 0.78 mm long, 0.47 mm wide; widest in anterior third; anteriad, narrowed toward neck; in middle third, narrowed in concave curve; in posterior third, sides nearly parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; setiferous punctation deep and moderately dense except wide impunctate midline; adjacent to midline with irregular line of 12 to 13 punctures; surface without microsculpture; shiny. Elytra: 0.76 mm long, 0.57 mm wide; sides nearly parallel; humeral angles subrectangular; posterior angles rectangular; posterior margin weakly retreated to suture; setiferous punctation evenly moderately dense and deep; surface with extremely weak microsculpture; shiny. Abdomen with dense setiferous punctation; microsculpture slightly deeper and denser than on elytra; surface less shiny; posterior margin of sternite VII of male with long triangular acute process; on both sides of process deeply emarginate. Meso- and metatibia with two subapical ctenidia each. Aedeagus oval; anterior angles slightly prominent; endophallus thickly covered by short teeth; anteriorly narrower than posteriorly; inner lobe of paramere approximately parallel at base; slightly widened anteriad; anterior third curved ending in obtuse apex; covered by fine setae except at basal third.

Figures

Fig. 31–36: L.-??-group: Lithocharodes spinigera (31), L. curtipennis (32), L. fusciventris (33), L. nigerrima (34), L. puncticeps (35), L. bicolor (36); aedeagus (a), paramere (b), sternite VII of male (c), tergite VII of male (d); scale bare: A–D: 0.2 mm; B: 0.1 mm.