Lithocharodes bicolor ( SHARP, 1885 ) 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 : 35

Lithocharodes bicolor ( SHARP, 1885) new combination

Figs 36 a-c, 45 G, 50 E

Somoleptus bicolor SHARP, 1885: 495

Somoleptus gracilis SHARP, 1885: 496 new synonymy

Type material examined: female, syntype: Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, 7800 ft., leg. Champion ( BMNH); male, holotype of S. gracilis , Mexico, Cordoba, leg. Sallé ( BMNH) .

Diagnosis: SHARP (1885) already noted the similarity between Somoleptus bicolor and S. gracilis . The differences in size are still less than given by SHARP (1885). The minute differences in size may be within the variability of the species or in the different sexes of the two specimens studied. The absence of the cone-like structure at the central orifice of the aedeagus indicates the species as a member of the genus Lithocharodes . As SHARP (1885) already described another species as Lithocharodes gracilis , Lithocharodes bicolor is the valid name for the species, although only the female type could be examined.

Description: Length: 5.0– 5.2 mm. Colouration: Reddishbrown; pronotum and posterior margin of elytra light red to orange; legs and antennae light red.

Head: 0.82 mm long, 0.63 mm wide; eyes small; postocular space nearly 3.5 times as long as eyes; postocular sides slightly divergent; posterior angles rounded; interantennal furrows weak; setiferous punctation moderately deep; sparse; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as diameter of punctures; on posterior vertex interstices wider; nearly twice as wide as diameter of punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished. Antennae with second and third antennomere each longer than wide; second antennomere longer than third; subsequent antennomeres much wider than long and increasing in width; fourth antennomere twice as wide as long; tenth antennomere nearly three times as wide as long; all antennomeres pubescent. Pronotum: 0.94 mm long, 0.54 mm wide; widest in anterior third, anteriad smoothly narrowed toward neck in wide curve; posterior third nearly parallel; posterior angles widely rounded; setiferous punctation as deep and sparse as on posterior head; wide midline impunctate; adjacent to midline with irregular line of about 22-25 punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished. Elytra: 0.89 mm long, 0.78 mm wide; sides slightly divergent to posterior angles; posterior and humeral angles sub-rectangular; setiferous punctation slightly deeper and denser than on head and pronotum; without microsculpture; less shiny than pronotum. Abdomen with similar setiferous punctation as on elytra; surface without microsculpture; polished; sternite VII of male with short central incision; tergite VII of male with straight posterior margin. Aedeagus longoval; thick endophallus with one torsion in anterior half; endophallus covered by minute teeth; paramere straight with wide base; conically narrowed toward apex; inner face with long setae; setae at base much longer than at apex.

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.