Lithocharodes verhaaghi, 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 : 61-64

Lithocharodes verhaaghi spec. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:37168761-B2E0-4845-94ED-83B48C45CF71

Figs 2 a-d, 43 L, 47 C

Type material: male, holotype: Peru: Huanuco, Llullapichis, Panguana Biol. Stat. (74°5.68'W, 9°37'S), 21.1. - 18.2.1984, leg. M. Verhaagh ( UIC) . Paratypes: 2 males, 1 female with same data as holotype, pitfall trap #BF1 ( UIC) ; male, from same location and same collector as holotype, but 18.2.1984, #PWa6 ( UIC) ; Tambopata Prov., Madre de Dios Dpto., 15 km NE Puerto Maldonado, Reserva Cuzco Amazónico (69°03'W, 12°33'S), 200 m elevation, Plot #Z2E8, flight intercept trap, 5 males, 15.6.1989, 2.7.1989, 13.7.1989, 16.7.1989, 19.7.1989, leg. J.S. Ashe & R.A. Leschen, #059 ( KNHM) ; Bolivia: Dept. Santa Cruz, Saavedra, Agr. Exp. Stat. , black light trap, male, 28.12.1959, leg. B. Cumming ( FMNH) ; female, Dept. Beni, Prov. Vaca Diez , 2.5 km NW of Tumichucua, forest, flight intercept trap, 11.8.1990, leg. P. Parillo & P. Betella ( FMNH) .

Diagnosis: Lithocharodes verhaaghi is one of the smallest Lithocharodes species. Among similarly small species, L. verhaaghi can be recognized by the parallel shape of the head with large eyes.

Description: Length: 3.4 mm. Colouration: Head black; pronotum, elytra and abdomen dark brown; legs and antennae yellow brown.

Head: 0.55 mm long; 0.44 mm wide; eyes relatively large, not prominent; postocular sides 2.2 times longer than eyes; sides approximately parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; interantennal furrows weak and short; reaching anterior edge of eyes; setiferous punctation deep and dense; anteriorly much denser than close to neck; impunctate midline between interocular furrows extremely narrow; on posterior vertex wider than on anterior vertex; surface without microsculpture; shiny. Antennae with first antennomere slightly longer than half-length of head; second and third antennomere longer than wide and conical; second slightly longer than third; subsequent antennomeres wider than long and increasing in width; fourth antennomere slightly wider than long; tenth antennomere 2.5 times as long as wide; fourth to eleventh antennomeres pubescent. Pronotum: 0.60 mm long, 0.39 mm wide; widest in anterior third; anteriad, conically narrowed toward neck; posteriad, slightly narrowed in weak concave curve; posterior angles rounded; posterior margin convexly curved; setiferous punctation as deep and dense as on posterior part of head; with wide impunctate midline; impunctate midline in anterior third wider than posterior third; adjacent to midline with line of 18 to 19 punctures; surface without microsculpture; shiny. Elytra: 0.61 mm long, 0.54 mm wide; sides divergent posteriad; humeral angles subrectangular; posterior angles nearly rectangular; posterior margin convexly rounded; retreated to suture; setiferous punctation dense but weaker than on pronotum; surface with irregular, weak and coriaceous microsculpture; less shiny than pronotum. Abdomen with similarly dense setiferous punctation as elytra, but finer; weak microsculpture coriaceous; posterior margin of abdominal tergite VII of male straight; posterior margin of sternite VII of male nearly semi-circular. Meso- and metatiba with one subapical ctenidium. Aedeagus oval with nearly parallel anterior sides; anterior angles thick and obtuse; slightly prominent; anterior part of endophallus straight; posterior part with three wide torsions; paramere short; triangular with long setae at inner face.

Etymology: The species is named in honour of its collector, Manfred Verhaagh, who collected extensively in the Panguana Station area.

Key to the Neotropical species

1. Bicoloured, with pronotum light red to yellow, head and elytra blackish or totally light reddish or light brown ...... 2

– Unicoloured, totally dark brown or blackish, in some species, pronotum slightly lighter brown but never light red or yellow ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13

2. Setiferous punctation at least on posterior vertex sparser; on average, interstices between punctures at least as wide as diameter of punctures .................................................................................................................................................... 3

– Setiferous punctation of head denser; interstices between punctures half as wide as diameter of punctures or shorter ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

3. Eyes small, postocular sides three times as long as eyes; head at least in posterior half yellow ............................... 4

– Eyes larger, postocular sides 2.5 times as long as eyes; head dark or light brown ...................................................... 6

4. Sternite VII of male with long and wide medial process .................................................................... bierigi spec. nov.

– Sternite VII of male with convex posterior margin ........................................................................................................ 5

5. Smaller species of 5.1 mm length; endophallus of aedeagus straight ............................ L. fuscipennis ( SHARP, 1876)

– Larger species of 5.4 mm length; endophallus of aedeagus with torsion in basal half ................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... L. clavicornis (ERICHSON, 1839)

6. Larger, more than 5 mm long; head light brown; sternite VII of male with long central spine ............................... 7

– Smaller, 4.6 mm long; head black; sternite VII of male without long spine ......................... L. hanagarthi spec. nov.

7. On anterior vertex, setiferous punctation of head nearly coriaceous; sternite VII of male with long spine; endophallus with minute teeth .................................................................................................................. L. spinigera SHARP, 1885

– Setiferous punctation of anterior vertex denser than on posterior vertex but not nearly coriaceous; sternite VII of male with shorter and broader spine; endophallus with lobes ................................................. L. armata SHARP, 1885

8. Large species, longer than 6 mm ............................................................................................... L. germana SHARP, 1885

– Smaller species, smaller than 5.5 mm .............................................................................................................................. 9

9. Small species, not longer than 4 mm ............................................................................................. L. rufula SHARP, 1885

– Larger species, between 4 mm and 5.5 mm long .......................................................................................................... 10

10. Eyes large, postocular sides 2.3 times as long as eyes ................................................................ L. collaris SHARP, 1885

– Eyes smaller, postocular sides between 2.7 times and 3.6 times as long as eyes ....................................................... 11

11. Eyes extremely small, postocular sides 3.6 times as long as eyes; endophallus of aedeagus with dense row of lobes ........................................................................................................................................... L. nigripennis ( LECONTE, 1863)

– Eyes slightly larger, postocular sides approximately three times longer than eyes ................................................... 12

12. Sides of head approximately parallel; endophallus of aedeagus only with minute teeth ...... L. puncticeps SHARP, 1885 – Sides of head distinctly divergent posteriorly; endophallus of aedeagus with large teeth and lobes .......................... ....................................................................................................................................................... L. simillima SHARP, 1885

13. Large species of more than 7 mm length, eyes extremely reduced, postocular sides ten times as long as eyes and approximately parallel ...................................................................................................................... L. aculeata spec. nov.

– Species smaller, between 3.4 mm and 6.6 mm; eyes longer, postocular sides not more than 5 times as longer as eyes .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14

14. Elytra distinctly shorter than pronotum and shorter than wide ................................................ curtipennis spec. nov.

– Elytra at least quadrate; mostly longer than wide ......................................................................................................... 15

15. Smaller species, between 3.4 mm and 3.8 mm, with large eyes, postocular sides approximately twice as long as eyes .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

– Larger species, between 4.0 mm and 6.6 mm, postocular sides between 2.0 and 3.6 times as long as eyes ......... 20

16. Small species of 3.4 to 3.7 mm length; postocular sides parallel ................................................................................ 17

– Larger species of 3.7 mm to 3.8 mm with divergent postocular sides; two extremely similar species .................. 18

17. Species only 3.4 mm long; brown; elytra longer than pronotum ............................................. L. verhaaghi spec. nov.

– Slightly larger species of 3.7 mm length; black; elytra shorter than pronotum ..................... L. compacta spec. nov.

18. Species from north-easternmost region ( Bahamas) with second antennomere distinctly longer than third ........... .............................................................................................................................................. L. floridanus ( LECONTE, 1880)

– Species from Central and South America with second and third antennomere approximately equal in length ...... 19

19. Species from Guatemala with narrow impunctate midline on head ....................................... L. fuscula SHARP, 1885

– Species from Ecuador with wide impunctate midline on head .................................................. L. silvicola spec. nov.

20. Posterior margin of head widely concave ...................................................................................................................... 21

– Posterior margin of head convex or straight ................................................................................................................. 22

21. Smaller, 4.3 mm long, head nearly quadrate; length: width ratio 1.06; dorsal plate of aedeagus covering dorsal side; paramere as in Fig. 16b ....................................................................................................................... L. brooksi spec. nov.

– Larger, 5.2 mm long; head more elongate; length: width ratio 1.20; dorsal plate of aedeagus restricted to posterior half; paramere as in Fig. 10b ............................................................................................................. L. obscura spec. nov.

22. Larger species between 6.3 mm and 6.6 mm length; tergite VII of male with incision ........................................... 23

– Species not longer than 6.0 mm; tergite VII of male without incision ...................................................................... 24

23. Slightly larger, 6.6 mm long, tergite VII of male with triangular incision; sternite VII of male with triangular process, paramere slender and curved, as in Fig. 13b ............................................................................... L. triangula spec. nov.

– Smaller, 6.3 mm long, tergite VII of male with small incision; sternite VII of male without process, paramere broad with wide apex, as in Fig. 30b . .............................................................................................................. L. ashei spec. nov.

24. Head totally covered by dense setiferous punctation; on posterior vertex, interstices less than half as wide as diameters of punctures ..................................................................................................................................................... 26

– At least on posterior vertex setiferous punctation sparser; interstices more than half as wide as diameter of punctures ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 33

25. Head elongate, postocular sides at least three times longer than eyes ....................................................................... 26

– Head less elongate; postocular sides 2 to 2.5 times as long as eyes ............................................................................. 27

26. Paramere broad with apical process, endophallus broad with small teeth, 6.0 mm long .......... L. elongata spec. nov.

– Paramere slender, apically curved, endophallus slender with one loop, slightly shorter, 5.5 mm long ...................... .............................................................................................................................................. L. nigripennis LECONTE, 1863

27. Smaller than 5 mm ............................................................................................................................................................ 28

– Larger than 5 mm .............................................................................................................................................................. 30

28. Head distinctly divergent; sternite VII of male straight, without emargination ....................... L. peruana spec. nov.

– Head less divergent, nearly parallel; sternite VII of male with emargination ........................................................... 29

29. Sternite VII of male with wide medial process, with adjacent emargination; paramere with long outer lobe; endophallus with spiral torsions .................................................................................................................... L. pampana spec. nov.

– Sternite VII of male widely emarginated, without distinct medial process; paramere with short outer lobe; endophallus with apical lobes and basic sack covered by minute teeth ...................................................... L. lescheni spec. nov.

30. Elytra longer than pronotum; paramere long and slender ............................................................ L. nigrita spec. nov.

– Elytra approximately as long as pronotum; paramere shorter or broader ................................................................. 31

31. Setiferous punctation of head and pronotum denser; interstices between punctures of pronotum half as wide as diameter of punctures; sternite VII of male without emargination ............................................................................ 32

– Setiferous punctation of head and pronotum less dense; interstices between punctures of pronotum partly as wide as diameter of punctures; sternite VII male with semi-circular emargination ................ L. ecuadoriensis spec. nov.

32. Larger, 5.9 mm long; aedeagus long-oval, with straight paramere ........................................ L. katharinae spec. nov.

– Smaller, 5.2 mm long; aedeagus more circular, with long curved paramere ........................... L. boliviana spec. nov.

33. Large species of 5.6 mm length; tergite VII of male with broad process .................................... L. karinae spec. nov.

– Smaller species of less than 5.0 mm length; tergite VII of male without broad process .......................................... 34

34. Head with sparse setiferous punctation; interstices between punctures wider than diameters of punctures; parameres straight with two patches of long setae ........................................................................................ L. nigerrima spec. nov.

– Setiferous punctation denser; shape and setation of parameres different ................................................................. 35

35. Postocular sides only 1.8 times as long as eyes, sternite VII of male with broad medial process ............................... ......................................................................................................................................................... L. denticulata spec. nov.

– Postocular sides longer, at least 2.5 times as long as eyes; sternite VII of male without central process ............... 36

36. Setiferous punctation on head and pronotum sparser; interstices between punctures on pronotum more than twice as wide as diameter of punctures .................................................................................................................................... 37

– Setiferous punctation of head and pronotum denser; interstices between punctures on pronotum as wide as diameter of punctures ....................................................................................................................................................................... 38

37. Punctation of head anteriorly not denser than posteriorly; endophallus without spiral torsions .............................. .................................................................................................................................................... L. fusciventris SHARP, 1885

– Punctation anteriorly distinctly denser than posteriorly; endophallus with spiral torsions ........................................ ......................................................................................................................................... L. trinitatis BLACKWELDER, 1943

38. Sternite VII of male straight or convex, without emargination or teeth .................................................................... 39

– Sternite VII of male different, either with teeth or with deep emargination ............................................................ 42

39. Slightly larger, 4.7 mm long, endophallus different ...................................................................................................... 40

– Slightly smaller 4.5 mm long, endophallus without large teeth, with lobes in anterior part ... L. dubiosa spec. nov.

40. Elytra much shorter than pronotum; eyes short, postocular sides of head 4 times as long as eyes ............................ .................................................................................................................................................... L. somoleptoides spec. nov.

– Elytra at least as long as pronotum; eyes larger, postocular sides only 2.5 times as long as eyes ........................... 41

41. Brown, pronotum widest in anterior third; endophallus with denticulate bursa and large teeth in anterior part, paramere slender ...................................................................................................................... L. surinamensis spec. nov.

– Black; pronotum widest at anterior third; endophallus with two denticulate strings and several spines, paramere broad ............................................................................................................................................. L. elegans (SHARP, 1887)

42. Slightly lighter, dark brown; sternite VII of male with pair of teeth .......................................... L. bicornis spec. nov.

– Slightly darker, blackish; sternite VII of male with wide triangular emargination ............... L. sordida SHARP, 1885

Figures

Fig. 2–7: L.-verhaaghi-group: Lithocharodes verhaaghi (2), L. pampana (3), L. silvicola (4), L. trinitatis (5), L. dubiosa (6), L. peruana (7); 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.

Fig. 13–18: L.-simillima-group:Lithocharodes triangula (13), L. simillima(14), L. surinamensis (15), L. brooksi(16), L. germana (17), L. denticulata (18); 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.

Fig. 8–12: L.-hanagarthi-group and L.-sordida-group:Lithocharodes boliviana (8), L. hanagarthi (9), L. obscura (10), L. bicornis (11), L. sordida (12); 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.

Fig. 25–30: L.-??-group: Lithocharodes nigrita (25), L. aculeata (26), L. ecuadoriensis (27), L. lescheni (28), L. armata (29), L. ashei (30); 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.