Bessoglossa, PACE, 1986

Hanley, Rodney S., 2003, Generic revision of the staphylinid beetle tribe Hoplandriini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 138 (1), pp. 83-140 : 135-136

GENUS BESSOGLOSSA PACE, 1986

Bessoglossa Pace, 1986:458 . Hanley, 2002a:318. Hanley, in press b.

Type species: Bessoglossa peruviana Pace, 1986 by monotypy.

Abbreviated description: Length of adults 4.0 mm. Body broadly oval. Head about as long as wide. Antenna with 11 antennomeres. Maxilla with length of lacinia shorter than galea, lacinia acute apically, teeth on adoral margin moderate in length, about 6 times longer than wide, and closely placed, into three indistinct regions and two large spinose setae on dorsal surface; galea moderately narrow, narrower than lacinia at widest area, and rounded apically, membranous in apical 1/3, densely covered with rows of long, fine hairs giving appearance flowing hairs; maxillary palpus with 4 articles and a moderately defined pseudosegment, articles 2 and 3 with numerous long setae, segment 1 with one long seta, segment 4 and pseudosegment without setae. Labium with ligula greatly elongate, length as long as labial palpus, highly broadened apically with double forked apex, with numerous long spines at apices of each fork; two long medial setae of prementum present, slightly shorter than ligula, insertion of setae almost adjacent; real pores and setal pores present; median pseudopore field wide and rectangular, lateral pore field with a single setose pore and two asetose pores; hypoglossal lobes long, reaching beyond base of ligula, with very long, about 8 times longer than width of lobe, comb-like internally curved setae along apical 1/2, and short, about 1.5 times longer than width of lobe, comb-like setae along basal 1/2. Labial palpi elongate, overall length 8–10 times longer than greatest width, with 3 distinct articles. Pronotum transverse, with widest area in posterior half, about 1.2 times wider than long. Elytra moderately broad, wider basally than apically; apicolateral angles sinuate; elytra together about 1.4 times wider than long. Legs with tarsal formula 4-5-5. Abdomen fusiform, tapering apically to broadly pointed apex. Aedeagus with bulb of median lobe elongate, greater in length than tube, distinct ventral projection with distinct hook; internal sac with numerous, large spinules. Spermatheca unknown.

Comments: This abbreviated description for Bessoglossa was extracted from Pace (1987) only. No specimens representing this genus were examined. Only one species is included in this genus, B. peruviana Pace. Also see discussion under Ligulata (above).