Formicocephalus hermani Théry, 2011

Théry, Thomas & Lecoq, Jean-Claude, 2011, Redescription of the genus Formicocephalus Heller, and description of two new species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Zootaxa 2764, pp. 61-68 : 63

Formicocephalus hermani Théry , n. sp.

(Figs. 6, 9, 12).

Holotype Ψ (fig. 6): “ 08.XI.2007 / Mont Do / (Bouloupari) // 21° 45.486 S / 166° 00.009 E (928 m) / N.-Calédonie (P. Sud) / tamisage de litière / en sous-bois / T. Théry leg. // HOLOTYPE / Formicocephalus / hermani n. sp. / T. Théry des. 2010” (rectangular red labels). MNHN. Paratypes Ψ, 2 ex.: same data ( AMNH, CTT).

Description. Body length approximately 6–7.5 mm, the tegument dark-brown to almost black, glossy, legs paler, mandibles, palpi and antennae brown-yellow. Apterous. Pubescence blackish, golden on anterior three-quarters of the protibiae.

Head slightly longer than wide (L/W=1.14–1.2); eyes quite small; temples very long, the distance between the posterior edge of eye to neck more than 2 times the distance between the anterior edge of eye to the anterior margin of frons; temples large, rounded; base of head large; genae subparallel, slightly sinuate posteriorly, almost as wide as temples. Frons almost flat, level with disc of head. Tegument microreticulate, the punctation compound with large and umbilicate punctures (fig. 12), regularly spaced, being more shallow and rarer on frons, except antennal tubercles that are impunctate, smooth and glossy; pubescence erect, with some bigger setae notably on frons, lateral margin of genae and temples; genae microreticulate with a few punctures. Antennae moderately long, a few shorter than head and pronotum together; scape not reaching the posterior quarter of head; the first article of funicle shorter than the following one, basal articles slightly elongate getting shorter to apex. Mandibles long and narrow. Labrum with notch curved inside, the lateral teeth slightly prominent but not acute (fig. 9).

Pronotum approximately 1.3 times longer than wide, as wide as head, widest at the anterior part; disc slightly convex; lateral margins slightly rounded anteriorly, straighter in posterior half and convergent basally; pubescence and tegument similar to those of head but more densely punctate and bearing a narrow medially located area lacking punctation, a longitudinal sulcus present on the basal third of the pronotum.

Elytra longitudinally short, more than 1.3 times shorter than pronotum, combined as long as wide, about as wide as pronotum, lateral sides almost straight, subparallel, widest at apex; surface almost smooth but with punctation much more dense than that of pronotum, punctures finely wrinkled transversely. Surface of scutellum finely microreticulate.

Abdomen with lateral margins slightly curved, widest at level of tergite VI; with surface almost smooth, punctation finer than that of elytra, and pubescence less dense. Second (IV) and third sternite (V) each with a single tuft of erect setae slightly recurved backwards at their apex.

Male unknown.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Lee H. Herman, New York, USA.

Distribution. New Caledonia.