Echiaster discrepans, Assing & I, 2014

Assing, V. & I, North, 2014, Three new species and additional records of Echiaster from Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (2), pp. 1087-1096 : 1093-1094

Echiaster discrepans nov.sp.

( Figs 14-19 , Map 1 )

Type material: Holotype: " INDIA 22 Madras, Palni H., Kodai Kanal , 2100 m, 11- XI-72, Besuchet Löbl Mussard / Holotypus Echiaster discrepans sp.n. det. V. Assing 2014" ( MHNG) . Paratypes: 5 exs.: same data as holotype ( MHNG, cAss, cRou) ; 2 exs.: " INDIA N. 27 Madras, Palni H., 10 km N.O. de Kodai Kanal , 2150 m, 15-XI-72, Besuchet Löbl Mussard " ( MHNG, cAss) ; 2 exs.: " INDIA N. 23 Madras, Palni H., au-dessus de Kodai Kanal , 2200 m, 12- XI-72, Besuchet Löbl Mussard " ( MHNG) ; 2 exs.: " INDIA N. 26 Madras, Palni H., Berijan Lake , 2150 m, 14-XI-72, Besuchet Löbl Mussard " ( MHNG) .

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet is the present participle of the Latin verb discrepare (to differ) and alludes to the numerous characters distinguishing this species from other congeners recorded from Asia.

Description: Conspicuously small species; body length 2.6-3.1 mm; length of forebody 1.4-1.6 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 14 . Coloration: head dark-brown to blackishbrown, with the anterior portion reddish to reddish-yellow; pronotum brown; elytra brown, with the postero-lateral portions usually more or less extensively infuscate, sometimes leaving only the humeral angles, the anterior margins, and the anterior sutural portion paler; abdomen brown to dark-brown, with the apex, as well as the posterior and lateral margins of the segments reddish; legs and antennae yellowish.

Head ( Fig. 15 ) oblong and of subquadrangular shape, 1.05-1.10 times as long as broad and with rounded, but noticeable posterior angles; punctation coarse, very dense, and umbilicate; interstices reduced to narrow ridges, but glossy, surface not completely matt; eyes slightly more than half as long as distance between posterior margin of eye to posterior constriction of head in dorsal view. Antenna approximately 0.6 mm long.

Pronotum ( Fig. 15 ) conspicuously small (in relation to head and elytra) and not particularly slender, approximately 1.15 times as long as broad and 0.75 times as broad as head; middle elevated or flat, not impressed; punctation similar to that of head.

Elytra ( Fig. 15 ) relatively long and large, approximately 1.2 times as long and 1.5-1.6 times as large as pronotum; humeral angles pronounced; punctation very dense and coarse, not granulose. Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen distinctly narrower than elytra; tergites III-V with moderately coarse and moderately dense, tergites VI-VIII with fine and moderately dense punctation; interstices glossy; posterior margin of tergite VII very weakly convex, with palisade fringe; tergite VIII distinctly oblong and with weakly convex posterior margin.

: sternite VIII ( Fig. 16 ) oblong, with moderately dense pubescence composed of stout, long, and dark setae, posterior excision shallow; aedeagus ( Figs 17-19 ) minute, approximately 0.25 mm long, weakly sclerotized, and of simple shape.

Comparative notes Echiaster discrepans differs from other Asian representatives of the genus by numerous significant external and sexual characters, particularly much smaller body size, completely different habitus (much smaller and shorter pronotum, different head shape, much larger elytra), different punctation of the forebody and of the abdomen, posteriorly weakly convex posterior margins of the abdominal tergites VII and VIII, different chaetotaxy of the male sternite VII and VIII, and by the different general morphology of the aedeagus. The number and quality of these differences suggest that it probably belongs to a separate lineage.

Distribution and natural history The species was collected in several localities near Kodaikanal [10°13'N, 77°29'E] in Tamil Nadu, South India ( Map 1 ), at altitudes of 2100-2200 m.

Figures

Map 1: Distribution of Echiaster species in Asia. Echiaster discrepans (white circles); E. bivirgatus (white diamonds); E. maior (white triangles); E. paulexcisus (black diamond); E. unicolor (black circles).

Figs 14-19: Echiaster discrepans nov.sp.: (14) habitus; (15) forebody; (16) male sternite VIII; (17- 19) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view. Scale bars: 14: 1.0 mm; 15: 0.5 mm; 16-19: 0.1 mm.