Alloraphes Franz

Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2013, Revision of the Neotropical genus Alloraphes Franz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae), Zootaxa 3750 (5), pp. 549-568 : 551-555

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3750.5.7
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:22C6D62A-D6CA-4BBE-AD0D-29174C2A2769
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6154521
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7505414F-FF81-7364-FF29-FE8BFCA14570
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Alloraphes Franz
status

Treatment

Alloraphes Franz View in CoL

Alloraphes Franz, 1980a: 212 . Type species: Alloraphes jamaicae Franz, 1980 a (orig. des.).

Revised diagnosis. Male: head approximately subtriangular, with vertex not expanded dorso-caudad; occipital constriction only slightly narrower than vertex; thick and long bristles absent on head but present on sides of prothorax; frontoclypeal groove absent; posterior margins of eyes adjacent or nearly adjacent to occipital constriction; submentum demarcated laterally from hypostomae by sutures; maxillary palpomere III strongly elongate; palpomere IV nearly 4x as long as broad at base; antennae with indistinctly delimited club composed of antennomeres IX–XI; pronotum with variously distinct lateral edges visible in its posterior part; base of pronotum with transverse groove connected at each end to shallow lateral impression or pit, without sub-lateral carinae; basisternal part of prosternum much shorter than procoxal cavities; prosternum with narrow and weakly protruding intercoxal process with rounded apex; prothoracic hypomeral ridges complete; pronotosternal sutures entire; mesoventral intercoxal process long, narrow and weakly expanding ventrally (not keel-shaped); mesoventrite with asetose lateral impressions behind anterior ridge, without setose impressions; mesothorax without lateral foveae; mesocoxal projection with protruding posterior lobe; metacoxae narrowly separated by subtriangular metaventral intercoxal process with narrow and long median notch; each elytron with two asetose rudiments of basal foveae; aedeagus asymmetrical at least in its apical region, with basal pumping apparatus composed of flexible membranous area bearing median lentiform sclerotization extending internally as axial apophysis to which oblique longitudinal muscles are attached. Female with globular sclerotized spermatheca.

Redescription. Body of males ( Figs. 1–4, 6, 8–11 View FIGURES 1 – 12 ) moderately to strongly convex, elongate and slender, with moderately long appendages, BL 0.64–1.08 mm ( A. magnus 1.25 mm, but the generic status of this species is unclear); cuticle glossy, brown, covered with sparse to moderately dense setae.

Head ( Figs. 13 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) with anterior part (in front of occipital constriction) subtriangular, with large eyes; occipital constriction ( Figs. 13 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; occ) only slightly narrower than vertex; tempora ( Figs. 13 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; tm) short or in some species absent, without bristles; vertex broader than long, convex, not projecting dorso-caudad; frons transverse and subtriangular, often with variously distinct posterior impression or groove; frontoclypeal groove absent; antennal insertions broadly separated.

Labrum ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 15 – 16 ) transverse with rounded anterior margin, with median transverse row of four setae and two antero-lateral groups of four setae, without antero-median peg-like sensilla.

Mandibles ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 16 View FIGURES 15 – 16 ; md) slightly asymmetrical, subtriangular, each with broad base, robust and curved mesally apical tooth, small median tooth ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 15 – 16 ; mt) with one apex on left mandible and two apices on right mandible, short prostheca ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 15 – 16 ; pst) provided with a row of short and dense trichia and two long setae on external margin in sub-basal region.

Each maxilla ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ) with subtriangular basistipes ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ; bst), elongate galea ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ; gal) and lacinia ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ; lac) and strongly elongate and large maxillary palp ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 ; mxp) composed of elongate palpomere I, strongly elongate, pedunculate and slender palpomere II, large and strongly elongate palpomere III broadest near middle, and long, slender, subconical and pointed palpomere IV with indistinctly delimited apical part.

Labium ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) with long hexagonal submentum ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; smn) demarcated posteriorly from gular plate by deep groove and laterally demarcated from long postcardinal parts of hypostomae by lateral sutures ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; lss); subtrapezoidal mentum ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; mn); and short prementum ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; pmn) bearing narrowly separated at bases long 3-segmented labial palps ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; lp) and a pair of long median bristles. Hypostomal ridges ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; hr) long and extending to anterior margin of gular plate.

Gular plate ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; gp) large and distinctly narrowing anterad; gular sutures ( Figs. 14 View FIGURES 13 – 14 , 22 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; gs) distinct and entire; posterior tentorial pits indiscernible in ventral view, hidden in deep transverse groove demarcating base of submentum from gular plate.

Antennae ( Figs. 1–12 View FIGURES 1 – 12 ) slender, with indistinctly delimited club composed of antennomeres IX–XI.

Pronotum ( Figs. 1–12 View FIGURES 1 – 12 ) in dorsal view approximately bell-shaped, broadest in anterior part, with rounded anterior margin and anterior parts of lateral margins, without anterior angles, with variously distinct constriction near base, distinct hind angles and arcuate posterior margin; lateral marginal carinae variously developed, either as distinct edges visible in posterior half of pronotum, or as indistinct rounded margins discernible only in posterior fourth of pronotal sides; base of pronotum with distinct and long transverse groove connected at each side to shallow lateral impression or pit and in some species with variously distinct, usually small median pit; sub-lateral carinae absent; sides of pronotum with dense, thick and long bristles ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; in dry-mounted specimens often broken off).

Prosternum ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) with short basisternal part ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; bst) indistinctly demarcated from procoxal cavities ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; pcc); median part of sternum with narrow and weakly protruding ventrally prosternal intercoxal process ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; psp) with rounded apex; procoxal sockets ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; pcs) closed by narrow postero-lateral lobes of prosternum; hypomera ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; hy) elongate, each divided into broad lateral part confluent with pronotum and narrow internal (adcoxal) part; hypomeral ridges ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; hyr) complete; pronotosternal sutures ( Figs. 17 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 23 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; nss) entire.

Mesonotum ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ) small, subtriagular, with transverse mesoscutum ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ; sc2), distinct mesoscutoscutellar suture ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ; sss), and subtriangular mesocutellum ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ; scl2) with rounded apex, in intact specimens well visible between bases of elytra.

Mesoventrite ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) with narrow anterior ridge ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; ar); mesoventral intercoxal process ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; msvp) narrow and moderately expanding ventrally, anteriorly connected with anterior ridge; lateral asetose impressions ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; ai) present, subtriangular; mesanepisternum with relatively short prepectus ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; pre) and posterior part ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; aest2) largely visible in ventral view; mesepimeron not visible in ventral view; sides of mesothorax without foveae; mesocoxal projections ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; mcp) prominent, with mesocoxal sockets ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; mscs) located on their mesoventral surface and with exposed large posterior lobes ( Figs. 18, 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; pl) bearing several bristles.

Metaventrite ( Figs. 18, 21 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; v3) subrectangular to slightly transverse, anteriorly fused with mesoventrite, with short but distinct metaventral anterior process ( Figs. 19 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; mtap) anteriorly connected with apex of mesoventral intercoxal process; posteriorly metaventrite shallowly bisinuate and with subtriangular median metaventral intercoxal process ( Figs. 18, 21 View FIGURES 17 – 21 , 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; mtvp) deeply and narrowly notched in middle. Metanepisterna and metepimera ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ; aest3, epm3) narrow.

Metafurca ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) with very short and broad stalk and divergent lateral furcal arms ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1 – 12 ; mtfa).

Elytra ( Figs. 1–12 View FIGURES 1 – 12 , 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ) oval, each with two asetose rudiments of basal foveae ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ; bf), without basal impression; humeral calli distinct and developed as longitudinal protuberances; sub-humeral lines ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 17 – 21 ; shl) distinct in most species, variously long. In males of some species elytra variously modified, with apices slightly protruding posteriorly and flattened or impressed, or with posterolateral elongate impressions.

Hind wings well-developed, about twice as long as elytra.

Legs ( Figs. 1–12 View FIGURES 1 – 12 , 23, 24 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) moderately long and slender; procoxae subglobose, mesocoxae oval, metacoxae strongly transverse; all trochanters short; all femora weakly clavate; tibiae long and straight; tarsi slender.

Abdominal sternites ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 22 – 26 ) unmodified, suture between VII and VIII indistinct.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 27–34, 36–51, 53–60 View FIGURES 27 – 43 View FIGURES 44 – 60 ) asymmetrical, narrowing toward base and apex, with variously developed assemblage of apical projections ( Figs. 29 View FIGURES 27 – 43 , 46 View FIGURES 44 – 60 ; ap) usually protruding distally; base of median lobe with pumping apparatus ( Figs. 27 View FIGURES 27 – 43 , 48 View FIGURES 44 – 60 ; bpa) composed of membranous area with median lentiform sclerotization protruding inside aedeagus as axial apophysis to which oblique longitudinal muscles are attached and extend to aedeagal walls; parameres long and free (i.e., not fused with median lobe), often variously broadened in distal part, with various number of apical and sub-apical setae.

Spermatheca ( Figs. 35 View FIGURES 27 – 43 , 52 View FIGURES 44 – 60 ; sp) sclerotized and globular, located near base of abdomen.

Distribution and composition. Alloraphes comprises nine species that can be unambiguously attributed to this genus and one that requires further study to verify its generic placement. They are distributed in Central and South America: in southern Mexico, Jamaica, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and southern Brazil, but not known from the central and northern part of Brazil ( Fig. 68 View FIGURE 68 ).

Remarks. Alloraphes was originally diagnosed as a genus similar to Neuraphes and Scydmoraphes , but with the aedeagus, maxillary palpomere III and the humeral region of elytra different than in those two genera (Franz 1980a). Species of Alloraphes indeed highly resemble small Scydmoraphes (more than Neuraphes , which has the ante-basal pronotal groove interrupted in middle and a single large and setose basal fovea on each elytron). While the palpal and elytral characters mentioned by Franz (1980a) are not unique for Alloraphes , this genus clearly differs from all similar cyrtoscydmines in the structure of the median lobe of aedeagus, which has the basal pumping apparatus and free parameres. Besides the aedeagus, Alloraphes can be distinguished from Scydmoraphes on the basis of two barely discernible rudiments of basal elytral foveae (a single distinct asetose fovea in Scydmoraphes ) and absence of setose impressions of mesoventrite (distinct setose impressions in Scydmoraphes ).

Alloraphes , Stenichnaphes and Parastenichnaphes show a very uniform external morphology and at the current stage of study on Cyrtoscydmini , when Stenichnaphes has not been yet adequately revised, the most reliable character to identify each of these genera is the aedeagus. As noted by Franz (1989), Stenichnaphes has the aedeagus somewhat similar to that of many species of Euconnus , with a large, complicated and asymmetrical set of elongate internal sclerites and the parameres slender and not fused to the median lobe (e.g., Franz 1980b; Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1 – 12 ), and without the basal pumping apparatus. Alloraphes and Parastenichnaphes share the basal lentiform sclerotization of the aedeagus, but clearly differ in the parameres: Alloraphes has variously shaped but always long and free parameres, while Parastenichnaphes has the aedeagus devoid of parameres. The latter genus, after restituting P. myrmecophilus as Alloraphes , where it was originally placed (Franz 1980a), includes only two Oriental species revised by Jałoszyński (2005).

Unidentifiable females of Cyrtoscydmini highly similar to the Alloraphes - Parastenichnaphes - Stenichnaphes complex were mentioned by Franz (1989) to occur also in Kenya, and during the present study a female from Bali, Indonesia, attributable to this group of genera, was seen.