Pella discolor, Assing, 2008

Assing, V., 2008, Three new species of Pella STEPHENS from Turkey and Iraq, with a checklist of the species recorded from Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Lomechusini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 235-243 : 236-238

Pella discolor nov.sp. ( Figs 1-7 , Map 1 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype ♀ [with worker of black Camponotus sp. attached to the pin]: " N38°12'14 E35°59'39, TR Kahramanmaras, Gezbeli Gec., 2000 m, 28.IV.2007, leg. Meybohm & Brachat / Holotypus ♀ Pella discolor sp. n. det. V. Assing 2007 " (cAss) . Paratypes: 16 [dissected prior to present study; abdomen damaged]: "6 / 355 / Kleinasien, 5. Reise F. Ressl, Kizilcahaman , 25.6.1966 " ( NHMW) ; 1♀: " Petrowitz-Ressl, Reise nach Kleinasien 1960 / Umg. Akschehir, 27.4.1960 / Sultan-Dagh, im Detritus" (cAss) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements (in mm) and ratios (range, n=3): AL: 1.30-1.40; HL: 0.65-0.66; HW: 0.71-0.79; PW: 0.85-0.94; PL: 0.65-0.74; EL: 0.68-0.77; EW: 1.09- 1.28; AW: 0.94-1.00; TiL: 0.76-0.91; TaL: 0.53-0.57; ML: 0.71; TL: 5.0-5.4; HW/HL: 1.09-1.18; PW/HW: 1.17-1.19; PW/PL: 1.27-1.30; EL/PL: 1.02-1.05; EW/PW: 1.29- 1.37; AW/EW: 0.86; TiL/TaL: 1.43-1.58.

Distinctly bicoloured and glossy species: head and abdomen black; pronotum and elytra bright reddish, with the middle of the pronotum, as well as the median and lateral parts of the elytra more or less distinctly and more or less extensively infuscate; legs reddish to reddish yellow; antennae reddish.

Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Head transverse (see ratio HW/HL); puncturation sparse and rather fine; microsculpture absent. Eyes large, somewhat longer than postocular region in dorsal view ( Fig. 2 ). Antenna as in Fig. 3 .

Pronotum distinctly transverse (see ratio PW/PL) and wider than head (see ratio PW/HW); puncturation similar to that of head; microsculpture absent ( Fig. 2 ).

Elytra distinctly wider and slightly longer than pronotum (see ratios EW/PW and EL/PL); puncturation slightly denser and less fine than that of head and pronotum; microsculpture absent ( Fig. 2 ). Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen subparallel, slightly narrower than elytra (see ratio AW/EW); puncturation very sparse and rather fine; microsculpture absent ( Fig. 4 ).

6: posterior margin of tergite VIII almost truncate and strongly serrate; sternite VIII somewhat longer than tergite VIII, posterior margin broadly and rather weakly convex; median lobe of aedeagus as in Figs 5-6 .

♀: tergite VIII of similar shape as in 6, but posterior margin more weakly serrate; sternite VIII of similar length as tergite VIII, posterior margin weakly convex; spermatheca of distinctive shape ( Fig. 7 ).

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Based on the external and sexual characters, P. discolor belongs to the P. excepta group (see MARUYAMA 2006), which is represented in the Eastern Mediterranean by only one species, P. cinctipennis (EPPELSHEIM 1884). From this species, P. discolor is readily distinguished by the conspicuously bicoloured body, by the completely black abdomen, distinctly larger size, more massive antennae,

and genitalia of different morphology. For illustrations of the forebody, the antenna, and the sexual characters of P. cinctipennis see MARUYAMA (2006).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Latin, adjective) refers to the conspicuous coloration of the species.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The types were collected in three localities in northwestern, southwestern, and central southern Anatolia ( Map 1 ) in April and June. The fact that only three specimens have become available suggests that the species is apparently very rare. The holotype was found associated with Camponotus sp. at an altitude of 2000 m, the male paratype was sifted from detritus.

Figures

Map 1: Distributions of the species of the Pella excepta group in Turkey: Pella discolor nov.sp. (filled and open circles), P. sultanica nov.sp. (open circle), and P. cinctipennis (EPPELSHEIM) (square).

Figs 1-7: Pella discolor nov.sp.: (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3) antenna; (4) abdomen; (5-6) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (7) spermatheca. Scale bars: 1: 1.0 mm; 2-4: 0.5 mm; 5-7: 0.2 mm.