Liogluta pseudocastoris Klimaszewski & Webster

Klimaszewski, Jan, Webster, Reginald P., Langor, David W., Sikes, Derek, Bourdon, Caroline, Godin, Benoit & Ernst, Crystal, 2016, A review of Canadian and Alaskan species of the genus Liogluta Thomson, and descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), ZooKeys 273, pp. 217-256 : 236

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Liogluta pseudocastoris Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n. Figs 72-78

Holotype

(male). Canada, New Brunswick, York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8456°N, 66.7267°W, 10.VI.2010, R.P. Webster, coll., beaver dam among sticks and debris near an overflow area of dam, near flowing water (LFC). Paratypes. same data as holotype: (2 ♂, 1 ♀, RWC): same data as holotype except 16.V.2010 (2 ♀, RWC); New Brunswick: York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 3.V.2012, R.P. Webster, mixed forest opening, during evening flight between 16:30 and 19:00 h (1 ♂, LFC [barcoded BIO]; 1 ♀, RWC).

Etymology.

Pseudocastoris is the Latin prefix pseudo-, false, added to the species name castoris, reflecting the close similarity of the two species.

Description.

Body length 3.9-4.4 mm, subparallel; dark brown with irregularly shaped lighter areas on pronotum in some individuals, head and abdomen dark brown, antennae dark, and legs yellowish; integument moderately glossy, more so on posterior portion of abdomen; forebody with minute and sparse punctation and sparse pubescence (Fig. 72); elytra with micro-granulation (Fig. 72); head rounded and narrowed posteriorly, eyes large, each about as long as postocular area in dorsal view (Fig. 72); antennae with articles V-X subquadrate to slightly transverse (Fig. 72); pronotum transverse, broadly rounded laterally, slightly wider than head and narrower than elytra, pubescence directed latero-posteriad from midline of disc (Fig. 72); elytra transverse, at suture about as long as pronotum, slightly longer laterally, with pubescence directed posteriad; abdomen subparallel for most of its length, about as wide as elytra (Fig. 72). Male. Tergite VIII broadly rounded apically, margin smooth (Fig. 74); apical margin of sternite VIII broadly parabolic (Fig. 75); median lobe of aedeagus with bulbus narrowly oval, tubus almost straight with apical part narrowly rounded in lateral view (Fig. 73); internal sac without distinct sclerites but with some vaguely-shaped structures (Fig. 73). Female. Tergite VIII broadly rounded apically (Fig. 76); sternite VIII a little less broadly rounded apically, antecostal suture slightly sinuate, moderately separated from basal margin (Fig. 77); spermatheca with capsule club-shaped, [invagination not perceptible], stem sinuate, about equally narrow throughout with only posterior part enlarged but not twisted (Fig. 78).

Natural history.

Most individuals were collected from among sticks and debris near an overflow area of a beaver dam during May and June. Others were collected using an aerial (butterfly) net in a mixed forest opening during an evening flight (between 16:30 and 19:00 h) during May.

Distribution.

Known only from New Brunswick, Canada.

Comments.

This species is closely related to Liogluta castoris and Liogluta microgranulosa but in Liogluta pseudocastoris the body is darker, particularly the pronotum, the pronotum is strongly narrowed basally with more angular posterior angles (Fig. 72); the shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus is different in lateral view, with the apical part narrower and very slightly arched ventrad (Fig. 73); the apical margin of male tergite VIII is evenly rounded (Fig. 74); the apical margin of female sternite VIII is not emarginate, with the antecostal suture only slightly sinuate (Fig. 77), and the shape of the spermatheca is different, with the posterior part of the stem enlarged but not twisted (Fig. 78).