Parosus thayerae, Makranczy & H-, 2014

Makranczy, György, 2014, Review of the genus Parosus Sharp, 1887 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 121 (1), pp. 77-133 : 130-131

Parosus thayerae sp. nov. Figs 123-125, 133, 144

TYPE MATERIAL: HOLOTYPE (3), “ PERU, Huánuco Dept., N side Cerro Carpish, 2400 m, vic. Chinchao , site 670 [9°40'07"S, 76°04'00"W], 9-15.I.1983, [leg.] A. Newton & M. Thayer, cloud forest, window trap ” ( FMNH) . – PARATYPES (3), PERU, Huánuco Dept., N side Cerro Carpish, vic. Chinchao , 2400m, site 670, 9-15.I.1983, leg. A. Newton & M. Thayer, cloud forest, window trap ( MHNG, 1♀) , Huánuco Dept., N side Cerro Carpish, vic. Chinchao , 2420m, site 675 [9°40'09"S, 76°04'00"W], 12-15.I.1983, leg. A. Newton & M. Thayer, cloud forest, window trap ( FMNH, 13), Huánuco Dept., Cordillera Azul, 39 km NE Tingo María, trap site 672 [8°57'37"S, 75°55'41"W], 1700m, 11-14.I.1983, leg. A. Newton & M. Thayer, montane rainforest, window trap ( FMNH, 1♀) .

DESCRIPTION: Forebody as in Fig. 133. Measurements (n=3): HW = 0.50 (0.47- 0.53); TW = 0.47 (0.42-0.50); PW = 0.46 (0.43-0.48); SW = 0.54 (0.50-0.57); MW = 0.68 (0.66-0.69); AW = 0.56 (0.52-0.60); HL = 0.36 (0.34-0.38); EL = 0.12 (0.12-0.12); FL = 0.10 (0.09-0.10); TL = 0.12 (0.11-0.14); PL = 0.42 (0.40-0.44); SL = 0.68 (0.64- 0.71); SC = 0.67 (0.62-0.70); FB = 1.52 (1.44-1.59); BL = 2.65 (2.61-2.68) mm. Body 'unicoloured'. Head and pronotum dark brown, only supraantennal prominences and (sometimes) posterior half of pronotal midline a tiny bit lighter. Elytra and abdomen medium to dark brown (outer half of elytra and posterior half of abdominal tergites perhaps lighter). Legs, mouthparts and antennae not differing from rest of body in colouration, medium to dark brown. Pubescence rather short and sparse everywhere, no difference between body parts.

Head and pronotum. Mid-antennal articles moderately elongate (antennomere 6 length:width = 0.060: 0.050 mm). Clypeus (Fig. 123) trapezoid, ratio of longitudinal distance of supraantennal prominence tip from eyefront to the same from clypeal front = 0.51-0.57. Infraocular ridge (Fig. 125) fine, not continuing behind posterior edge of eye. Temple broadly rounded, more strongly posteriorly, almost straight anteriorly. Pronotum (Fig. 123) with maximum width 1.47x base width, sides rounded anteriorly, straight or even a little convex in posterior half, anterior angles appear very obtuse, rounded (in dorsal view). Head with only supraantennal ridges shiny and unpunctured. Sometimes with a small shiny spot in middle of vertex. Posterior half of pronotal midline strongly elevated, shiny, unpunctured. Pronotal sides rather even, without impression anteriad middle. Head with about 18 'longitudinal' puncture lines, pronotum with 16-18 'longitudinal' puncture lines, head punctation a tiny bit loosened on mid-vertex, pronotum with somewhat larger punctures than those on head.

Elytra and abdomen. Elytra (Fig. 124) slightly dilating posteriorly, behind scutellum very shallowly impressed. Medially serrate fringe absent on hind margin of tergite VII. Elytral punctation not umbilicate, punctures are similar in size to those on head, interspaces about 1/3-1/5 of puncture diameters. Bases of tergites (posterior to basal ridges) with scabrous microsculpture, surface of tergites uneven with indistinct (tiny) punctures. Aedeagus as in Fig. 144.

ETYMOLOGY: The species is named after Dr. Margaret K. Thayer, curator of Staphylinidae in Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago) and collector of the type series.

COMPARATIVE NOTES: This is a species of very characteristic look and is also one of the four species that miss the medially serrate fringe on the hind margin of tergite VII. The clypeus is punctured the same way as the rest of the dorsal surface of the head, unique amongst all the named species. The head is round and dorsally convex, its surface and that of the pronotum is almost totally occupied by the punctures, therefore the appearance is very dull.

DISTRIBUTION: The species is so far known from a smaller set of specimens from Peru (Huánuco Dept.).

BIONOMICS: Collected by window trap in montane rainforest and cloud forest.