Tropimenelytron californicum Gusarov

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2002, A revision of Nearctic species of the genus Tropimenelytron Pace, 1983 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), a new genus for North America, Zootaxa 114, pp. 1-24 : 17-18

3. Tropimenelytron californicum Gusarov , sp. n. ( Figs. 55­64 )

Type material. Holotype:, UNITED STATES: California: Tehama Co.: 2 mi. NE Mineral, grass and alder litter (D.S. Chandler), 12.vi.1980 ( FMNH).

Paratypes: UNITED STATES: California: 5,, same data as the holotype ( FMNH, KSEM, SPSU).

Diagnosis. Tropimenelytron californicum differs from the two other species of Tropimenelytron in having apex of median lobe of aedeagus more narrow ( Figs. 60, 62 and 40, 42 , 50, 52 ). Additionally, T. californicum differs from T. americanum in having pronotum with strong isodiametric microsculpture and smaller eyes (temples 2.3­2.8 times as long as eyes); and from T. robustum in having smaller body.

Description. Length 2.5­2.9 mm. Body brownish yellow with lighter elytra.

Head surface glossy, on disk with isodiametric microsculpture, with fine, slightly asperate microsculpture, distance between punctures equal to 2­3 times their diameter. Temples 2.3­2.8 times as long as eyes. Second antennal article 1.3 times as long as third, article 4 slightly transverse (ratio 1.4), articles 5­10 strongly transverse (ratio 1.8­2.0), last article longer than two but shorter than three preceding articles combined.

Pronotum subquadrate, 1.2 times as wide as head, width 0.39­0.46 mm, length 0.37­ 0.44 mm, length to width ratio 0.96, surface glossy, microsculpture and punctation as on head. Elytra wider (0.49­0.60 mm) and longer (0.39­0.49 mm, measured from humeral angle) than pronotum (pronotal length to elytral length ratio 0.94), 1.2 times as wide as long, glossy, with weak isodiametric microsculpture, punctation fine and asperate, and distance between punctures equals 1­2 times their diameter.

Abdominal terga glossy, with fine and weak isodiametric microsculpture, with fine asperate punctation, on terga 3­5 distance between punctures equals 2­4 times their diameter, on terga 6­7 punctation finer, distance between punctures equals 3­6 times their diameter.

Male secondary sexual characters include longitudinal carina along anterior half of sutural margin of each elytron, tiny medial knob at posterior margin of tergum 3, small medial knob at apical third of tergum 4, short medial carina in front of anterior margin of tergum 7. In some (smaller) males the knobs and carinae are weaker or absent. Male tergum 8 with uneven posterior margin ( Fig. 55 ). Posterior margin of male sternum 8 convex ( Fig. 56 ). Aedeagus as in Figs. 60­64 .

Female tergum 8 with convex posterior margin ( Fig. 57 ). Sternum 8 with straight posterior margin ( Fig. 58 ). Spermatheca as in Fig. 59 .

Distribution. Known from Western United States (California) ( Fig. 65 ).

Figures

FIGURE 65. Geographical distribution of Nearctic species of Tropimenelytron Pace.

FIGURES 55 ­ 58. Details of abdominal segment 8 of Tropimenelytron californicum Gusarov, sp. n. (paratypes from Mineral, California). 55 – male tergum 8; 56 – male sternum 8; 57 – female tergum 8; 58 – female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 59 ­ 64. Genitalia of Tropimenelytron californicum Gusarov, sp. n. (paratypes from Mineral, California). 59 – spermatheca; 60 – median lobe of aedeagus, parameral view; 61 – median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 62 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 63 – apex of median lobe, lateral view; 64 – apical lobe of left paramere, side facing median lobe. Scale bar 0.1 mm (59, 62 ­ 64), 0.2 mm (60 ­ 61).

FIGURES 39 ­ 44. Genitalia of Tropimenelytron americanum Gusarov, sp. n. (paratypes from Rockville (39) and Morgan Monroe State Park, Indiana (40 ­ 44 )). 39 – spermatheca; 40 – median lobe of aedeagus, parameral view; 41 – median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 42 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 43 – apex of median lobe, lateral view; 44 – apical lobe of left paramere, side facing median lobe. Scale bar 0.1 mm (39, 42 ­ 44), 0.2 mm (40 ­ 41).

FIGURES 49 ­ 54. Genitalia of Tropimenelytron robustum Gusarov, sp. n. (paratype from Hope, British Columbia (49) and holotype (50 ­ 54 )). 49 – spermatheca; 50 – median lobe of aedeagus, parameral view; 51 – median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 52 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 53 – apex of median lobe, lateral view; 54 – apical lobe of left paramere, side facing median lobe. Scale bar 0.1 mm (49, 52 ­ 54), 0.2 mm (50 ­ 51).