Bolitogyrus bechyneorum (Scheerpeltz, 1974)

Brunke, Adam J. & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2014, A revision of the Neotropical species of Bolitogyrus Chevrolat, a geographically disjunct lineage of Staphylinini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 423, pp. 1-113 : 65-66

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Bolitogyrus bechyneorum (Scheerpeltz, 1974) Figs 2E, 9A, C, 13B, 16 J–L, 23G, 25G, 29D (map)

Cyrtothorax bechyneorum Scheerpeltz, 1974: 189.

Type locality.

El Salvador, La Paz, in vicinity of Volcan San Vicente.

Type material.

Cyrtothorax bechyneorum Scheerpeltz, 1974. Holotype (♀, NMW): ‘♂’ [male symbol on small card] / v. San Vicente, Finca La Paz, 5. 8. 1959 [hand printed label] / Rep. San Salvador, leg. Dr. J. Bechyné [typed label] / Cyrtothorax bechyneorum Scheerp. [hand printed label] / Holotypus [red, hand printed label] / TYPUS, Cyrtothorax , Bechyneorum, O. Scheerpeltz [red label, printed and typed] / Bechyneorum, Scheerp. [green, hand printed label] / ex. coll., Scheerpeltz [blue, printed label].

Although stated to be a male by Scheerpeltz (1974), the holotype is actually a female. The Scheerpeltz collection (NMW) contains only female specimens but males were available from other localities. The holotype was easily associated with the males and females collected in Mexico based on the distinctive habitus of this species, elytral morphology and the general shape of female tergite 10.

Other material.

MEXICO:Chiapas: 7.0 km W Rizo de Oro, 460m, ex. leaf litter, 26.VI.1979, J.S. Ashe, SM0038001, 1 ♀ (SEMC). Jalisco: Casimiro Castillo, El Parotal, cam. El Parotal, BTC, 700m, 1 to 2.VII.1995, J.L. Navarrete, 1 ♀ (CZUJ); San Sebastián del Oeste, camino hacia [=road to] La Bufa, BMM, 20°45'19.8"N, 104°50'15.6"W, 1535m, ex. tronco [=log], 28.VI.2003, J. Cortès-Aguilar, 1 ♂ (CZUJ); Tequila, Volcán de Tequila, BMM, 2350m, ex. hojarasca [=litter], 30.IV.1994, H. Fierros, 1 ♀ (CZUJ). Morelos: Sta. Catarina, SBC y CT, ex tronco caído [=fallen tree], 25.VI.1996, J. Márquez, 1 ♂ (ZMUC). Oaxaca: 5 km NE of Comala [Comila], 334m, selva mediana [=tropical forest], en troncos con hongos [=in logs with mushrooms], 10.VII.2002, J. Asiain y Márquez, 1 ♂ (UAEH). EL SALVADOR:Ahuachapan: Apaneca, 14.VII.1959, Dr. J. Bechyné, 1 ♀ (NMW). La Paz: Vulcan San Vicente, 3.VIII.1959, 1 ♀ (NMW). NICARAGUA:Esteli: vicinity, Cerro ‘Estensuela’ [=Estenzuela], 1400 m, pine forest, II.1997, E. v. d. Berghe, 1 ♀ (CMNH).

Diagnosis.

Head without central protuberance; antenna bicolored (Fig. 5A); genital and abdominal segment VIII dark, not distinctly paler than previous segments; head and pronotum with blue to bluish-green metallic reflections in combination with dull silver metallic reflections on elytra (Fig. 2E); abdominal sternites with fine transverse microsculpture, interspaces about as wide as lines (Fig. 13D); disc of elytra without distinct protuberances, punctation relatively dense and regularly spaced (Fig. 9C).

Redescription.

Measurements ♂ (n=3): HW/HL 1.44-1.50; PW/PL 1.29-1.36; EW/EL 1.18-1.28; ESut/PL 0.69-0.74; PW/HW 1.04-1.14; forebody length 5.2-5.7 mm.

Measurements ♀ (n=5): HW/HL 1.39-1.45; PW/PL 1.25-1.31; EW/EL 1.19-1.24; ESut/PL 0.71-0.73; PW/HW 1.07-1.12; forebody length 5.3-5.5 mm.

Similar to Bolitogyrus buphthalmus and differing only in the following: head and pronotum with blue to bluish-green metallic reflections, elytra with dark silver metallic reflections; antenna bicolored but apical antennomere not distinctly paler than previous segments; legs bicolored: pro- and mesocoxa pale (males) or slightly darker than pro- and mesofemur (females); metacoxa darker than metafemur; pro- and mesofemur pale yellow (males) or diffusely tinged with dark brown (female), without distinct dark apical band; apex of hind femur with crisp dark band (males) or diffuse darkening (female); tibia dark brown; punctures on head of variable diameter and spacing but distinctly denser and more deeply impressed than in Bolitogyrus buphthalmus ; pronotum more convex in both sexes, with pair of depressions but without distinct protuberance in lateral view; disc of elytra without distinct protuberances, causing punctation to appear more evenly distributed; sternites III–V with basal transverse line sharply projected posteriad at middle, one female specimen with only weak projections; median lobe flattened and convex, with acute apex, in lateral view sinuate and projecting ventrad (Fig. 16K), in parameral view, not constricted at base (Fig. 16J); paramere deeply divided into two divergent lobes (Fig. 16K), peg setae developed as in Fig. 16L; male sternites VI–VIII with medioapical asetose, flattened, triangular areas, increasing in size from VI to VIII (Fig. 13B); male sternite IX with emargination shallower and wider than in Bolitogyrus buphthalmus , base more strongly asymmetrical (Fig. 23G); female tergite X elongate, raised discal area contiguous with base and not strongly converging apicad, apex evenly rounded, not produced (Fig. 25G).

Distribution.

Figure 29D. Known from northern Jalisco state in Mexico to Matagalpa province in Nicaragua.

Bionomics.

Bolitogyrus bechyneorum has been collected at a wide range of elevations (334-2350m) from leaf litter, dead wood and within a log with mushrooms. Most specimens were collected during June to August but one specimen each was taken in February and April.

Comments.

Among sympatric species, Bolitogyrus bechyneorum is most similar to Bolitogyrus marquezi but can be easily distinguished by the metallic blue forebody and the coarse punctation of the elytra. The holotype of Bolitogyrus bechyneorum was collected from 'Finca La Paz’ near the double-coned volcano San Vicente, which has one cone in San Vicente state and one in La Paz. 'Finca La Paz’ could not be located but it is assumed that the holotype was collected somewhere near a coffee plantation on the western cone, which is located in La Paz state.