Bibloplectus bossartae Owens and Carlton, new, 2016

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2016, Collecting in the Museum: New Species, Taxonomic Changes, and Range Extensions of Euplectite Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Southeastern United States, The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (3), pp. 611-633 : 611-633

Bibloplectus bossartae Owens and Carlton, new species

( Fig. 3a–d )

Type Material. Holotype, male: Frankford, Pa. 5-12. Geo M Greene collection/ LSAM0002201 . ( FMNH) . Paratypes, five males: Frankford, Pa. 5-12. Geo M Greene collection/ LSAM0002202 ; / LSAM0002203 ; / LSAM0002204 ; / LSAM0002205 ; / LSAM0002206 . ( LSAM) .

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. Janice Bossart, entomologist and ecologist at Southeastern Louisiana University, and an excellent lunch companion.

Diagnosis. The combination of the presence of a flange and associated process on the mesotibia and the presence of a shortened flange on the metatibia ( Fig. 3c, d ) distinguishes this species from all Bibloplectus in North America. The aedeagus is distinctive ( Fig. 3a, b ), with the ventral process of the median lobe elongate (about twice the length of the basal bulb), and the ventral lobe broadly scoop-shaped.

Description. Male. Measurements: HL = 0.14 mm, HW = 0.18 mm; PL = 0.16 mm, PW = 0.18 mm; EL = 0.25 mm, EW = 0.28 mm; A1–6, respectively, = 0.03, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.07, 0.02 mm; An1–11, respectively, = 0.03, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.09 mm; MP1–4, respectively, = 0.01, 0.03, 0.01, 0.02 mm; GL = 0.41 mm, GW = 0.25 mm; ML = 2.2 mm. Integument: Head, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen light brown, appendages light brown to yellow. Entire surface covered with semierect pubescence. Pubescence in gular area sparse, longer than setae on rest of body, a few capitate. Thorax: Procoxae unmodified, protibiae with lateral row of minute spines. Mesocoxae contiguous, unmodified, mesotibiae with shortened lateral tubercle and associated process. Metacoxae unmodified, conjunct, not fully separated by short intercoxal process of ventrite I, metatibiae with small apical flange, bearing lateral row of spines, large subapical spine present. Genitalia: Aedeagus asymmetrical. Ventral process of median lobe extremely narrow and elongate (about 2 times length of basal bulb), dorsal portion of median lobe bearing dense spicules. Ventral lobe broad and scoop-shaped. Ventral strut short, straight.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Pennsylvania: Frankford.

Figures

Figs. 2–4. Bibloplectus species. 2) B. baylessae - a) Aedeagus, lateral view, b) Aedeagus, dorsal view, c) Mesotibia, d) Metatibia; 3) B. bossartae - a) Aedeagus, lateral view, b) Aedeagus, dorsal view, c) Mesotibia, d) Metatibia; 4) B. faulknerensis - a) Aedeagus, lateral view, b) Aedeagus, dorsal view, c) Mesotibia, d) Metatibia.