Lithocharodes lituratus, Irmler, 2024

Irmler, Ulrich, 2024, Additions to Neotropical species of the genera Lithocharodes Sharp, 1881 and Somoleptus Sharp, 1881 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), Contributions to Entomology 74 (1), pp. 13-34 : 13

Lithocharodes lituratus sp. nov.

Figs 7a-d , 20A

Material examined.

Holotype: ECUADOR male; Pichincha; Maquipucuna For. Res.; 50 km Quito ; 1300 m elevation; banana duff; berlesate; 23 Dec 1991; C. Carlton, R. Leschen leg.; KNHM #72.

Paratypes: ECUADOR 1 female; same data as holotype; KNHM ECU1A99 ; 1 male; same location as holotype but; 0°7'0"N, 78°38'6"W; 1200 m elevation; montane evergreen forest litter; 27 Oct 1999; R. Anderson leg.; KNHM ECU1A99 208D .

Diagnosis.

According to the structure of the aedeagus, L. lituratus belongs to the L. sordida -group that is also characterised by short and thick parameres. Colouration of L. lituratus is similar as in L. bicornis Irmler, 2021 by the lighter brown parts on elytra and pronotum. In contrast to L. lituratus , L. sordida Sharp, 1885 is nearly black. The species can be easily differentiated from these two species by the slenderer shape and the sparser punctation. The location, Ecuador, is between that of the two other species in Peru and Panama.

Description.

Length: 6.4 mm; Colouration: blackish with indistinct lighter spots on humeral angles of elytra. Legs and antennae light brown.

Head: 0.93 mm long, 0.79 mm wide; eyes slightly prominent; PS:E ratio 5.2; without posterior angles; posteriorly, widely rounded; inter-antennal furrows short; between eyes with indistinct depression; setiferous punctation moderately fine and sparse; on average, interstices between punctures nearly twice as wide as diameter of punctures; at sides and at posterior margin, punctation deeper and denser than in centre; surface without microsculpture; polished; antennae with elongate first antennomere; longer than half-length of head; second and third antennomere each nearly twice as long as wide; combined half as long as first antennomere; following antennomeres transverse; approximately twice as wide as long; apically increasing in width. Pronotum: 1.24 mm long, 0.79 mm wide, widest in anterior third; in posterior part, slightly convergent, but nearly parallel; posterior margin nearly semi-circular; at posterior angle, 0.8 times as wide in anterior part; setiferous punctation deeper and denser than on head; on average, interstices half as wide as diameter of punctures; wide mid-line impunctate; surface without microsculpture; polished. Elytra: 1.05 mm long, 0.92 mm wide; humeral angles obtuse; posteriorly, sides approximately parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; posterior margin retreated to suture; setiferous punctation finer, but as dense as on pronotum; surface without microsculpture; polished. Abdomen with fine and sparse punctation; without microsculpture; polished; posterior margin of sternite VII of male sinuate with slightly prominent centre; posterior margin of tergite VII of male triangularly prominent; meso-tibia with 5, meta-tibia with 3 ctenidia. Aedeagus oval with sub-rectangular apical part; dorsal plate of central lobe covering nearly total central lobe; endophallus with several torsions, covered by long teeth; paramere short and thick; at apex, abruptly narrowed to acute top at inner edge; in basal part with few sensillae; at inner edge, near apex with few setae.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the same Latin word lituratus meaning “spotted” and refers to the yellow spots on the elytra.

Geography.

Western Ecuador.

Ecology.

Montane forest and similar agricultural plantations at approximately 1600 m elevation from October to December.

Figures

Figure 20. A. Fore-body of Lithocharodes lituratus; B. L. montanus; C. L. parallelus; D. L. zamorae; E. Somoleptus alajuelae; F. S. curtioculatus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figures 5 - 8. 5. Lithocharodes hansoni; 6. L. hibbsi; 7. L. lituratus; 8. L. montanus. a. Aedeagus; b. Paramere; c. Sternite VII; d. Tergite VII. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (a, c, d); 0.1 mm (b).