Lathrobium (Apteralium) brevipenne LeConte, 1863

Haberski, Adam & Caterino, Michael S., 2024, A review of Nearctic Lathrobium (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with revision and descriptions of new flightless species from the mountains of the southeastern U. S., ZooKeys 1198, pp. 193-277 : 193

Lathrobium (Apteralium) brevipenne LeConte, 1863

Lathrobium brevipenne LeConte, 1863: 44.

Apteralium brevipenne : Casey 1905: 78.

Type material.

Lectotype, Lathrobium brevipenne LeConte, herein designated (MCZ): "[handwritten] L. brevipenne Lec. / Ill. / [red] Type 6447 / Lectotype Lathrobium brevipenne LeConte Desg. Haberski & Caterino."

Other material.

USA: Arkansas: Logan Co.: 1 km E Lookout, Mt. Magazine, 23 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, oak-hickory leaf litter (11, CNC); Logan Co.: Brown Springs, Mt. Magazine, 23 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, leaf litter edge of stream (1, CNC); Logan Co.: Lookout, Mt. Magazine, 26 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, deciduous leaf litter (15 CNC); same locality, 14 Nov 2021, A. Haberski, P. Wooden (1 CUAC); Logan Co.: Cameron Bluffs, Mt. Magazine, 27 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, leaf litter at base of cliff (4 CNC); Logan Co.: Cove Lake Campground, 27 May 1986, J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); Stone Co.: Blanchard Springs St. Park, 18 May 1973, J. M. Campbell (1, CNC): same locality, 13 Nov 2021, A. Haberski, P. Wooden, litter on rocky outcrop (1, CUAC); Stone Co.: Sylamore Creek near Gunner Pool Recreation Area, 21 May 2017, C. Harden, litter in dry run (1 CUAC); Franklin Co.: FSR 1510, near Ozark Highland Trail, 21 May 1986, J. M. Campbell (6 CNC); Franklin Co.: Ozark Highlands Trail, 22 May 2017, C. Harden, active at night (1 CUAC); Franklin Co.: Gray Springs, Ozark National Forest, 19 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, leaf litter edge of stream (2 CNC); Pulaski Co.: Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 11 May 1986, J. M. Campbell, flood debris on bank (1 CNC); Washington Co.: Lake Wedington area, 19 May 2017, C. Harden, litter in woods above lake (1 CUAC); Cross Co.: Village Creek State Park, 13 Nov 2021, A. Haberski, P. Wooden (1 CUAC). Illinois: Union Co.: Pine Hills Field Station, 15 May 1967, J. M. Campbell (2 CNC); same locality, 19 May 1967 (1 CNC); St. Clair Co.: 01 Aug 1967, G. W. Bock (1 CNC). Indiana: ‘In.’ (1 USNM). Iowa: ‘Ia.’ (5 USNM). Missouri: Boone Co.: Columbia, 02 May 2011 (1 CNC); Oregon Co.: Surprise Sinkhole Cave, 8.5 mi NE Alton, 26 Dec 1979, J. E. Gardener (1 CNC); St. Louis Co.: Clayton, 21 June 1983, B. F. & J. L. Carr (3 CNC).

Diagnosis.

Both L. camplyacra and L. carolinae share a similar gestalt with L. brevipenne , but they are endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains, so their ranges do not overlap. Lathrobium brevipenne can be distinguished from either species by genitalia. Its aedeagus is highly variable but is never fully sclerotized as in L. camplyacra and L. carolinae . Female genitalia of L. brevipenne are also variable, but all have larger and more sclerotized subgenital plates.

Description.

Large species, body length 9 mm; body coloration dark red, appendages lighter. Eyes small; elytra shorter than pronotum. Females with paraprocts undivided, apices shorter than basal portion; sternite VIII strongly oblong. Lathrobium brevipenne which has several allopatric populations with distinct genitalic morphotypes and is likely a species complex (Figs 24-26 ). All morphotypes have a subgenital plate.

Distribution.

USA: AR, IL, IN, IA, MO ( Casey 1905).

Figures

Figures 24 - 26. Lathrobium terminalia A female terminalia B male sternite VIII C aedeagus in ventral view D aedeagus in lateral view. 24 L. brevipenne morphotype 1 25 L. brevipenne morphotype 2 26 L. brevipenne morphotype 3. Scale bars: 1 mm.