Mayatyphlus Gusarov

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, Mayatyphlus carltoni Gusarov, a new genus and species of leptotyphline staphylinid beetle from Belize (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Leptotyphlinae), Zootaxa 165, pp. 1-7 : 2-3

Mayatyphlus Gusarov , gen. n. ( Figs. 1­18 )

Diagnosis. Based on the presence of procoxal fissure, dilated second and third articles of maxillar palpus and the absence of deep transverse basal furrows of abdominal sterna, Mayatyphlus is assigned to the tribe Neotyphlini Coiffait, 1963 . Mayatyphlus can be distinguished from the other genera of that tribe by the combination of the following characters: labrum with straight anterior margin and single medial tubercle; mandibles with single subapical tooth; prostheca present; last segment of maxillar palpus short; gular sutures almost contiguous anteriorly; frontal swelling above antennal insertions interrupted in the middle; short prosternal process; and short and narrow parameres.

Mayatyphlus differs from Cubanotyphlus Coiffait & Decou, 1972 , a genus known from Cuba, Florida and Guatemala, in having labrum with straight anterior margin; antennal article 3 without setae; and short and narrow parameres.

Description. Length 0.7­0.8 mm. Body brownish yellow, poorly pigmented.

Head with slightly convex sides ( Figs. 1­2 ). Labrum ( Fig. 7 ) with straight anterior margin (in exactly dorsal view), with small medial tubercle (visible in oblique dorsal view: Fig. 1 ). Mandibles ( Figs. 5­6 ) with single subapical tooth and developed prostheca. Maxillar palpus with dilated articles 2 and 3, article 3 with broad base, last article short and narrow ( Fig. 8 ). Antenna with articles 3­10 transverse, article 3 without setae, articles 4­8 with normal setae arranged in one belt, articles 9­11 with normal setae arranged in two belts and with clavate setae in subapical portions ( Fig. 9 ). Gular sutures almost contiguous anteriorly ( Fig. 2 ). Frontal swelling above antennal insertions interrupted in the middle ( Fig. 1 ).

Procoxal fissure present as anterolateral notch in procoxal cavity ( Fig. 3 ). Prosternal process short ( Fig. 3 ). Meso­ and metathorax as in Fig. 4 . Tarsi with three articles ( Figs. 10­12 ).

Abdominal sterna without transverse basal furrows.

Male protarsus with adhesive setae ( Fig. 10 ). Aedeagus, when retracted in abdomen, with basal orifice facing right. Parameres short and narrow ( Figs. 13­15 ). Type species. Mayatyphlus carltoni Gusarov , sp. n.

Etymology. The name Mayatyphlus is derived from the word "Maya" (indigenous people of Yucatan and Central America) and the Greek adjective ó (blind). Gender: masculine.

Figures

FIGURES 1 ­ 12. Details of Mayatyphlus carltoni Gusarov, gen. n., sp. n. (male paratype). 1 – forebody; 2 – head, ventral view (microsculpture shown on one side only); 3 – prothorax, ventral view; 4 – meso­ and metathorax, ventral view (microsculpture shown on one side only); 5 – left mandible, dorsal view; 6 – right mandible, dorsal view; 7 – labrum, dorsal view; 8 – right maxilla, ventral view; 9 – right antenna, dorsal view; 10 – left anterior leg, dorsal view; 11 – left middle leg, ventral view; 12 – left posterior leg, ventral view. Scale bar 0.1 mm (1 ­ 6, 8 ­ 12), 0.05 mm (7).

FIGURES 13 ­ 18. Details of Mayatyphlus carltoni Gusarov, gen. n., sp. n. (paratypes). 13 – aedeagus, parameral view; 14 ­ 15 – aedeagus, lateral view; 16 – male sternum 8; 17 – female abdominal segments 9 ­ 10, ventral view; 18 – female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.1 mm.