Rugilus (Rugilus) curvatus, Assing, 2013

Assing, V., 2013, A revision of Palaearctic and Oriental Rugilus. III. Five new species from the Palaearctic region and additional records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 171-190 : 176

Rugilus (Rugilus) curvatus nov.sp.

( Figs 8-12 )

Type material: Holotype ♂: " Nepal-Himal 1996, Annapurna mts., lg. Schmidt, Jäger / N-Pokhara, oberh. Chipli , 2400 m, 22.4., Nyaulikharka BG / Holotypus ♂ Rugilus curvatus sp.n., det. V. Assing 2012" ( SNSD) . Paratype ♂: "Nepal-Himal 1996, Annapurna mts., lg. Schmidt, Jäger / 5 km n. Siklis, Kyojo Kharka, 2600 mNN, 29.IV." ( cAss).

Etymology: The specific epithet (Latin, adjective: curved) refers to the shape of the ventral process of the aedeagus in lateral view.

Description: Body length 5.2-5.3 mm; length of forebody 2.9-3.0 mm. Externally similar to R. rectus , but distinguished as follows:

Head ( Fig. 8 ) 1.06-1.08 times as broad as long; punctation less extensively confluent.

♂: sternite VII ( Fig. 9 ) not distinctly modified; sternite VIII ( Fig. 10 ) with not very deep, broadly V-shaped posterior excision; aedeagus ( Figs 11-12 ) 0.65 mm long; ventral process strongly curved in lateral view, apically acute in ventral view.

Comparative notes: As can be inferred from the similar external and male sexual characters, R. curvatus is closely allied to R. quadridentatus (Dhaulagiri) and R. rectus (Annapurna) . From the former, it is distinguished by the absence of a median posterior excision of the male sternite VII, the different shape of the posterior excision of the male sternite VIII, and by the differently shaped ventral process of the aedeagus. From the latter, it differs by the much shallower posterior excision of the male sternite VIII and by the much shorter and distinctly curved ventral process of the aedeagus. For additional characters separating it from R. rectus see the description above. For illustrations of the male sexual characters of R. quadridentatus see Fig. 7 and ASSING (2012a).

Distribution and natural history The type specimens were found in two localities in the southern Annapurna range, some 15-20 km to the north of Pokhara, at altitudes of 2400 and 2600 m.

Figures

Figs 8-12: Rugilus curvatus nov.sp.: (8) forebody; (9) male sternite VII; (10) male sternite VIII; (11) aedeagus in lateral view; (12) aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 8: 1.0 mm; 9-12: 0.2 mm.

Figs 1-7: Rugilus rectus nov.sp. (1-6) and R. quadridentatus (COIFFAIT) (7): (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3, 7) male sternite VII; (4) male sternite VIII; (5) aedeagus in lateral view; (6) ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 1-2: 1.0 mm; 3-7: 0.2 mm.