Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe, 2005

Ashe, James S., 2005, Three new genera and four new species of aleocharine staphylinids with unusually long mandibles from Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Homalotini), Zootaxa 1002 (1), pp. 21-44 : 24-25

Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe , new species

( Figs. 1 , 3–12 )

Type material. Holotype: male, with labels as follows: “SW Tasmania, Lower Gordon R., 42.43S 145.45E, 42.43S 145.50E, Howard, Hill ” [42º43’S 145º45’E, 42º43’S 145º50’E], “ N.E.C. Survey, 2L 550, Feb. 1977, moss”, “ HOLOTYPE: Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe , design. J.S. Ashe, 2001” ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 17; same data as holotype (1 FMNH) ; same data as holotype, except 42º48.5’S 145º51’E, 42º48.5’S 145º54’E, 5R 400, Mar. 1977 (1 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º36’S 145º42’E, 42º35’S 145º43’E, N.E.C. Survey, 11 A 300, Jan. 1976 (1 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º43’S 145º45’E, 42º43’S 145º50’E, N.E.C. Survey, 2L 5656, Jan. 1977 (1 FMNH) ; same as previous except, 42º38’S 145º44’E, 42º37.5’S 145º46’E, N.E.C. Survey, 13L 1400 (1 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º42’S 145º53’E, 42º41’S 145º53’E, N.E.C. Survey, 4. 2200, Feb. 1977 (1 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º56’S 145º50’E, 42º54’S 145º54’E, N.E.C. Survey, 12R 2800, Feb. 1977 (3 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º43’S 145º45’E, 42º43’S 145º50’E, N.E.C. Survey, 2R 1143, Feb. 1978 (4 FMNH) ; same data as holotype except, 42º56’S 145º50’E, 42º54’S 145º54’E, N.E.C. Survey, 2L 700, Feb. 1977 (1 FMNH) ; Tasmania, 89 km SE Smithton, 28­II­1977, FMHD#77­182, Nothophagus cunninghami litter at base of Nothophagus cunninghami tree, J. Kethley (1, FMNH) ; Tasmania, Cradle Mtn. Nat. Pk., Waldheim For., 3500 ft., 3­II­1977, FMHD#77­109, litter of unburned Nothophagus gunnie, J. Kethley (1 FMNH) ; Tasmania, E of Tooms Lake nr. Angler’s Ck., 600m, 14­IV­1977, FMHD#77­204, wet moss, sclerophyll forest, L. Hill (1 FMNH) .

Description. Length 2.2–2.4 mm. Body ( Fig. 1 ) light brown throughout, abdominal tergum VI clouded with darker reddish brown; legs and antennae light yellowish brown. Head at base slightly narrower than pronotum at apex; base of pronotum subequal in width to base of elytra. Head, pronotum and elytra uniformly covered with fine punctures, short, yellowish setae, and reticulate microsculpture, surfaces appearing slightly asperate, abdomen obsoletely reticulate, surface glossy. Antenna ( Fig. 9 ) short, reaching to base of pronotum when extended posteriorly, article 4 subquadrate, articles 5–10 transverse, each slightly wider than previous article; article 5 about 1.4 times as wide as long, article 6 about 1.8 times as wide as long, article 10 about 2.1 times as wide as long, article 11 subequal in length to articles 9 and 10 together. Pronotum distinctly transverse, about 1.6 times as wide as long. Abdominal terga III–IV with moderate transverse basal depressions, V with shallow and VI with very shallow transverse basal depressions; depressions subglabrous with a few scattered large punctures anteriorly and scattered microsetae posteriorly. Hind tarsus with article 1 about 0.8 times length of articles 2 and 3 together; articles 2 and 3 subequal in length; article 4 very slightly shorter than article 3; article 5 subequal in length to articles 1 and 2 together.

Secondary sexual characteristics: none apparent, except males with anterior half of sternum VII with broad band of densely arranged micropores, and with sternum VIII very slightly produced as a triangular lobe.

Spermatheca: As in Fig. 11 .

Aedeagus: Parameres as in Fig. 12 . Medial lobe as in Fig. 13 .

Distribution. Known only from Tasmania in Australia.

Natural History and Habits. Most specimens are collected from moss or leaf litter.

Discussion. This is currently the only species known in this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe, habitus dorsal, length, 2.3 mm.

FIGURE 3. Drepanomastax splendida Ashe, habitus dorsal, length, 3.2 mm.

FIGURES 4–8. Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe. 4, labrum, dorsal aspect. 5, epipharynx. 6, right and left mandibles respectively, ventral aspect. 7, left maxilla, ventral aspect. 8, labium, ventral aspect. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 9–13. Eumecognathus tasmaniensis Ashe. 9, antenna. 10, meso­ and metasternum. 11, spermatheca. 12, aedeagus, paramere. 13, aedaegus, median lobe. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.