Eleusis scita SHARP, 1887

Irmler, Ulrich, 2017, The Neotropical species of the genus Eleusis LAPORTE, 1835 with description of the new genus Eleusima (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 67 (2), pp. 275-318 : 291-293

Eleusis scita SHARP, 1887

Figs 17 A-C,29G,34,35c

Eleusis scita SHARP, 1887: 731

Eleusis mixta SHARP, 1887: 732 new synonymy

Type material examined: female, Lectotype: Guatemala: Capetillo, leg. Champion ( BMNH); 2 female syntypes with same data as holotype. Three syntypes are deposited in the BMNH. The syntype specimen with an additional type label was selected as lectotype. Male lectotype of Eleusis mixta : Guatemala: San Geronimo, leg. Champion ( BMNH); female syntype with same data ( BMNH). Two syntypes are deposited in the BMNH. The male syntype was selected as lectotype.

Additional material examined: Mexico: Chiapas, Union Juarez,n.w.slopeVolcanTacana, BarrancaProvidencia , ex. rotting cut vegetation, montane trop. forest, 1600 m elev., 1 male, 2 females, 25.12.1976, leg. H. Frania (1 AMNH, 1 UIC) ; Veracruz, 2.5 km S Jalapa , 1370 m elev., under bark, 21 males, 20 females, 26.5.1991, leg. J.S. Ashe, #6 (35 KNHM, 6 UIC) ; same location, sifted from litter, female, 26.5.1991, leg. J. Ashe, #9 ( KNHM) ; Guerrero, 71 km NE Atoyac de Alvarez , 1700 m elev., flight intercept trap, male, 26.7.1992, leg. J. Ashe, #127 ( KNHM) ; Honduras: Comayagua, 9 km E Comayagua (14.44362, -87.55492), 1710 m elev., veg. pine-oak forest clearing, beating, male, 17.5.2010 ( KNHM) ; Ocotepeque, 24 km E Ocotepeque, El Guisayote (14°25'N, 89°04'W), 2170 m elev., under bark, 1 male, 3 females, 14.6.1994, leg. J.S. Ashe #100 ( KNHM) ; Franzisco Morazán, 12 km W Zamorano, Cerro Uyuca (14°02'N, 87°05'W), 1870 m elev., grass trimmings, under bark, flight intercept trap, 5 males, 5 females, 6.6., 9.6.1994, leg. Ashe, Brooks, #052 (8 KNHM, 2 UIC) ; Guatemala: San Marco, Parque Municipal, Refugio del Quetzal (14.93916, -91.87296), 1810 m elev., cloud forest, flight intercept trap, male, 4.- 11.6.2015, leg. Z.H. Falin, #GUAT1F15099 ( KNHM) ; Baja Verapaz, 4 km S Purulhá , 1650 m elev., under bark, 2 males, 7 females, 2.7.1993, leg. J.S. Ashe, R.W. Brooks, #181 (6 KNHM, 2 UIC) ; Quetzaltenango, 8 km SE Zunil (14°46.1'N, 91°26.9'W), 2460 m elev, berlesate bamboo litter, 3 females, 21.6.1993, leg. Anderson & Ashe, #93-10C ( KNHM) ; Sacatepéquez, Antigua, SE Finca El Pilar (-90.59125, 14.52143), under bark, 2500-2600 m elev., female, 17.11.2016, leg. Z.H. Falin #GUAT1F16002 ( KNHM) ; El Progresso, Cerro Pinalón (-89.94548, 15.08407), 2560 m elev. sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, 1 male, 1 female, #LLAMA09Wa-B-01-1-all ( KNHM) ; Costa Rica: San José, 31 km N San Isidro del General, 7600 ft elev., near 105 km Marker, Rt. 2, litter, 4 females, 11 males, 26.2.1985, leg. L. Herman (12 AMNH, 3 UIC) ; km 117 Pan-Am. Hwy. 19 km N San Isidro (9°28.0'N, 83°42.2'W), 1800 m elev., flight intercept trap, 1 male, 2 females, 20.- 25.6.1997, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P97023 ( KHNM) ; 26 km N San Isidro , 2100 m elev., male, VIII-IX.1991, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; Villa Mills, Estac. Biol., Cuerici (9°34'N, 83°40'W), 2600 m elev., male, XII, 1999, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; 2.4 km ENE Sn Gerardo de Riveras, Cloudbridge Reserve, House Einvirons (9°28.36N, 83°34.51W), 1700 m elev., flight intercept trap, 2 males, 8.- 11.6.2005, leg. J.S. Ashe, Z. Falin, I. Hinojosa, #CR1AFH04199 ( KNHM) ; Genesis II, Reserve (9°42.57'N, 83°54.64'W), 2360 m elev., under bark, 15 males, 31 females, 14., 16.6.2004, leg. J.S. Ashe, Z. Falin, I. Hinojosa, #CR1AFH04232 ( KNHM) ; Zuruquí de Moravia (10°3'N, 84°1'W), 1600 m elev., malaise trap, 6 males, 2 females, IV-V.1993, V.1994, 1.- 30.1.1995, 1.- 30.5.1995, leg. P. Hanson, #CR1H93-9513 (7 KNHM, 1 UIC) ; Pan Americ. Hwy., km 80.5, 9 km SSW Albergue de Montana Savegre, Upper Quebrada-Las Robles Trails (9°3256'N, 83°48.9'W), on and under bark, female, 23.7.2000, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, #CR1ABF00237 ( KNHM) ; Pan Americ. Hwy. , km 80.5, 7 km SSW Cabinas de Quetzal (9°33.53'N, 83°48.5'W), 2150 m elev., under bark, female, 22.7.2000, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, #CR1ABF00218 ( KNHM) ; 19 km S Empalme, Mirador Quetzal , 2600 m elev., female, VI.2000, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; km 45 Int. Amer. Hwy. , 6 km NE Empalme (9°45'N, 83°58.3'W), flight intercept trap, 1 male, 2 females, 8.- 26.6.1997, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P97019 ( KNHM) ; Heredia Prov., 2 km N Sacramento, Rd. to Volcan Barba , 8000 ft elev., litter near stream, male, 15.3.1991, leg. L. Herman, #2491 ( AMNH) ; San Antonio de Escazu , 2000 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 1.9.- 30.10.1996, C . Flores & P. Hanson , #CR1H95-9610 ( KNHM) ; Paso Llano, Falda , S.O. Volcán Barva, 2300 m elev, female, 3.4.1991, leg. H.J. Lezama ( KNHM) ; San José / Cartago, km 69, Int. Amer. Hwy., nr. Tres de Junio (9°39.3'N, 83°51.3'W), 2600 m elev., flight intercept trap, 2 males, 7.- 19.6.1997, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P97017 ( KNHM) ; Cartago, 4 km, NE Canon, Genesis II, Cerro de la Muerte , 2300 m elev., malaise trap, 3 males, I.1995, 2 females, 1.2.- 30.3.1995, male, 1.- 30.5.1995, 2 females, 1- 30.6.1995, 1 male, 4 females, 1.- 30.7.1995, 1 male, 2 females, 1- 30.8.1995, 1 male, 2 females, 1.- 30.9.1995, female, 1.- 30.1.1996, male, leg. P. Hanson, #CR1H93-9517/27 (15 KNHM, 4 UIC) ; same location, 3100 m elev., male, V.-VI.2000, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; Rd. to Cerro de la Muerte, bet. Km mark 100 & 101, Rt 2, 8700 ft. elev., leaf litter from stream crossing road, female, 26.3.1991, leg. L. Herman #2538 ( AMNH) ; P.N. Tapanti (9°45.41'N, 83°47.5'W), 1100 m elev., under bark, male, 19.7.2000, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, #CR1ABF00180 ( KNHM) ; P.N. Tapanti (9°43.55'N, 83°46.45'W), 1350 m elev., flight intercept trap, 1 male, 17.- 20.7.2000, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, #CR1ABF00193 ( KNHM) ; Puntarenas, La Reserva de Monteverde , ca. 4 km E Monteverde, 5000-5500 ft elev., 4 males, 4 females, 4.3.1985, leg. L. Herman, #2150 (4 AMNH, 2 UIC) ; Monte Verde, Reserva Biologica de Monte Verde, nr. Quebrada Cuecha on Sendero Rio , 1580 m elev., ex. fungi, male, 13.5.1989, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Leschen, #149 ( KNHM) ; same location (10°19.671'N, 84°49.141'W), cloud forest, flight intercept trap, 1 male, 1 female, 10- 17.6.2001, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P01002 ( KNHM) ; Monteverde Reserve (trail near lab), flight intercept trap, 1.6.1993, leg. C. Michalski ( KNHM) ; Moneverde Biol. Stat. (10°19.67'N, 84°49.14'W), cloud forest, 1515 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 10.- 17.6.2001, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P01002 ( KNHM) ; Monteverde , 1800 m elev., female, 8.5.1989, leg. R. Brooks, R. Leschen ( KNHM) ; Monteverde , 1400 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 14.- 15.7.1989, leg. R.E. Beer ( KNHM) ; Puntarenas, Las Cruces Botanical Garden, nr. San Vito, 3500 ft elev., 4 females, 27.- 28.2.1985, leg. L. Herman, #2136 ( AMNH) ; Puntarenas Prov., Rd. to Cerro de la Muerte, bet. km mark 100 & 101, Rt. 2, 8700 ft elev. leaf litter from stream crossing road, female, 26.3.1991, leg. L. Herman, #2538 ( AMNH) ; Puntarenas, Cerro Amigos , 1800 m elev., wind-swept ridge, female, 7.5.1989, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Leschen, #039 ( KNHM) ; Peninsula de Osa, 27 km S Puerto Jimenez, Rio Piro , 75 m elev., male, X.1990, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; Altamira Biol Sta. (9°01.76'N, 83°00.49'W), 1510-1600 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 4.- 7.6.2004, leg. J.S. Ashe, Z. Falin, I. Hinojosa, #CR1AFH 04144 ( KNHM) ; Puntarenas- Guanacaste border, Monte Verde, Cerro Amigo , 1760 m elev., flight intercept trap, 1 male, 1 female, 12.5.1989, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Leschen, #124 ( KNHM) ; Las Alturas Biol. Sta. (8°56.17'N, 82°50.01'W), 1660 m elev., under bark, 1 male, 1 female, 1., 2.6.2004, leg. J.S. Ashe, Z. Falin, I. Hinojosa, #CR1AFH04071 ( KNHM) ; same location, same collectors, 1660 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 31.5.- 3.6.2004 ( KNHM) ; San Vito, Estac. Biol. Las Alturas, 1875 m elev., 2 males, 1 female, IX-XI 1991, leg. P. Hanson ( KNHM) ; Guanacaste, Cacao Biol. Stat (10°55.38'N, 85°27.7'W), 1050 m elev., under bark, male, 10.7.2000, leg. J. Ashe, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, #CR1ABF00086 ( KNHM) ; Alajuela, P.N. Volcán Poas (10°11.3'N, 84°14'W), 2500 m elev., flight intercept trap, female, 6.- 28.6.1997, leg. S. & J. Peck, #CR1P97016 ( KNHM) ; Panama: Chririqui Prov., Cerro Punta, Mont Baru (8.846°N, - 82.536°W), dead wood, 4 females, 1.5.2014, leg. T. Struyve (2 UIC, 2 TSC) ; same location (8.848°N, - 82.528°W), flight intercept trap, 20.7.2014, leg. T. Struyve ( TSC) ; Chriqui, Finca Palo Santo , 4900 ft elev., male, 5.3.1959, leg. H. Dybas ( AMNH) ; Bocas del Torro, 5 km N Boquete, La Cuebra Trail (8°48'N, 82°26'W), 1500 m elev., flight intercept trap, 2 males, 15.- 17.5.1995, A.R. Gillogly ( KNHM) ; Vara Blanca , 2000 m elev., 2 males, 8.1938, leg. A. Bierig ( BMNH) ; Los Nubles , 2 females, 19.2.1939, leg. A. Bierig ( BMNH) .

Diagnosis: Eleusis scita is extremely variable regarding the shape of the head and colouration of pronotum, elytra, and abdomen. This certainly was the reason, why Sharp described also E. mixta with slightly different shape and punctation of the head. Although only E. mixta is represented by a male in the type series, I selected E. scita as species name, because it was described by Sharp one page before E. mixta . In spite of the high variance among the specimens, I found no differences in the structures of the aedeagus. The endophallus is weakly sclerotised, but its specific structure is constant. It can be differentiated from the similar E. insignis by the less deep and dense punctation of the head. Moreover, the approximately circular opening of the apex differs from the approximately quadrate opening in E. insignis .

Description: Length: 3.5 – 5.1 mm. Colouration: extremely variable; head always black; pronotum blackish brown, brown or red; elytra yellow to yellow brown; hind wings shining partly blackish under transparent elytra; abdomen yellowish brown; yellow with central brown stripe or darker brown; legs and first three antennomeres yellow; antennomeres four to eleven dark brown to blackish brown.

Head: 0.45 – 0.88 mm long, 0.68 – 1.30 mm wide; head size extremely variable; on average, head width of males wider (0.99 mm) than head width of females (0.92 mm) (t=2.53, n=54/47, p=0.01); shape extremely variable; temples either directly convergent to neck or widened behind eyes and then abruptly narrowed to neck or nearly parallel behind eyes and then shortly narrowed to neck; supraocular groove from anterior edge of eyes to beginning of neck; either straight or slightly sinuate; neck separated from vertex by transverse line; preocular sides sinuate to prominent central part of clypeus; punctation moderately deep and dense; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as to three times as wide as diameter of punctures; at each end of supraocular groove with setiferous puncture; another pair of setiferous punctures on each side of prominent part of clypeus; elongate microsculpture moderately deep and dense; on clypeus, transversely striate; on vertex, longitudinally striate; surface moderately shiny.

Antennae slightly longer than head and pronotum combined; first antennomere slightly thicker and longer than following antennomeres; second antennomere nearly half as long as first; third antennomere longer than second; fourth antennomere as long as second; following antennomeres decreasing in length and increasing in width; fifth antennomere longer than wide; tenth antennomere as long as wide.

Pronotum: on average, 0.52 mm long, 0.74 mm wide (width variable corresponding to total length; shape not variable); widest close to anterior angles; posteriad convergent to posterior angles; at posterior angles only half as wide as at anterior angles; sides interrupted in posterior half; at anterior angles shortly emarginate and narrowed in concave curve to anterior angles; between both angles with short, posteriorly convergent groove; punctation similar to that of head; laterally with setiferous puncture at interruption of sides; another setiferous puncture in anterior groove; at anterior margin close to anterior angles, two pairs of setiferous punctures; deeply impressed; elongate microsculpture as dense and deep as on head; striae approximately longitudinal; partly diagonal; surface slightly more shiny than head.

Elytra: 0.88 mm long, 0.86 mm wide (size varies corresponding to total size); widest close to posterior angles; humeral angles and posterior angles nearly rectangular; punctation similarly dense and deep as on pronotum; pair of setiferous punctures on each side of suture; position of punctures and interstices between punctures variable; anterior pair in anterior half close to base or nearly in central position; posterior pair shortly behind centre; elongate microsculpture as deep and dense as on pronotum; striae longitudinal; surface slightly shiny.

Abdomen with weak punctation; transverse row of setiferous punctures on each segment; microsculpture at base of segments more isodiametric; at posterior margin of segments more transverse; surface shiny.

Aedeagus thick; in lateral aspect, slightly curved; in ventral aspect, parallel; apical opening circular; endophallus with wavy structures; in central part with numerous sensillae; parameres nearly as long as central lobe; with slightly widened transparent lobe; at apex of paramere with short hairs; at base of transparent lobe with few sensillae.

Figures

Fig. 13–17: Eleusis rufipennis (13); E. ecuadoriensis (14), Eleusis breviceps (15), E. insignis (16), E. scita (17); aedeagus in lateral (A)