Neopimus Özdikmen, Demir & Türkeş, 2008

Janák, Jiří, 2019, Revision of the South African genus Neopimus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Zootaxa 4577 (2), pp. 361-370 : 362-363

Neopimus Özdikmen, Demir & Türkeş, 2008

( Figs. 1–29 )

Pimus Fagel, 1961: 285 .

Neopimus Özdikmen, Demir & Türkeş, 2008: 202 (replacement name).

Type species: Neopimus tragardhi ( Fagel, 1961) .

Redescription. Species of relatively small size, body length 2.8–3.5 mm.

Head ( Figs. 1, 2 , 16 , 20 ) not very large in relation to pronotum, about as wide as long; posterior margin slightly emarginated in dorsal view; neck wide, about 0.40–0.45 as wide as head across eyes; punctation variable, separated with relatively large interstices without microsculpture; pubescence inconspicuous, short, fine, and depressed. Eyes very large, strongly bulging; occupying nearly all of lateral portion of head, temples very short, about a seventh as long as eyes. Antenna ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 20 ) relatively short, first two segments markedly enlarged, first segment elongate, second segment narrower and shorter than first segment, third segment markedly narrower than second segment, segment 4 shorter and slightly narrower than segment 3, segments 5–10 of gradually increasing width, segment 10 slightly longer than wide or about as long as wide. Gular sutures ( Fig. 2 ) separated. Labrum ( Fig. 4 ) transverse, bilobate with numerous long setae. Mandibles ( Figs. 1, 2 , 20 ) stout, apically acute, each with two teeth. Maxillary palpus ( Fig. 4 ) 4-jointed; first segment slender, second segment distinctly longer and wider than first segment; third segment distinctly longer and wider than second segment; fourth segment very small, needleshaped. Labial palpus ( Fig. 3 ) 3-jointed; first segment widened apically, second segment longer and wider than first segment, third segment very narrow and shorter than second segment. Labium ( Fig. 3 ) transverse, anterior margin dentate medially, between median tooth and lateral margin with two setae on each side. Mentum markedly transverse ( Fig. 3 ).

Pronotum ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 20 ) sub-trapezoid shaped, about as long as wide, slightly narrower than head, maximal width in anterior third, posteriorly narrowed; margins without long setae; punctation similar to that of head; microsculpture absent; pubescence inconspicuous, depressed.

Elytra ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 20 ) short; humeral angles more or less marked; posterior margin oblique; punctuation similar to that of pronotum or less dense; surface with sparse traces of microsculpture. Hind wings reduced. Legs slender, all tarsi 5-jointed; segments 1-5 of decreasing length, all segments unmodified; protarsi without sexual dimorphism.

Abdomen ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 20 ) widest at segment V, anterior segments very slightly impressed anteriorly; tergites finely and sparsely punctate. Tergite VII without white palisade fringe at posterior margin.

Male: sternites VI, VII unmodified. Posterior margin of sternite VIII emarginated ( Figs. 6 , 19 , 28 ). Aedeagus ( Figs. 7–15 , 17, 18 , 21–27 ), with hardly visible parameres with shape of small, flat lobes appressed to surface near median foramen ( Figs. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 , 21, 22 ), internal structures sclerotized ( Figs. 7–11 , 21–23 ).

Female: posterior margin of sternite VIII convex.

Differential diagnosis. In many external aspects, Neopimus resembles Neosclerus Cameron, 1924 which was redescribed by Assing (2011). This genus is distributed in the Oriental and southern East Palaearctic regions. Both genera share the following characters: very large eyes in combination with relatively wide neck, not dentate labrum and similarly shaped labial and maxillary palpi. Neopimus differs from Neosclerus by the different type of aedeagus without distinct ventral process (ventral process well developed in Neosclerus ) and by different setation of the labium (four setae instead of about eleven in Neosclerus ). There are also differences in the shape of mandibles (two teeth in Neopimus and three teeth in Neosclerus ). However, this could represent infrageneric variability as this character was checked only in a few species of both genera.

Geographical distribution. This genus is distributed in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces in South Africa ( Fig. 29 ).

Bionomics. The species belonging to this genus were usually collected in forest litter.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Distribution map of Neopimus. 1, Neopimus capensis sp. nov.; 2, Neopimus tragardhi; 3, Neopimus zulu sp. nov.

FIGURES 1–6. Neopimus capensis sp. nov. 1, 3–5, holotype; 2, paratype; 1, habitus; 2, dorsal side of forebody; 3, mentum, labial palpi, ligula; 4, labrum; 5, maxillary palpus; 6, male sternite VIII.

FIGURES 7–15. Neopimus capensis sp. nov. 7, 8, holotype; 9–15, paratypes from Mbotyi; 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, aedeagus ventral; 8, 11, 13, 15, aedeagus lateral; 7–11, transmitted light; 12–15, reflected light, p, paramere.

FIGURES 16–19. Neopimus tragardhi (Fagel), holotype. 16, habitus; 17, aedeagus ventral; 18, aedeagus lateral; 19 male sternite VIII; 17, 18, reflected light.

FIGURES 20–28. Neopimus zulu sp. nov. 20, 21, 23, 28, holotype; 22, 24–27, paratypes from Ngome; 20, habitus, 21, 22, 24, 26, aedeagus ventral; 23, 25, 27, aedeagus lateral; 28, male sternite VIII; 21–23, transmitted light; 24–27, reflected light.