Bolitogyrus smetanai Brunke

Brunke, Adam J., 2017, A revision of the Oriental species of Bolitogyrus Chevrolat (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), ZooKeys 664, pp. 1-97 : 55

Bolitogyrus smetanai Brunke sp. n. Fig. 2F, 4F, 17 D–F, 22B (map)

Type locality.

Banks of Khwae Noi River, near Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Type material.

Holotype (♂, cRou): THAILAND r. Kwae Noi, Ban Sai Yok, III.1987, G. de Rougemont [printed] / HOLOTYPE Bolitogyrus smetanai Brunke, des. A. Brunke 2017 [red label] / AJB0000436 [identifier label].

Paratype (♂, IRSNB): Myanmar: Kayin State: Carin Cheba, 900-1100m, L. Fea, V XII-88, AJB0000574.

Diagnosis.

This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: orange frons contrasting with dark head (Fig. 2F); pronotal margin only weakly expanded, no more than three lateral puncture widths wide; apical antennomere not distinctly paler than previous segments (Fig. 2F).

Description.

Measurements ♂ (n = 2): HW/HL 1.31-1.34; PW/PL 1.28-1.30; EW/ EL 1.18-1.22; ESut/PL 0.81-0.81; PW/HW 1.02-1.03; forebody length 4.0-4.1 mm.

Coloration: head dark with orange frons; pronotum reddish orange with hourglass-shaped dark marking medially; elytral disc dark brown to dark brownish-red, with orange to yellow marking at middle and along suture, apical angles and humeri paler; scutellum dark; epipleuron pale along its length; abdominal tergites III-VI ranging from almost entirely dark, to reddish with central dark marking, VII entirely dark; antennomere 1 yellow, 2-5 reddish with dark apices, 6-10 dark brown, 11 vaguely paler; palpi yellowish; legs yellowish with small dark marking at ventral apex of femora.

Head distinctly transverse, dorsal surface with moderately dense but clearly separated, asetose punctures, frons with few scattered punctures. Antennomeres 8-10 slightly transverse and asymmetrical.

Pronotum distinctly transverse, center of disc with very few micropunctures, about as wide as head. Elytra moderately transverse, suture shorter than pronotum at middle; elytral disc bearing a pair of small, raised, oval and light yellow markings near the center, and an additional, smaller pair laterad.

Abdomen with disc of tergites III-V distinctly, impunctate at middle.

Median lobe in lateral view evenly narrowed to apex, ventral face flat, with minute pair of median teeth formed from median carina (Fig. 17E); median lobe in parameral view subparallel to rounded, acuminate apical portion, without subapical or basal teeth (Fig. 17D); paramere longer than median lobe, elongate spoon-shaped, peg setae in thin marginal group, basal-most setae removed from margin and disconnected from main group (Fig. 17F); male sternite VII with distinct, shallow emargination, and with triangular glabrous area medially; male sternite VIII with very slight emargination and elongate triangular, flattened and glabrous area medially; male sternite IX distinctly expanded at midlength, with distinct emargination.

Female unknown.

Distribution.

Figure 22B. Known from western Thailand and the Karen Hills of Myanmar.

Bionomics.

Specimens were collected in March and May at both lowland and montane elevations (900-1100 m). It is unlikely that B. smetanai occurs over such a broad range of elevations and it is possibly that either Fea’s material was mislabeled or the specimen from Thailand had washed down with heavy rain from a much higher point.

Etymology.

This charming species is named in honor of Aleš Smetana (CNC), a close Canadian colleague and wealth of knowledge concerning the Staphylininae. His taxonomic contributions on the subfamily, including several on Bolitogyrus , form the modern treatments of the Nearctic and Oriental faunas.

Comments.

Bolitogyrus smetanai is easily recognized by its small size, dark apical antennomeres and orange frons.