Pseudobium hellenicum, Assing, 2006

Assing, V., 2006, New species and records of Pseudobium MULSANT & REY (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (1), pp. 385-391 : 387-389

Pseudobium hellenicum sp.n. ( Figs 1-10 )

Holotype Ƌ: GR. Fokis, 640 m, 13, 25 km SW Lamia, Stromi, river bank, 38°41'24N, 22°12'54E, 06.IV.2001, V. Assing / Holotypus Ƌ Pseudobium hellenicum sp. n. det. V. Assing 2005 (cAss). Paratypes: 2♀♀: GR. Fthiotis, 470 m, 9, 38°49'31N, 22°04'58E, SW Samia, Inachos river bank, 05.IV.2001, Assing & Wunderle (cAss, cWun).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements (in mm) and ratios (range; n=3): AL: 1.37-1.45; HL: 0.60-0.63; HW: 0.45-0.51; PW: 0.39-0.45; PL: 0.63-0.69; EL: 0.71-0.76; EW: 0.56- 0.63; AW: 0.50-0.57; TiL: 0.47-0.50; TaL: 0.33-0.35; ML: 0.42; TL: 4.3-5.0; HL/HW: 1.24-1.33; PW /HW: 0.85-0.91; PW / PL: 0.62-0.65; EL/ PL: 1.09-1.12; EW/ PW: 1.37- 1.45; AW/EW: 0.89-0.90; TiL/TaL: 1.41-1.50.

Relatively small species; habitus as in Fig. 1 . Coloration: body blackish, with the posterior 1/4-1/5 of the elytra and the posterior 2/3 of the elytral suture yellowish to reddish yellow; legs with tibiae and tarsi yellowish to reddish yellow, and with the femora dark brown; antennae rufous to reddish brown.

Head distinctly oblong ( Fig. 2 ), of quadrangular shape, lateral margins subparallel, posterior angles relatively well-marked; puncturation rather coarse and well-delimited, interstices in central dorsal area on average approximately twice as wide as diameter of punctures; microsculpture absent; eyes large and projecting from lateral outline of head ( Figs 2, 4 ), approximately half the length of postocular region in dorsal view; antenna as in Fig. 3 .

Pronotum narrower than head and subparallel ( Fig. 2 ); dorsal rows composed of 15-20 punctures; microsculpture absent.

Elytra distinctly wider and at suture longer than pronotum; punctures of similar size as those of pronotum and arranged in distinct rows. Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen narrower than elytra, widest at segment VII; puncturation of tergites III-VI coarse and rather dense, with the interstices on average narrower than diameter of punctures; puncturation of tergites VII and VIII sparser and shallower, with the interstices wider than diameter of punctures; tergites III-VI in anterior transverse impressions with pronounced microreticulation and in posterior area without or with indistinct microsculpture; tergites VII-VIII with distinct microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

Ƌ: sternite VII with weakly concave posterior margin, pubescence unmodified ( Fig. 5 ); sternite VIII as in Fig. 6 ; aedeagus of highly distinctive shape ( Figs 7-10 ).

E t y m o l o g y: The name (Lat., adj.) refers to the fact that the species has become known only from Greece.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Pseudobium hellenicum is most similar and – as can be inferred from the similarly highly derived morphology of the aedeagus – also most closely related to P. cypriacum . From this species, it is best distinguished by the different morphology of the aedeagus and additionally by the more distinctly quadrangular shape of the head (i. e. the more pronounced posterior angles), the less extensive yellowish margination of the elytra, as well as by the coarser puncturation of tergites III-VI. For illustrations of the aedeagus of P. cypriacum , as well as those of other Pseudobium species see COIFFAIT (1982).

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The type localities are situated in the southeast of mainland Greece, where the type specimens were collected by washing river banks.

Figures

Figs 1-10: Pseudobium hellenicum sp.n. (holotype). (1) habitus; (2) forebody; (3) antenna; (4) head in lateral view; (5) Ƌ sternite VII; (6) Ƌ sternite VIII; (7-10) aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view. Scale bars: 1-2: 1.0 mm; 3-10: 0.2 mm.