Brachysipalia errans, Pace, 2012

Pace, R., 2012, New data and new species of Aleocharinae from Tropical Africa in the Natural History Museum of the Humboldt University, Berlin (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (2), pp. 1331-1362 : 1340

Brachysipalia errans nov.sp. ( Figs 35-36 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype, D. O. Afrika, Kilimandscharo, ca. 2500-3000 m, addome Bismarokhüng oberhalb Marangu , S von Mawensi Hochweiden, II.1912, leg. Chr. Schröder ( MNHUB).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Length 2.2 mm. Body shiny and reddish-brown, pronotum and pygidium reddish, antennae reddish-brown with the two basal antennomeres reddish, legs yellowish-red. Reticulation of the head very superficial, that of the pronotum evident, that of the elytra strong, that of the abdomen superficial. Puncturation of the head fine and little evident. Granulation of the pronotum very superficial, that of the elytra evanescent, that of the abdomen transverse and superficial. Spermatheca Fig. 36.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: The spermatheca of the new species is similar to that of B. volans PACE 1995 from Kenya, but it is smaller and the umbilicus of the distal bulb of the spermatheca is short and blunt at the apex, while that of B. volans is long and acute at the apex. The proximal portion of the spermatheca of the new species is a little arched, that of B. volans has form of complete coil. The reticulation of the pronotum of the new species is evident, that of B. volans absent.

E t y m o l o g y: Normally species of Brachysipalia are wingless or micropterous. The new species possesses functional wings that enable it to disperse widely.

Figures

Figs 32-36: Habitus, aedeagus in lateral and ventral views, spermatheca. (32-34) Pelioptera alticola nov.sp.; (35-36) Brachysipalia errans nov.sp. Habitus scale bar Fig. 32: 2.3 mm; Fig. 35: 2.2 mm, other scale bars: 0.1 mm.