Leptandria ashei, Rodney, 2003

Rodney, 2003, Leptandria gen. n., a monophyletic group of Neotropical aleocharine Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), Journal of Natural History 37, pp. 2615-2626 : 2619-2621

Leptandria ashei , sp. n.

(Figure 2)

Material. H   male, [‘ PERU: Tambopata Prov. , 15 km NE Pto. Maldonaldo; 22 June 1989, 200 m; J. Ashe, R. Leschen, #223; ex. flower beds’/ ‘ HOLOTYPE, Leptandria ashei Hanley , desig. R. S. Hanley, 2001’ (red)] ( SEMC). P    , nine males, five females with the same label data as the holotype ( SEMC) .

Diagnosis. This species differs from L. tishechkini and L. ecitophila by having small eyes, overall length about 0.3–0.4 times the length of the temples; a more or less oval pronotum with the area along the midline slightly extended posteriorly; and the abdominal sternum VIII without a modified duct opening. Leptandria ashei differs from L. ecitophila by having relatively short antennae, typically reaching the apex of the pronotum when extended posteriorly (in L. ecitophila , the antennae reach to the middle of the elytra when extended posteriorly), no distinctive secondary sexual features in the males (in L. ecitophila , males possess various secondary sexual features), and no lobe-like structures in the female genitalic tract (in L. ecitophila , females possess lobe-like structures in the genitalic tract).

Description. Body length 2.4–4.2 mm. Head piceous to black, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen brown to dark brown. Head, pronotum, elytra and abdomen covered throughout with short pile of yellow microsetae; integument heavily punctured, moderately glossy. Head with eyes small, length about 0.3–0.4 times length of temples, distinct carina present below each eye, pubescence concentrated at vertex, primarily directed slightly anteriorly towards midline. Antennae (figure 2A) short in length, just reaching to apex of pronotum when extended posteriorly, widest part at segments 8–11, apical segment acute to rounded. Pronotum (figure 2B) more or less oval with outer apical angles slightly sinuate to straight, area along midline slightly extended posteriorly, pubescence evenly distributed, primarily directed posteriorly, each lateral margin of disc with four small macrosetae. Elytra (figure 2C) with each elytron about 1.2 times longer than wide, outer apical margin distinctly sinuate, surface with setiferous punctures, evenly pubescent, with pubescence directed toward apico-lateral angles. Tarsi (figure 2D) with single, long empodial bristle, length slightly shorter than tarsal claws. Mesosternum (figure 2E) without medial carina. Males often with secondary sexual features of small, medioapical denticle on each elytron (figure 2C), U-shaped, longitudinal raised area on abdominal tergum IV, narrow, longitudinal carina on abdominal tergum VII (figure 2G). Tergum IX as depicted (figure 2H). Female genitalic tract with two unsclerotized lobes with numerous, distinct denticles and spines (figure 2F). Spermatheca as depicted (figure 2I). Aedeagus (figure 2J), paramere (figure 2K) as depicted.

Remarks. This species was referred to as ‘undescribed species 1’ in the phylogeny portion in Hanley (2002). The adults of L. ashei were collected from unidentified flower beds.