Stenus attenboroughi, Mainda, 2021

Mainda, Tobias, 2021, Stenus attenboroughi nov. sp. and records of Stenus LATREILLE, 1797 from New Guinea (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 52 (2), pp. 1005-1012 : 1006-1008

Stenus attenboroughi nov.sp. ( Figs 1-3)

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:646F487F-B3F5-44BF-9CBA-E55ABBD316F5

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotype ♂:"West-Papua:Sentani,Cyclops Mountains, loamy and mossy wall, stream, 440 m, 2°32’10.52"S 140°30’46.71"E, 18.05.2019 " [cM]. Paratypes (11♂♂, 17♀♀): Same collecting data as the HT [cM, 1♂ / 1♀ NHMW, 1♂ / 1♀ SMNK, 1♂ / 1♀ SMNS, 1♂ / 1♀ ZSM].

D e s c r i p t i o n: Measurements of the HT (in mm): BL: 4.70, DE: 0.48, FBL: 2.20, EL: 0.90, EW: 0.75, HW: 0.78, PL: 0.63, PW: 0.55, SL: 0.68. Measurements of the 10 ♂♂ PTT (in mm): BL: 4.55-4.70, DE: 0.47-0.50, FBL: 2.20-2.36, EL: 0.88-0.95, EW: 0.80- 0.83, HW: 0.78-0.83, PL: 0.60-0.65, PW: 0.55-0.60, SL: 0.55-0.63. Measurements of the 17 ♀♀ PTT (in mm): BL: 4.50-4.70, DE: 0.48-0.53, FBL: 2.30-2.35, EL: 0.85-0.975, EW: 0.73-0.83, HW: 0.78-0.83, PL: 0.58-0.68, PW: 0.55-0.58, SL: 0.63-0.68.

Habitus as in Fig. 1. Macropterous, metallic blue-green-violet, shining, with metallic hue, without microsculpture; maxillary palpi, legs and antennae orange, last segments infuscate; labrum aeneous.

Head 1.04 times broader than elytra, median portion of frons about half as wide as lateral portions, elevated, not reaching the high of the inner eye margin. Median portion separated from lateral portions by two narrow lateral furrows. Punctation dense and coarse, diameter of punctures larger than basal cross-section of antennomere III. Antennae moderately slender, when reflexed not extending to the posterior margin of pronotum.

Pronotum 1.15 times as long as broad, broadest in the posterior third, sides towards anterior margin straight, towards posterior margin concavely narrowed. Punctation coarse and very dense, partly coalescent, largest punctures in dorsal middle as large as basal diameter of antennomere III, interstices much narrower than diameter of punctures. Legs slender; metatarsomere I as long as the combined length of metatarsomeres II–V and longer than metatarsomere V.

Elytra 1.2 times as long as broad, humeral angles prominent, sides nearly parallel, suture unmodified. Punctation coarse and dense, not coalescent, punctures about as large as those on pronotum, interstices narrower than diameter of punctures.

Abdomen cylindrical; basal impressions of tergites I-III deep; punctation very fine, nearly invisible, interstices much wider than diameter of punctures.

M a l e: Femora slightly dilated, tibiae simple. Sternites III–V unmodified, sternite VI broadly impressed in posterior half, with long erect setae; sternite VII broadly impressed, sides of impression extending posteriorly, densely set with long erected setae; sternite VIII with a narrowed notch in posterior fivth ( Fig. 3 ); sternite IX serrate apicolaterally; tergite X with rounded posterior margin. Apical portion of aedeagus ( Fig. 2 ) spatula-like enlarged, median lobe with two long expulsion-bands; internal sac asymmetric; parameres shorter than median lobe, with seven setae apically.

F e m a l e: Sternite VIII with rounded posterior margin; valvifera serrate apicolaterally; tergite X with rounded posterior margin.

D i f f e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s: This species belongs to the group of Stenus prismalis FAUVEL, 1878 . In this group Stenus attenboroughi nov.sp. is closely related to Stenus anteros PUTHZ, 2016 ( Papua New Guinea: Haia), from which it is distinguishable by the male sexual characters ( Figs 4, 5 ) and by sparser punctation of tergite V. From S. aglaia PUTHZ, 1969 ( Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal and Savo Isl.) it is distinguished by a finer abdominal punctation and the male sexual characters, from S. amor PUTHZ, 1971 (Biak Island) by a shorter metatarsomere I. It is distinguished from S. eros PUTHZ, 2016 (West-Papua: Manokwari Prov.) by the male sexual characters and by a shorter metatarsomere I, from S. aphrodite PUTHZ, 1969, S. fretus LAST, 1970 and S. cupido PUTHZ, 1971 only by the different male sexual characters.

E t y m o l o g y: The new species is named in honor of Sir David Attenborough, whose outstanding documentaries have made the beauty of the natural world accessible to millions of people. But they have also shown how vulnerable our planet is and that its biodiversity is critically endangered, if humanity does not change its current course.

Figures

Figs 2-5: Aedeagus of S. attenboroughi nov.sp. (2) and S. anteros (5); Sternite VIII of S. attenboroughi nov.sp. (3) and S. anteros (4).