Wasmannellus tristis Bernhauer, 1920

Smetana, Aleš, 2006, Contributions to the knowledge of the “ Staphylinus­complex ” (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 11. The genus Wasmannellus Bernhauer, 1920 and Nelmanwaslus gen. nov., Zootaxa 1316, pp. 33-43 : 36-37

Wasmannellus tristis Bernhauer, 1920

( Figs. 1–2 , 7–8 )

Wasmannellus tristis Bernhauer, 1920: 187 . Wasmannellus tristis ; Cameron, 1932: 247.

Type material. Bernhauer (1920) described the species from a single specimen. The holotype (female) is deposited in The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois. It is labeled as follows: “Darjeeling”/”Sikkim”/”Christie”/” Staphylinus sp. nov. ”/ ”Wasmaniellus tristis Bernh. Typus unic.”/”Chicago NHMus M. Bernhauer Collection” ( Fig. 8 ). The specimen is in fair condition: the entire left antenna, the entire left middle leg, the outer five segments of right antenna, the last segment of front right tarsus, and the entire hind right tarsus are missing. The genital segment is glued to a separate plate, and one of the wings is spread on another plate ( Figs. 7–8 ).

Description. Black, dull, general pubescence of dorsal side of body black; abdominal tergites partially paler, sixth visible tergite and corresponding sternite entirely rufotestaceous; elytra each with inconspicuous, lateral spot of greyish tomentose pubescence at about middle of elytral length, spot not quite reaching middle of elytron, apical margin of each elytron with densely set yellowish hairs; each of first three visible abdominal tergites with large patch of black tomentose pubescence in middle and with scattered yellowish hairs on lateral portion, yellowish hairs most numerous on first visible tergite; visible tergites 4 and 5 each with patch of greyish tomentose pubescence in middle, patch on tergite 5 smaller and narrower than that on tergite 4; maxillary and labial palpi brownish­piceous; antennae black, with last three segments reddish (see Bernhauer 1920: 187 and Comments); legs piceous with somewhat paler tarsi. Head quadrangular, with posterior angles each slightly extended posteriad as rounded lobe, wider than long (ratio 1.23), eyes slightly shifted dorsally, relatively small, slightly convex, tempora almost twice as long as eyes from above (ratio 1.91), dorsal surface of head coarsely, densely punctate, punctures on front portion confluent into rugae; minute interspaces between punctures without microsculpture. Antenna apparently moderately long, segment 3 about as long as segment 2, segments 4–6 longer than wide, gradually becoming shorter (for remaining segments see Comments). Pronotum vaguely longer than wide (ratio 1.10), parallel­sided, with widely arcuate posterior margin; narrow marginal groove disappearing downwards just before anterior third of pronotal length; disc of pronotum with rudimentary, short remnant of impunctate midline in front of posterior margin; punctation and pubescence on disc similar to that on head but in general finer and denser, minute interspaces between punctures without microsculpture. Scutellum punctate, entirely covered with black tomentose pubescence. Elytra short, at midline shorter (ratio 0.88), at sides about as long as pronotum at midline; punctation fine and dense, granulose, elytra therefore appearing dull; general pubescence piceous­black, dense. Wings fully developed. Abdomen with fifth visible tergite with pale apical seam of palisade setae; tergite 2 (in front of first visible tergite) densely punctate and pubescent; all tergites evenly, very finely and densely punctate, interspaces with traces of rudimentary, extremely fine microsculpture; pubescence piceous, dense.

Female. See the generic description.

Male unknown.

Length 13 mm. The body length is given according to Bernhauer (1920), the abdomen of the holotype was subsequently extended, so that the holotype appears markedly longer.

Bionomics. Nothing is known about the collecting circumstance of the holotype.

Geographical distribution. Wasmannellus tristis is at present known only from the type locality Darjeeling.

Comments. Most of the antennae are missing in the holotype. Bernhauer (1920: 187) described the antennae as follows: “Fühler ziemlich schlank, das dritte Glied viel länger als das zweite, die folgenden oblong, an Länge allmählich abnehmend, die vorletzten bei breitester Ansicht undeutlich quer, das Endglied einseitig ausgerandet und spitz vorgezogen”. Note, that the third segment is actually about as long as segment two.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Details of Wasmannellus tristis (1 – 2) and Nelmanwaslus ornatus (3 – 6). 1 — right lateral sclerite of tergite 9 and tergite 10 of female genital segment; 2 — first and second gonocoxites of female genital segment; 3 — tergite 10 of male genital segment; 4 — sternite 9 of male genital segment; 5 — aedoeagus, ventral view; 6 — underside of apical portion of paramere of aedoeagus.

FIGURES 7 – 8. Wasmannellus tristis. 7 — habitus of the holotype; 8 — labels attached to the holotype.