Medon reuteri, Feldmann, 2007

Feldmann, B., 2007, A new Medon species from Afghanistan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (2), pp. 853-856 : 853-856

Medon reuteri nov.sp. ( Figs 1-8 )

H o l o t y p e: E-Afghanistan, Kunar, Chapa Dara, ca. 2000 m, 23.VII.2007, leg. C. Reuter / Holotypus Medon reuteri sp.n. det. B. Feldmann 2007 (author’s private collection).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Forebody as in Fig. 1 . Relatively small species, total length: 3.7 mm; length from anterior margin of clypeus to posterior apex of suture: 1.95 mm. Coloration: Head blackish; pronotum and elytra light reddish brown; abdomen dark brown, with the apex reddish brown; legs and antenna reddish yellow.

Head 0.96 times as long as wide (length measured from anterior margin of clypeus to posterior margin), of subquadrate shape; eyes moderately large ( Fig. 2 ) and weakly projecting from lateral outline of head, about half the length of postocular region in dorsal view; microsculpture distinct, therefore integument matt; puncturation in lateral area coarse and dense with interstices distinctly shallower than diameter of punctures, in anterior and central dorsal area less dense with interstices partly wider than diameter of punctures ( Fig. 2 ). Antennomeres of similar morphology as in other species of the M. apicalis group ( Fig. 1 ).

Pronotum ( Fig. 2 ) 1.05 times as wide as long and 0.96 times as wide as head; puncturation distinctly less coarse and dense than that of head, therefore with more shine; midline with narrow impunctate area; interstices with distinct microsculpture.

Elytra 1.17 times as wide and at suture 1.14 times as long as pronotum ( Fig. 1 ); surface relatively shiny; puncturation well defined, somewhat granulose ( Fig. 3 ); microsculpture not visible. Hind wings fully developed. Legs of similar morphology as in other species of the M. apicalis group.

Abdomen with fine and relatively dense puncturation and microsculpture. Posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

: posterior margin of sternite VII indistinctly bisinuate, without palisade setae, but with a row of long black stout setae ( Fig. 4 ); posterior impression of sternite VIII relatively deep, U-shaped ( Fig. 5 ); aedeagus ( Figs 6-7 ) of distinctive shape, especially in ventral view.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Based on the morphology of the aedeagus, as well as on the shape and chaetotaxy of the male sternite VII, the new species is a member of the M. apicalis group (sensu ASSING 2007).

The geographically closest representatives of the M. apicalis group are M. maronitus (SAULCY) (widespread from the eastern Mediterranean to Middle Asia) and M. bucharicus BERNHAUER ( Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) ( ASSING 2005). From M. maronitus , the new species is distinguished by the broader body (especially the broader head), the coarser and less dense puncturation of the forebody, and by the shape of the aedeagus; for illustrations of the male primary and secondary sexual characters of M. maronitus see ASSING (2004a: Figs 4-7 ). From M. bucharicus , M. reuteri is separated by its broader head, the more pronounced puncturation of the pronotum, the slightly shorter antennae, and by the shape of the aedeagus; for illustrations of M. bucharicus see ASSING (2006: Figs 112-116).

For illustrations of the male primary and secondary sexual characters of the other species of the M. apicalis group from the western Palaearctic region see ASSING (2004a, 2006).

E t y m o l o g y: The species is dedicated to Christoph Reuter, who collected the holotype.

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 locality is situated in the Chapa Dara district (Kunar province), eastern Afghanistan, at an altitude of about 2000 m. The species was collected in July, close to a meltwater stream in a cedar wood ( Fig. 8 ) (REUTER pers. comm.).

Figures

Figs 1-7: Medon reuteri nov.sp.: (1) forebody; (2) head and pronotum; (3) elytra; (4) male sternite VII; (5) male sternite VIII; (6) aedeagus in lateral view; (7) aedeagus in ventral view. Scale bars: 1: 1.0 mm; 2-3: 0.5 mm; 4-7: 0.2 mm.

Fig. 8: Type locality of Medon reuteri nov.sp.