Belonuchus godmani ( Sharp, 1885 )

Márquez, Juan & Asiain, Julieta, 2022, Taxonomy of the Mexican species of Belonuchus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Zootaxa 5152 (1), pp. 1-129 : 91-92

Belonuchus godmani ( Sharp, 1885)

Figs. 9c, j , 10i , 16g , 20–o , 25g , 33b

Philonthus godmani Sharp, 1885: 413 . Belonuchus godmani comb. nov. ex Philonthus ( Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002) .

Total body length in males 9.16 mm (range 8.4–10.1 mm), in females 9.07 mm (range 8.4–10.2 mm). Head and pronotum metallic blue, elytra metallic violaceous, green or golden, rest of body black, glossy.

Head: oval shape, slightly narrowed posteriad, dorsal surface convex ( Fig. 10i ); ratio length/width of head in male 0.94 (range 0.89–0.96), in females 0.99 (range 0.96–1.04). Dorsal surfaces with microsculpture slightly visible, like wavy lines; with punctures sparser than in majority of species; sulcate longitudinal midline weakly visible in anterior half of head; front notably foveate between antennal insertions. Eyes nearly 0.5 times the cephalic lateral length, slightly protruding at sides. First antennomere slightly shorter (0.9 times) than 2–3 combined, antennomere 3 longer than 2, 4–5 as long as wide, 6–10 transverse ( Fig. 9j ). Mandibles shorter than head (ratio in males 0.82, range 0.76–0.92, in females 0.76, range 0.70–0.83); each with a middle tooth, right tooth slightly longer than left tooth; mandibular channel well developed, narrow, external margin carinate, internal margin like impressed line, extending beyond of level of middle tooth. Apical palpomere of maxillary palpi 1.7 times longer than preapical palpomere; apical palpomere of labial palpi 1.4 times longer than preapical palpomere. Head slightly wider than pronotum (ratio in males 1.14, range 1.09–1.19, in females 1.08, range 1.03–1.17).

Thorax: each dorsal row of pronotum with five punctures; pronotum longer than wide (ratio in males 1.21, range 1.17–1.29, in females 1.23, range 1.19–1.27) and almost as wide at anterior corners as at posterior corners (ratio in males 1.06, range 1.04–1.10, in females 1.04, range 1.00–1.09). Scutellum with wide punctures somewhat sparse, but more noticeable than punctures on elytra, in addition to conspicuous microsculpture like wavy lines that is not visible on elytra; elytra with glossy surface and very sparse punctures that are slightly broad. Prosternum impressed near anterior margin, followed by a transverse elevated area that is delimited backwards by an impressed line. Intercoxal process of mesoventrite triangularly scutellum-shaped; transverse discal ridge very broadly U-shaped, not meeting margin of intercoxal process laterally. Profemur of males and females with external margin completely developed, but without row of spines; internal margin only visible near apex of femur, where having three to four small spines. Legs long and slender, without modifications. Tarsomeres slender and slightly flattened dorsally.

Abdomen: glossy, all tergites covered with sparse, fine punctures; first three visible tergites with posterior basal transverse carina well developed; adjacent area slightly depressed, almost flat; sternites with wide-superficial punctures combined with fine punctures, wide-superficial punctures becoming less dense from anterior to posterior margin and first to fifth visible sternites, sixth visible sternite only with fine punctures. Male pregenital sternite very slightly emarginate at posterior margin ( Fig. 16g ). Male genital sternite very elongate (3.2 times longer than wide), very asymmetrical, anterior portion occupying 28% and posterior portion 72% of its length, apical emargination not deep ( Fig. 20–o ). Abdominal styli slender.

Aedeagus: length 1.1 mm; oval-elongate shape; sides concavely narrowed to form a slender apical portion, but with rounded apex; internal sac visible, mainly in lateral view ( Fig. 25g ).

Variability. In addition to the variation in measurements included in the redescription, there is great variability in the metallic hue of elytra, from purplish (or violaceous) and green to gold; sulcate longitudinal midline of head can be distinguished further back from middle of head, in most specimens it is only seen in anterior half; in some specimens the most foveate part of front gives the appearance of being a very broad pit (which would resemble specimens of Chroaptomus ); punctures on elytra vary somewhat in density; visible tergite 4 of some specimens with emarginate posterior basal transverse carina at sides, not developed at center.

Taxonomic comments. Chani-Posse et al. (2018b) point out that this species is not part of the haemorrhoidalis clade and that in a future study they will exclude it from Belonuchus ; as this has not yet happened, it remains part of this genus. A quick distinction between B. godmani and B. cyanipennis is the metallic blue color on the head of the first species and black on the head of the second species. Other differences are found in the above key. The type material of this species was not studied, but was previously revised by Márquez (2011).

Material examined (50 males, 37 females): Mexico: Hidalgo: “ Molango, Acuatitlán , N20º45’38.4”, W98º42’50.7”, 1715 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en troncos con hongos, 10-VI-2008, J. Márquez, J. Bueno y M. García cols.” (3, CC-UAEH) . “ Tenango de Doria, El Potrero , bosque mesófilo de montaña, N20°18’49.5”, W98°13’48.3”, 2185 m, en tronco en descomposición, 25-IV-2009, M. Torres, M. Rivero, J. Sánchez y J. Márquez cols.” (1, CC-UAEH) . “ Tlanchinol, cerca de La Cabaña , N21º01.328’, W98º38.770’, 1450 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en hongos de repisa de troncos, 16-IV-2003, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (4, CC-UAEH) . “ Zacualtipán, La Mojonera , N20º37’59”, W98º35’48”, 1886 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña perturbado, en troncos podridos, 25-IV-2002, J. Asiain y J. Márquez cols.” (9, MAAS) . Same data, except: “NTP-80 (calamar), 28-II a 29-IV-2004 ” (1, CC-UAEH) . “ Zacualtipán, camino a Santo Domingo , N20º37’44.9”, W98º34’51.06”, 1830 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en troncos, 6 y 7-X-2006, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (6, CC-UAEH) . “ Zacualtipán, camino a Santo Domingo , N20º38’0.7”, W98º34’00.5”, 1800 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en hongos de troncos, 31-X-2003, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (1, CC-UAEH) . “ Zacualtipán, 2 km antes de Tizapán , N20º38’44.5”, W98º36’7.2”, 1790 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en trampa de intercepción de vuelo, 14 a 18-X-2006, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (1, CC-UAEH) . “ Zacualtipán, camino a Tizapán , bosque mesófilo de montaña, 1690 m, N20°39.076’, W98°36.053’, trampa de intercepción de vuelo # 1, 14 a 28- IV-2011, J. Márquez col.” (1, CC-UAEH) . Same data, except: “trampa de intercepción de vuelo #2” (1, CC-UAEH) . Same data, except: “trampa de intercepción de vuelo #1, 20-IX a 4-X-2011 ” (4, CC-UAEH) . Morelos: “ Huitzilac, Derrame del Chichinautzin , bosque de encino-pino, en troncos podridos, 10-IV-1995, J. Márquez col.” (1, MAAS) . “ Tepoztlán , 2 km N de Santo Domingo Ocotitlán, bosque de pino-encino, 1800 m, en troncos, 15-IX-1999, J. Márquez col.” (4, MAAS) . Querétaro: “ Landa de Matamoros, Sierra Gorda, 1 km E de camino a Tres Lagunas , N21º17’54.2”, W99º10’26.7”, 1960 m, bosque de encino, en hongos de troncos, 10-IV-2006, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (35, CC-UAEH) . “ Landa de Matamoros, Sierra Gorda, 2.5 km hacia Tres Lagunas , N21º17’55”, W99º10’37.2”, 1963 m, bosque de encino-pino, en troncos, 2-VI-2007, J. Márquez y J. Asiain cols.” (7, CC-UAEH) . Guatemala: San Marcos: “ 2 km E de Tajomulco , N15º04.99’ W91º55.563’, 2062 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña perturbado, en hongos de repisa, 23-XI-1999, J. Márquez col.” (6, MAAS) . Costa Rica: Alajuela: “ Poasito , N10º9.805’ W84º12.32’, 1938 m, bosque mesófilo de montaña, en troncos podridos, 17-II-2000, J. L. Navarrete col.” (1, MAAS) . Puntarenas: “ Área de Protección El Progreso, Sierra de Talamanca , N8º55.296’ W82º47.854’, 1535 m, selva alta subperenifolia, fumigación de troncos con hongos, 24-II-2000, J. L. Navarrete y J. Márquez cols.” (1, MAAS) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Dorsal view of males of: a) Belonuchus sp. Q, b) B. cyanipennis (holotype), c) B. godmani. Head of B. dichrous showing the temporal carina (red arrow): d) lateral view (male), e) dorsal view (male). Dorsal view of the mandibles of males of: f) B. platypterus, g) B. viridipennis. Mandibles of Belonuchus sp. Q (male): h) dorsal view, i) ventral view. Antennae of males of: j) B. godmani, k) B. cyanipennis. Scale bars = 2.5 mm.

FIGURE 10. Dorsal view of the head of males of: a) Belonuchus julietitae, b) B. singularis, c) B. connexus, d) B. platypterus, e) B. bidens, f) B. nigerrimus, g) B. optatus, h) B. cyanipennis, i) B. godmani. Dorsal view of the head and pronotum of the holotype female of: j) B. optatus.

FIGURE 16. Male pregenital sternite of: a) Belonuchus moroni, b) B. dichrous, c) B. flavipennis, d) B. aenigmaticus, e) B. nigerrimus, f) B. juanmorronei, g) B. godmani, h) B. magnistylus, i) B. trochanterinus, j) B. rufipennis, k) B. basiventris, l) B. connexus, m) B. xanthomelas, n) B. ephippiatus, o) B. optatus.

FIGURE 20. Male genital sternite of: a) Belonuchus cifuentesi, b) B. dichrous, c) B. flavipennis, d) B. aenigmaticus, e) B. iridescens, f) B. nigerrimus, g) B. optatus, h) B. platypterus, i) B. juanmorronei, j) B. abnormalis, k) B. pectinipes, l) B. viridipennis, m) Belonuchus sp. Q, n) B. cyanipennis, o) B. godmani. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 25. Ventral (left) and lateral (right) view of the aedeagus of: a) Belonuchus juanmorronei, b) B. abnormalis, c) B. pectinipes, d) B. viridipennis, e) Belonuchus sp. Q, f) B. cyanipennis, g) B. godmani. Scale bar = 0.5 mm (all figures).

FIGURE 33. Geographical distribution in Mexico and Guatemala of: a) Belonuchus aenigmaticus and B. viridipennis; b) B. godmani.