Espeson euplectoides FAUVEL , 1902: 37

Irmler, U., 2012, The Neotropical species of the genera Pseudespeson L, 1994 and Espeson S, 1882 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 62 (2), pp. 331-360 : 338-339

Espeson euplectoides FAUVEL, 1902: 37 ( Figs 3 a-e, 16D)

Type material examined:

Guadeloupe: without further data, 1 male, 4 females (syntypes, IRSNB)

Further material examined:

Guadeloupe: Gourbeyre , 6 specimens, without further data ( AMNH, UIC) ; Dominica: Long Ditton , females, 20.06.1911 and 21.06.1911 ( AMNH) .

Diagnosis:

The species resembles E. titschacki , E. microphthalmus , E. adisi , E. venezuelanus ; E. moratus , E. nevermanni , E. subtilis , and E. pecki in colouration and size. Among these species E. euplectoides is characterised by the two pronotal impressions, a longitudinal one in the anterior half and a circular one in the posterior half. Furthermore, the antennae are longer than head and pronotum combined, whereas they are shorter or only as long as head and pronotum combined in the other yellow species. The aedeagus is similar to E. titschacki , but tergite VIII of male is obtuse, whereas it is elongate in E. titschacki . In comparison to the other yellow species the punctation of the elytra is relatively sparse.

Description:

Length: 1.8 mm. Colour: yellow, antennae and legs lighter yellow.

Head: 0.20 mm long, 0.30 mm wide; eyes as large as temples; temples smoothly rounded; punctation dense and distinct; distance between punctures on average half as wide as diameter of punctures; surface shiny with weak and sparse microsculpture.

Antennae longer than head and pronotum combined; 2 nd and 3 rd antennomere equal in length; following 4 antennomeres at least scarcely longer than wide and slightly increasing in width; penultimate antennomeres quadrate.

Pronotum: 0.30 mm long, 0.33 mm wide; distinctly emarginate in front of posterior edge; 0.3 times smaller than at anterior angles; in the front half of a longitudinal impression in the midline; in the posterior half a circular impression; deeply and densely punctate; distance between punctures on average as wide as diameter of punctures; surface shiny, nearly polished, without microsculpture.

Elytra: 0.40 mm long, 0.40 mm wide; with similar deep, but sparser punctation as on pronotum; distance between punctures is on average slightly wider than diameter of punctures; surface shiny, with weak irregular microsculpture.

Abdomen densely and deeply punctate; punctation similar as on elytra; without microsculpture; surface shiny; laterad with long dark setae, abdominal tergite VIII of male slightly narrowed distad and smoothly emarginate at posterior edge; with few longer and darker setae among short sparse pubescence.

Aedeagus slender with smoothly curved apical part; paramera slightly longer than central lobe and with short transparent plate.

Figures

Figs 3-5: Espeson euplectoides (3), E. mexicanus (4), E. microphthalmus (5); a: fore body, b: antenna, c: aedeagus, e: abdominal tergite VIII of male (scale bar: a, b: 0.5 mm, c, e: 0.1 mm).