Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson, 1840

Chani-Posse, Mariana, 2010, Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) 2595, Zootaxa 2595, pp. 1-70 : 29-31

Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson, 1840

( Figs. 66–71, 152)

Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson, 1840: 471 ; Bruch, 1915: 444 (catalog); Blackwelder, 1944: 133 (list). Herman 2001b: 2824–2825 (complete references). Chani-Posse, 2004: 218 (distribution, bionomics), 230 (list). Philonthus apicipennis Lynch-Arribálzaga, 1884: 155 ; Fauvel, 1891: 116 (syn. of flavolimbatus ).

(For complete references see Herman 2001b)

Diagnosis. Philonthus flavolimbatus may be identified by the coloration pattern of elytra, and the distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons about 2.5 times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the eyes as long as temples, the antennal segments 2 and 3 subequal in length, and the first segment of hind tarsus as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, and longer than last segment.

Redescription. Length of the body 5.4– 4.6 mm. Coloration. Head black; thorax castaneous-brunneous; elytra castaneous-brunneous to castaneous-piceous, each yellowish medio-apically; abdominal segments castaneous-piceous; antennae, palpi and legs castaneous-brunneous.

Head about as long as wide (HW/HL= 1.1–1.0) and at basal third as wide as distal third in both sexes, moderately to distinctly narrower than pronotum (HW/PW= 0.77–0.65); dorsal surface coarsely and moderately punctate, with three to four postocular punctures and three to four epicranial punctures; distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons about 2.5 times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures; infraorbital ridge present, reaching postgenal ridge. Eyes about as long as temples (EL/TL= 1.0–0.93) seen from above. Antennae with segment 1 as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, segments 2 and 3 subequal in length, segments 4–6 elongate, 7–8 quadrate, 9–10 transverse. Maxillary palpus with segment 2 not swollen, no more than twice as long as its maximum width; last segment fusiform, about 1.5 times longer than segment 3. Submentum about 1.5 times as long as mentum. Labial palpus with last segment 1.4–1.8 times as long as preceding segment. Neck more than 0.5 times as wide as head at widest point (NW/HW= 0.7).

Pronotum about as long as wide (PW/PL= 1.07–1.0), distinctly narrowed anteriad; dorsal surface of pronotum with two rows of punctures, each with five punctures. Hypomeron not visible in lateral view. Basisternum with medial longitudinal carina moderately developed, bulbous. Metasternum with circummesocoxal ridge broadly rounded medially. Elytra at sides moderately to distinctly longer than pronotum at midline (EtL/PL=1.4–1.2), distinctly longer than elytra along suture (EtL/Etl= 1.8–1.6); transverse distance between punctures about as large as to distinctly smaller than diameters of punctures. Both front and middle tarsi as long as front and middle tibiae; first segment of hind tarsus as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, and longer than last segment (S1/S5= 1.4). Abdominal terga distinctly punctuate at basal area, distance separating punctures smaller than diameters of punctures; terga 2 and 3 with elevated area between basal lines punctuate, posterior basal line straight medially. Male sternum 7 with apical margin straight. Tergum 8 in both sexes with posterior margin arcuate to slightly prolonged medio-apically.

Male genitalia. Sternum 8 deeply emarginate medio-apically. Tergum 10 subacute medio-apically, with four long subapical macrosetae and 2–6 short apical setae ( Fig. 67). Sternum 9 with a moderate triangular emargination apically, two long subapical macrosetae and one apical setae at each side ( Fig. 66). Aedeagus with median lobe gradually narrowed from base of paramere; apex of median lobe moderately elongate (in dorsal view) and simple in its apical fourth (in lateral view); paramere elongate and entire, stick-like, reaching two thirds of median lobe length, with two lateral rows of sensory peg setae at distal third and joined at apex ( Figs. 68–70). Internal sac without distinct sclerotized structures.

Female genitalia. Tergum 10 similar to that of male, with two long subapical macrosetae and three to four short apical setae ( Fig. 71). Second gonocoxite with 2–5 strong setae along its outer margin, and stylus with two long apical setae.

Geographical distribution. Philonthus flavolimbatus is currently considered a New World species (Chani-Posse 2004) widely distributed from Latin America through Caribbean islands, and North America where it occurs mainly in the southern portion of the continent ( Smetana 1995).

Bionomics. Philonthus flavolimbatus is frequently found in cattle droppings, where it may occur in high abundance, as noticed by many authors (e.g. Hu & Frank 1997, Cabrera-Walsh & Chani-Posse 2003). Smetana (1995) also cited it from other organic debris. This species has been shown to be an important predator of immature flies, and its potential as a control agent of dungbreeding flies has been well documented in North America and Southern Brazil (e.g. Fincher and Summerlin 1994; Hu & Frank 1997; Guimarães & Mendes 1998; Flechtmann et al. 1995 a, b). Frank (1982) also cites this species as parasitized by Laboulbeniales (Fungi, Ascomycetes).

Type material. Lectotype of Philonthus flavolimbatus , ♂, with labels: “Caracas Mor. Nr. 6110” (green label), “ LECTOTYPE Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson des. A. Smetana 1994 ” (red label), “Zool. Mus. Berlin ” ( MNHUB) . Paralectotypes: 2 ♂, with same data and additional red label “ PARALECTOTYPUS Philonthus flavolimbatus Erichson, 1840 labelled by MNHUB 2006” ( MNHUB) .

Lectotype of Philonthus apicipennis (here designated), ♀, with labels (no locality data): “¡ typo!” (white), “ Philonthus apicipennis Lynch Arribálzaga 1884 , syntypus ” (pink), “ Lectotype Philonthus apicipennis Lynch Arribálzaga 1884 / Des. Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ” ( MACN) . Paralectotypes: 3 specimens (in bad condition and mounted together on one plate), with labels “Foto Bruch” (white), “ Philonthus apicipennis Fauv. n. sp. ” (white), “ Philonthus apicipennis Lynch Arribálzaga 1884 , syntypi ” (pink), “ Paralectotype Philonthus apicipennis Lynch Arribálzaga 1884 / Des. Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ( MACN) .

Additional material: 68 specimens (14 ♂, 14 ♀, 40 unsexed)

ARGENTINA: Catamarca: 24.II.1912 and in 1909, C. Bruch, 4 specimens ( FMNH) , 1 specimen ( CEUNC) , 1 specimen ( NMPC) . Entre Ríos: Concordia , 19.XI.1998, col. M. Chani Posse, 3 ♂, 2 ♀ ( IMLA) . Mendoza: Cerrillos Sur , C. de la Gloria, XII-76, A. Roig, 2 specimens ( IADIZA) ; Dorrego, Enero / Octubre 1977, Sergio Roig, 2 specimens ( IADIZA) . La Rioja: 3km Olta, Quebrada Vallecito , XII-14-2000, L. Herman, 670m, 30° 33' 59''S, 66° 17' 04''W, under rocks 3090, 3 specimens ( AMNH) . San Luis: C. Bruch, 1 ♂ ( MACN) , 1 specimen ( FMNH) . Santa Fe: C. Richter, 5 specimens ( FMNH) . Tucumán: El Cadillal, 22 .

VI.1998 and 5.I.1999, col. M. Chani Posse, 6 ♂, 9 ♀ ( IMLA) ; Trancas- Benjamín Paz , 28-II-1996 and 25-III- 1996, en bosta vacuna oreada, and 27-X-1995, en bosta vacuna pastosa, col. M. Chani Posse, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( IMLA) . Buenos Aires: Argentina, Prov. Buenos Aires , Castelar , 8-8-1989, in cow dung, coll. G. Cabrera, code: dung-148, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MLPA) ; C. Bruch , 1 specimen ( MACN) . Misiones: San Ignacio , B. &W. Bade, 1 ♀ ( MACN) . BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 9.1917, C. Bruch, 1 specimen ( FMNH) ; P. N. Iguazu, Cent. Inest. Ecol. Subtrop. , 24.XII. 1990 – 6.I.1991, S & J. Peck, 180m, FMHD #90-301, subtropical forest edge, 90-131, FIT, 1♂ ( FMNH) . BRAZIL: Sao Paulo: Avenida, Barbiellini, 2 ( FMNH) ; Braz. Mraz. , Mus. Praguense, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . Bahia: Bang Haas, 1 ( FMNH) . Brasilia: Blumenau , leg. Hetschko, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . Santa Catharina: Nova Teutonia , IV.1941, 1966 A. Bierig Colln., 1 specimen ( FMNH) . COSTA RICA: Sta Cruz: Turrialba , 1000m, 28.V.39, A. Bierig Colln, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . Esparta , 27.I.1943, A. Bierig Colln., 1 specimen ( FMNH) . MEXICO: Puebla, 6mi NW Tehuitzingo , VII.6.1975, L. E. Watrous colr, 2 specimens ( FMNH) . PANAMA: Juan Díaz , VI.1930, 1966 A. Bierig Colln., 2 specimens ( FMNH) . San Francisco , VI.1930, 1966 A. Bierig Colln., 1 specimen ( FMNH) . PARAGUAY: Asunción: January – March, B. Podtiaguin, 2 specimens ( AMNH) ; Villarica , August 1939, F. Schade, Blackwelder collection, 1 specimen ( AMNH) ; lg. Drake , 1885, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . URUGUAY: Montevideo: Colección Fernandez, 3 specimens ( FMNH) .