Sunius georgii ADORNO & ZANETTI 2003

Assing, V. & A, North, 2008, A revision of the Sunius species of the Western Palaearctic region and Middle Asia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (1), pp. 5-135 : 33

4.6. Sunius georgii ADORNO & ZANETTI 2003

Sunius georgii ADORNO & ZANETTI 2003: 38 ff.

T y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Paratypes:13: " Foresta di Malabotta , Sicilia, 12.5.01 / leg. Adorno & Sabella / Paratypus / Sunius georgii n. sp. det. Zanetti 2000" (cZan) ; 1♀: " Sicilia, Nebrodi , 12/5/01, B. Malabotta, 1250 m, Montalbano Elicona ( ME) / Vista-Vaglio, Sotto massi infossati, leg. Adorno & Sabella / Sunius georgii Adorno & Zanetti / Paratypus " (cZan) .

D i a g n o s i s: Somewhatsmallerthan S. ignatii , 3.7-3.8 mm. Whole body yellowish brown.

Head approximately as wide as long, puncturation moderately coarse and moderately dense in lateral areas, sparse in median dorsal area; whole surface with distinct microsculpture composed of isodiametric meshes. Eyes conspicuously small, approximately 1/5 the length of postocular region in dorsal view and composed of less than 10 ommatidia.

Pronotum approximately as wide as long and about 0.95 times as wide as head; puncturation similar to that of head, but distinctly denser; interstices with distinct microreticulation.

Elytra approximately as wide and at suture 0.8 times as long as pronotum; puncturation less defined than that of head and pronotum; interstices without microsculpture. Hind wings reduced.

Abdomen approximately 1.1 times as wide as elytra; puncturation fine; microsculpture shallow; posterior margin of tergite VII without palisade fringe.

3: sternite VII with weakly concave posterior margin, not distinctly modified; sternite VIII with broad and rather shallow posterior incision, otherwise unmodified; aedeagus of similar general morphology as in S. ignatii , but ventral process of slightly different shape and internal structures of different morphology; for illustrations see ADORNO & ZANETTI (2003).

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: From other locally endemic species occurring in Italy, S. georgii is distinguished especially by the uniformly pale coloration, the pronounced microsculpture of the head and pronotum, the small eyes, and the morphology of the aedeagus.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: The species has become known only from the Bosco di Malabotta in the Monti Nebrodi, northern Sicily (ADORNO & ZANETTI 2003).