Seeversiella similis Gusarov

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, A revision of the genus Seeversiella Ashe, 1986 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 142, pp. 1-102 : 45-48

12. Seeversiella similis Gusarov , sp. n. ( Figs. 161­174 )

Type material. Holotype ,, HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: 21.3 km N Teguicigalpa, La Tigra, 2100 m, 14°12'N 86°06'W, forest litter (R.S.Anderson), 7.vi.1994 ( KSEM).

Paratypes: HONDURAS: Francisco Morazán: 4, same data as the holotype; 2, ditto but 15.viii.1994; 2, 4, ditto but 22.2 km N Teguicigalpa, 2030 m, 15.viii.1994 (all ­ KSEM).

Diagnosis. Seeversiella similis can be distinguished from other species of Seeversiella by having brown body; temples 1.4­1.8 times as long as eyes; glossy pronotum with weak isodiametric microsculpture; elytra as long or slightly shorter than pronotum (elytral length to pronotal length ratio 1.0­0.9); reduced wings; tergum 8 with four pairs of macrosetae; the distinct shape of aedeagus ( Figs. 165­173 ) and spermatheca ( Fig. 174 ).

Seeversiella similis differs from closely related S. badia in that apex of median lobe in lateral view lacks clear emargination on parameral side ( Figs. 167­168 ; 156­157).

Seeversiella similis can be distinguished from S. globicollis and the other similar species (3, 5­8, 10) with long elytra and weak pronotal microsculpture by the combination of the following characters: distal sclerites of internal sac poorly sclerotized, not dentiform or hook­shaped and have small spicules ( Fig. 173 ); apex of median lobe in lateral view widened subapically and not emarginate on parameral side ( Figs. 167­168 ); spermatheca S­shaped with umbilicus facing laterally ( Fig. 174 ).

Description. Length 2.3­2.8 mm, pronotal width 0.48­0.54 mm. Body brown to dark brown with lighter elytra, legs brown to yellowish brown.

In all character states S. similis is very similar to S. globicollis , but differs in the shape of the aedeagus and spermatheca as described in the diagnosis.

In males posterior angles of tergum 3 projecting as spines, up to 1 time as long as tergum 3 (measured medially), tergum 7 with medial carina along midline, the carina up to 2/3 as long as tergum length.

Aedeagus as in Figs. 165­173 .

Spermatheca as in Fig. 174 .

CP – copulatory piece; LD – lateral diverticulum of internal sac.

Distribution. Known from Honduras ( Fig. 387 ). Natural History. Seeversiella similis was collected in forest litter at altitude of 2000­ 2100 m.

Figures

FIGURE 387. Geographical distribution of Seeversiella from Mexico to Honduras.

FIGURES 161 ­ 164. Abdominal segment 8 of Seeversiella similis Gusarov, sp. n. (161 ­ 162, holotype; 163 ­ 164, paratype from La Tigra, Honduras). 161 – male tergum 8; 162 – male sternum 8; 163 – female tergum 8; 164 – female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 165 ­ 168. Aedeagus of Seeversiella similis Gusarov, sp. n. (holotype). 165 – median lobe, parameral view; 166 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 167 – median lobe, lateral view; 168 – apex of median lobe, lateral view. Scale bar 0.2 mm (165, 167), 0.1 mm (166, 168).

FIGURES 169 ­ 174. Genitalia of Seeversiella similis Gusarov, sp. n. (171, 173, holotype; 169 ­ 170, 172, 174, paratypes from La Tigra, Honduras). 169 – everted internal sac, parameral view; 170 – medial lamellae, parameral view; 171 – apex of left paramere; 172 – everted internal sac, lateral view; 173 – details of internal sac retracted into median lobe, lateral view; 174 – spermatheca. Scale bar 0.2 mm (169, 172 ­ 173), 0.1 mm (170 ­ 171, 174).