Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) mery, Asenjo & Ribeiro-Costa, 2013

Asenjo, Angelico & Ribeiro-Costa, Cibele S., 2013, Revision of the neotropical subgenus Tropiochirus of the genus Leptochirus Germar 1824 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae), Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 47 (19 - 20), pp. 1257-1285 : 1268-1269

Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) mery sp. nov.

( Figures 2C , 3C , 4M–R, 5 )

Type material. Holotype (male): “ECU.[ Ecuador] Napo, Baeza / 7800’ 6. VI [june]. 1982 / H. Frania, ridge / top leaf litter” “ HOLOTYPUS / Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / mery Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa / Desig. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” ( CNC) . Paratypes (5): “ECU.[Ecuador]: Napo. Pr. / 2000 m Baeza / 1–9. III[march]. 1979 / M. Kaulbars ” ( CNC, 2 males); “ ECUADOR, Napo / 2 km [kilometer] S[south from] Oritoyacu / 22 k[kilometer] S[south from] Baeza / 1500 m III[march]. 4–5.1976 / J. M. Campbell ” ( DZUP, male); “Espir[Espírito] / santo” “516” “ Leptochirini indet / Neotropis / det. M. Uhlig 2000” ( ZMHB, male); “ BOLIVIA, Cocha- / bamba, / Yungas / Del Palmar, / 1200 m., III[march]. [19]74 / Bolle” “ ♀ ” ( CNC, female). All paratypes with label “ PARATYPUS / Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) / mery Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa / Desig. Asenjo and Ribeiro-Costa, 2013” .

Diagnosis

Leptochirus (T.) mery sp. nov., L. (T.) yunganus and L. (T.) zischkaianus have the median sulcus of head gradually narrowing anteriorly ( Figure 2C, H, I ). L. (T.) mery sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. (T.) yunganus and L. (T.) zischkaianus by the first dorsal tooth of the left mandible not bifurcate ( Figure 3C ).

Description

BL: 12.48, BW: 2.06

Body strongly depressed. Body all black except tarsi red-brown.

Head. Transverse ( Figure 2C ). Inner lateral teeth separated by a depression extending to base. Inner and outer lateral teeth fused and resembling a septum; median sulcus deep, gradually narrowing anteriorly; laterofrontal depressions oval. Labrum with outer edge strongly angled and lateral-apical edge concave. Mandibles ( Figures 2C , 3C ) with lateral longitudinal ridge occupying less than two-thirds of apical region; external margin developed, attenuated anteriorly. Left mandible ( Figure 3C ) with first dorsal tooth developed, straight and not bifurcate, accessory tooth near lateral longitudinal ridge; second dorsal tooth little developed and resembling a small hill; first ventral tooth with tooth accessory, third ventral tooth consisting of two structures not fused at the base. Submentum with setae arranged in row on the anterolateral margin.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Figure 2C ) a little wider than long (PL: 2.21, LP: 2.42); superior marginal line of hypomeron not interrupted, not bent to dorsal region at anterior margin and slightly bent to region at posterior margin; without a pair of small depressions near basal constriction. Inferior marginal line of hypomeron reaching anterior margin. Apex of prosternal process strongly expanded and resembling a circular plate, extending considerably beyond the lateral process of hypomeron. Metaventrite with microsculpture longitudinally undulate in median region and without small longitudinal median depression near posterior edge. Mesoscutellum with apex rounded. Elytra longer than broad and without pair of small depressions on posterior-lateral edge (EL: 2.67, EW: 2.21).

Abdomen. Cylindrical. Sternite III with keel of apex rounded. Tergite IX ( Figure 4P) sclerotized with left and right plates separated, each with five or six setae of various lengths. Tergite X ( Figure 4P) membranous except for sclerotized apical part, with two pairs of long apical setae.

Male. Sternite IX ( Figure 4Q) composed of two plates, distal plate sclerotized, anterior margin slightly projecting, posterior margin with small acute projection in the middle and with two long setae; proximal plate less sclerotized, greater than apical, broadened in middle and with angle at posterior border not projecting. Aedeagus ( Figure 4M–O) with median lobe slightly bulbous at base, almost straight at apex, weakly sclerotized on dorsal side and a small plate sclerotized on ventral side; parameres short, pointed and fused dorsally.

Female. Similar to male, except for the gonocoxites divided longitudinally ( Figure 4R). The distal plate with apex membranous and long seta; proximal plate with the posterior region rounded.

Distribution

Leptochirus (T.) mery sp. nov. is currently known from Ecuador and Bolivia ( Figure 7 ).

Biological notes

This species has been found in fallen leaves.

Etymology

The specific name “mery” is in honour of my sister Mery Asenjo . This is a noun in apposition, gender feminine.

Figures

Figure 2. Head and protorax of Leptochirus (Tropiochirus). (A) L. (T.) helleri; (B) L. (T.) marina sp. nov. holotype; (C) L. (T.) mery sp. nov. holotype; (D) L. (T.) milton sp. nov. holotype; (E) L. (T.) pachoensis; (F) L. (T.) proteus; (G) L. (T.) venezuelanus; (H) L. (T.) yunganus; (I) L. (T.) zischkaianus. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Figure 3. Left and right mandible, dorsal view. (A) Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) helleri; (B) L. (T.) marina sp. nov. holotype; (C) L. (T.) mery sp. nov. holotype; (D) L. (T.) milton sp. nov. holotype; (E) L. (T.) pachoensis; (F) L. (T.) proteus; (G) L. (T.) venezuelanus; (H) L. (T.) yunganus; (I) L. (T.) zischkaianus. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Figure 5. Distribution map of Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) helleri, L. (T.) marina sp. nov., L. (T.) mery sp. nov., L. (T.) milton sp. nov., and L. (T.) pachoensis.

Figure 7. Distribution map of Leptochirus (Tropiochirus) proteus, L. (T.) venezuelanus, L. (T.) yunganus and L. (T.) zischkaianus.