Baraxina monteithi, Hlaváč & Jałoszyński, 2021

Hlaváč, Peter & Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2021, The Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. IV. Revision of the genus Baraxina Raffray, 1896, Zootaxa 4941 (2), pp. 193-216 : 211

Baraxina monteithi sp. n.

(Figs 35–36)

Material studied. Holotype: ♁: NEW CALEDONIA, with two labels: “ NEW CALEDONIA, 11782 / 22°15’S x 166°49’, 280m / Pic du Pine, site 1, rainforest / 26 Nov 2004, pyrethrum / C. J. Burwell, G. B. Monteith “ [white, printed], “QUEENSLAND / MUSEUM LOAN / Date: January 2006 / No. LE 06.01 “ [green, printed] ( MNHN) . Paratypes (4 ♁♁): 2 ♁♁: two labels: “ NEW CALEDONIA, 12297 / 22°15’S x 166°50’E / Pic du Pin, site 1 / 23 Dec 2004, 280m / G. B. Monteith, pyrethrum“ [white, printed], “QUEENSLAND / MUSEUM LOAN / Date: January 2006 / No. LE 06.01 “ [green, printed] ( QMBA, PCPH); 1 ♁: one label: “ NEW CALEDONIA (S) / -22.2482 / 166.8285 / Pic du Pin (base) / 31.10. 2010, 280 m, forest / leg. M. Wanat, R. Ruta “ [white, printed] ( MNHW); 1 ♁: two labels: “ NEW CALEDONIA, 11468 / 22°05’S x 166°22’E / Mt. Mou base, 200 m / 7 Dec 2003 - 2 Feb 2004 / G. Monteith, flight int. trap“ [white, printed], “QUEENSLAND / MUSEUM LOAN / Date: January 2006 / No. LE 06.01 “ [green, printed] ( QMBA) .

Diagnosis. Profemora in males with bent basal spine; antennomeres 9 and 10 each elongate; transverse basal impression of first visible abdominal tergite well-defined, with discal carinae long, reaching basal third of tergite; aedeagus symmetrical, with undivided apex of median lobe, long endophallic sclerites forming one large subapical group broad proximally and narrow in distal region; and parameres with truncate apices, each with one apical seta.

Description. Body bicoloured, head and pronotum pitchy black, elytra, abdomen, maxillary palpi, antennae and legs from light reddish-brown to brown. Body length 1.95–2.10 mm, maximum width 0.78–0.83 mm.

Head 0.90–1.05 as long as wide. External apical margin of maxillary palpomere 2 evenly rounded, not projecting; palpomere 3 subrectangular, external margin rounded; palpomere 4 slender, 0.31–0.33 mm long, 4.45–4.70 times as long as wide.

Antennae 1.00– 1.03 mm long, scape 2.00–2.15 times as long as pedicel; pedicel 1.00–1.15 times as long as each of antennomeres 3, 4, 6 and 7; antennomere 5 elongate, 1.30–1,45 times as long as 6; antennomeres 9 and 10 each as long as wide; antennomere 9 1.08–1.15 times as long as wide; amtennomere 9 1.10–1.20 times as long as 9; antennomere 11 0.23 mm long, asymmetrical, with basal notch.

Pronotum transverse, 1.18–1.28 times as wide as long, 1.04–1.17 times as long and 1.15–1.28 times as wide as head.

Elytra 1.50–1.60 times as long as pronotum, 1.17–1.32 times as wide as long.

First visible abdominal tergite (IV) with well-defined basal impression, with discal carinae long, reaching basal third of tergite.

Profemora with basal spine bent outwards; protibiae in apical fourth with spine.

Aedeagus (Figs 35–36) in dorsal view symmetrical, 0.49 mm long, apex of median lobe undivided, truncate; endophallic sclerites long, forming one large subapical group broad proximally and narrow in distal region; parameres with truncate apices, each with one apical seta.

Etymology: The species is named after Geoff B. Monteith (QMBA), collector of the type series.

Distribution. New Caledonia, Southern Province.

Remarks. Studied specimes were collected in rainforest by fogging with pyrethrum and by a flight intercept trap.