Sphaeroscapha, Leschen, Richard A. B. & Löbl, Ivan, 2005

Leschen, Richard A. B. & Löbl, Ivan, 2005, Phylogeny And Classification Of Scaphisomatini Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae With Notes On Mycophagy, Termitophily, And Functional Morphology, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 3) 59, pp. 1-63 : 26-28

Sphaeroscapha new genus

( Figs. 19–22 ) Type species: Pseudobironium globosum Löbl

Diagnosis. Body form globular. Dorsal setae reduced. Mandible with apex bifid. Galea wide and radulate. Apex of submentum invaginate. Antennomeres 3 and 4 elongate. Corbiculum present. Pronotal and elytral carinae hidden in dorsal view. Mesepimeron present. Elytron with basal stria present. Hind coxae separate. Profemora without ctenidium. Pro- and mesotibiae without 2 basal spines.

Description. Body. Body form globular and rounded, about 1.2 3 longer than wide. Dorsal setae reduced. Pronotal and elytral carinae hidden in dorsal view.

Head. Labral setae present and apically notched, simple. Mandible with apex bifid, subapical serrations present. Maxillary palp normal, palpomere 2 with 2 apical setae. Galea wide and radulate, with brush apical. Lateral setae of lacinia present. Hypopharyngeal setae present and spinate. Labial palps normal, palpomere 2 with 1 subapical seta; terminal palpomere apical, strongly angulate. Edge of mentum straight, surface setose. Apex of submentum invaginate. Maxillary ducts present and microductulate; gular pores absent. Gular suture not reaching submentum. Frontoclypeal suture present. Eye entire; interocular distance small. Antennal insertion hidden; level at or below midline of eye. Antenna filiform; antennomeres 3 and 4 elongate; antennomeres 7–11 asymmetrical. Tentorial spine absent.

Prothorax. Corbiculum present. Prosternum with anterior portion of procoxal cavity asetose; prosternal process anteriorly spinate. Anterior bead of pronotum present. Hypomeron completely visible in lateral view; apex not extended beyond hind margin of pronotum. Pronotal carina prominent and beaded. Prothoracic angle rounded not extending below level of elytral epipleural line and not extending to anapleural suture.

Mesoventrite. Mesoventral space (prepectus) present. Mesoventral lines present and impunctate; connecting with mesocoxal cavity and not parallel to mesoventral rests.

Secondary lines absent. Mesoventral process paxillate. Median lines absent. Mesepimeron present; length about one-third or less than the full length of anapleural suture. Width of intercoxal process equal to that of coxa.

Metaventrite. Metaventrite separate from mesoventrite. Mesocoxae round. Mesocoxal lines parallel to coxa and punctate; not connected at middle. Setiferous patch absent; primary setae present and discal. Premetacoxal lines and descrimen absent; intercoxal plate present. Metepimeral suture impunctate. Metepimeron mostly exposed. Metepimeron without longitudinal line. Metendosternal stem present. Metacoxal process digitate.

Pterothorax. Scutellum hidden between elytral bases; width about one half length of pteronotum; scutellar lines type IV. Hind wing present. Elytron with basal stria absent and lateral stria present; serrations present.

Abdomen. Hind coxae separate. Submetacoxal space absent; submetacoxal lines punctate, lines not connected at middle. Two primary setae present on disc of ventrite 1. Abdominal ventrites slightly setose. Brickwall membranes between segments 1–4 present. Paratergites of segment 4 absent; 1 present on segment 6. Spiracle 8 absent. Aedeagal sclerites not tripartite.

20) right mandible, ventral view; 21) left maxilla, ventral view; 22) labium, ventral view.

Legs. Profemora without ctenidium. Pro- and mesotibiae without 2 basal spines. Mesofemora rounded in cross-section; subapical seta not sclerotised. Tibiae smooth; length of mesotibia not less than the tarsus; outer mesotibial spines absent; two inner mesotibial spines present, subequal with largest one 2 times greater than the other. Length of mesotarsomere 1 greater than 2. Metatarsi smooth. Empodium unisetose.

Comments. This monotypic genus is described for the single species P. globosum which differs from the remaining members of Pseudobironium by having the mandible without pores and by the shape of the lacinia, head impressed at frons, metaventrite fused to the mesepisternum, apical spines of tibia very asymmetrical, and male with

tenent setae on hind tarsus. Specimens examined of Pseudobironium globosum are maintained in the FMNH, MHNG, and the NZAC.

Distribution. New Caledonia.

Included Species. Sphaeroscapha globosa (Löbl, 1981) , new combination.

Etymology. The generic name (gender feminine) refers to the body outline combined with ‘‘scapha’’ derived from the Greek word scaphos, meaning boat.

Figures

Figs. 19–22. Sphaeroscapha globosa. 19) Dorsal and lateral habitus (scale bar ¼ 1 mm);