Bironium biroi (Pic)

Löbl, Ivan, 2021, A review of the Bironium Csiki, 1909 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) of New Guinea and the Moluccas, Acta Musei Moraviae 106 (2), pp. 227-248 : 233

Bironium biroi (Pic)

( Figs 11 14)

Heteroscapha biroi Pic, 1956:71 .

Bironium biroi ; LÖBL, 1975: 419, Figs 81, 82.

Bironium biroi ; LÖBL, 1989: 368.

Material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 9, Morobe Prov., Tekadu­Kakaro, Ivinka Riv. Stat ., 170 m, 3.III.1998, sieved, A. Riedel ( MHNG); 1, Morobe Prov., Wau, 1150 m, 17.V.1992, G. Cuccodoro [#2C] ( MHNG); 1, same data but 19.V.1992 [#4A] ( MHNG); 1, Morobe Prov., Wau, Kilolo Creek , 26.VIII.1968, I. Loksa ( HNMB); 1, Morobe Prov., Biaru Rd., Kaisenic , 1050 m, 28.V.1992, G. Cuccodoro [#11C] ( MHNG); 1, Morobe Prov., Aiewa near Poiu, S Aseki, 1750 m, 14.IV.1998, A. Riedel ( MHNG); 20, Sandaun Prov., S Mianmin, 1000 m, 19.V.1998, sieved, A. Riedel ( MHNG); 1, same data but 900- 1200 m ( MHNG); INDONESIA: 1, Papua , Merauke Prov., Asmat , Senggo , trail to Abai, ca 100 m, 15- 17.VI.1994, A. Riedel ( MHNG); 1, Papua , Nabire Prov., rd Nabire­Ilaga km 54, 03°29′517′′ S, 135°43′913′′E, 750 m, VI. 1998, M. Balke ( NMEC); 2, same data but X. 1997, 250 m and 750 m respectively ( NMEC); Papua , Paniai Prov., Nabire , Pusppensaat , km 54, 500- 700 m, 13- 16.VIII.1991, A. Riedel ( MHNG); 4, West Papua , Manokwari Prov., Testega , 1200 m, 13.IV.1993; 3, Moluccas, Aru Isl., Wokan , 22.8.1991, D. Agosti [ F91036 , leaf litter] ( MHNG).

Distribution. Papua New Guinea; Indonesia: Papua , West Papua , Moluccas.

Comments. This species was based on two specimens from Sattelberg, on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province. It differs drastically from its congeners by the parameres split to form two long lobes. The aedeagus illustrated in LÖBL (1975) has the internal sac extruded and the figures given in that paper lack detail. Therefore, new illustrations ( Figs 11 -13) are given here. The followings characters are newly given: elytra with basal striae entire, joined to lateral striae; lateral striae fairly coarsely punctate; male protarsomere I about as wide as half of protibial apex, somewhat longer than protarsomeres II and III combined; protarsomeres III slightly lobed, with long apicoventral setae not widened. Gonocoxite as Fig. 14 , without gonostyle. The specimens from the island Wokan are only 1.88 1.97 mm long, smaller than specimens from New Guinea, and have the median part of the metaventrite deeper impressed and more coarsely punctate. The shape of the narrow basal sclerite of the internal sac varies from circular to oval.

Figures

Figs 11-19. 11–14, Bironium biroi (Pic): 11 – Aedeagus in lateral view, scale = 0.2 mm; 12 – Internal sac, scale = 0.05 mm; 13 – Paramere in ventral view, scale = 0.1 mm; 14 – Gonocoxite, scale = 0.05 mm. 15–19, Bironium grande sp. nov.: 15, 16 – Aedeagus in dorsal and lateral views, scale = 0.4 mm; 17 – Paramere in ventral view, scale = 0.2 mm; 18 – Internal sac, scale = 0.05 mm; 19 – Gonocoxite, scale = 0.05 mm.