Thoracophorus cubensis, Irmler, 2015

Irmler, Ulrich, 2015, Osoriinae of Cuba with description of new species and an identification key (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 145-172 : 148-150

Thoracophorus cubensis sp.nov.

( Figs 3A,D,E , 5D )

Type locality. Cuba, Sierra del Rosario, El Mulo (83°20′W, 22°42′N), Cuba

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♂ ( IES): Prov. Pinar del Río, Sierra del Rosario, El Mulo (83°20′W, 22°42′N), southern slope, under bark, MSB, 200 m elevation, 16.x.2007, leg. A. Lozada. PARATYPES: 1♀ ( IES): Sierra del Rosario, Prov. Pinar del Río, El Solón (83°20′W, 22°42′N), south. slope, bajo corteza, SSA, 400 m elevation, 13.x.2007, leg. A. Lozada ; 1 ♀ ( IES): El Mulo , southern slope, under bark, MSA, 400 m elevation, 16.x.2007, leg. A. Lozada ; 2 spec. ( IES, UIC): El Mulo , southern slope, under bark, MSB, 200 m elevation, 16.x.2007, leg. A. Lozada.

Diagnosis. The species can be placed in a group together with T. simplex Wendeler, 1930 and T. venezuelanus Irmler, 2010 due to the indistinct bulges on the head and pronotum and the carinae on the elytra. Compared to these species, the bulges and the microsculpture are slightly more distinct. Thus, the surface is less shiny than in those two species. In this respect it also resembles T. filum Sharp, 1887 , which may be distinguished by the more distinct microsculpture and distinctly matt surface.

Description. Length: 1.6 mm. Colouration: Light brown; posterior abdominal segments, legs and antennae still lighter brown to yellow.

Head 0.22 mm long, 0.28 mm wide; eyes large and prominent; distinctly visible in dorsal aspect; lateral margin fine; beginning at posterior edge of eyes and continuing to anterior edge of clypeus; vertex slightly depressed; within depression with pair of weak bulges; without punctation, netlike microsculpture moderately deep; surface slightly shiny.

Antennae clavate; slightly longer than head; first and second antennomeres distinctly thicker than five following antennomeres; second antennomere globular and 1.5 times as wide as conical third; following three antennomeres approximately quadrate and as wide as third; seventh antennomere slightly wider than sixth; ninth to eleventh antennomeres distinctly thicker than preceding antennomeres; nearly twice as wide as long.

Pronotum 0.24 mm long, 0.29 mm wide; widest in anterior half; sides in anterior half nearly parallel; in posterior half distinctly convergent; anterior angles widely rounded; posterior angles obtuse; pronotal disc with moderately deep central depression; in depression with central longitudinal bulge; lateral to central depression with sinuate furrow partly continuing to posterior margin; without punctation; microsculpture moderately deep; surface slightly shiny.

Elytra 0.32 mm long, 0.31 mm wide; shoulders widely rounded; two more or less distinct carinae on each side of suture; carinae not reaching posterior margin; without punctation; netlike microsculpture distinct; surface slightly shiny.

Abdomen with netlike microsculpture more distinct on segments III and IV than on posterior segments; surface of segments V to VIII shinier than on segments III and IV; posterior segments with sparse micro-punctation and short scale-like setae.

Aedeagus with long apical lobe; placed in rectangular angle to basal lobe; smoothly curved to acute apex; paramera long and slender, overtopping apical lobe; three sensillae on inner edge in basal half of paramera.

Etymology. The specific name derives from the country, where the species was found.

Distribution. Known from the Sierra del Rosario in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba

Figures

Figs 1–4: Morphological details of Cuban Osoriinae. 1 – Allotrochus cubensis sp. nov.; 2 – Nacaeus dejectus (Sharp, 1887); 3 – Thoracophorus cubensis sp. nov.; 4 – Antillosorius martini sp. nov. Body parts: A – aedeagus in lateral/ ventral aspect; B – paramere; C – last abdominal tergite; D – last abdominal sternite; E – antenna; F – protibia in posterior aspect. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Head, pronotum and elytra, showing shape, punctation and microsculpture. A – Allotrochus cubensis sp. nov.; B – Thoracophorus brevicristatus Horn, 1871; C – T. guadalupensis Cameron, 1913; D – T. cubensis sp. nov.; E – Espeson moratus Schaufuss, 1882; F – Nacaeus planellus (Sharp, 1887). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–E), 0.5 mm (F).