Octavius bicurvatus, Janák, 2014

Janák, JiĜí, 2014, New species and subspecies of Octavius from South Africa, with a key and additional distribution records (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Euaesthetinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (1), pp. 195-231 : 209-211

Octavius bicurvatus sp. nov.

( Figs 2 , 29–31 , 54 )

Type locality. South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, Fort Fordyce NR, 32°40ƍS, 26°29ƍE.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 3: ‘ SOUTH AFRICA, Eastern Cape, Fort Fordyce NR, indig. forest, 32°40ƍS, 26°29ƍE, sifting, 1.xii.2009, J. Janák lgt. // Octavius bicurvatus sp. n., J. Janák det. 2011’ ( TMSA) . PARATYPES: 34 3327 ♀♀: same data as holotype (3 spec. in TMSA, 2 spec. in NMPC, 56 spec. in JJRC).

Description. Body length 1.8–2.3 mm (M 2.0 mm, HT 1.8 mm), forebody length 0.8–1.0 mm (M 0.9 mm, HT 0.9 mm). Macrophthalmous, apterous, reddish brown, tip of abdomen sometimes slightly darkened, head and pronotum dull, elytra and abdomen moderately shiny.

Head slightly to moderately narrower than pronotum (R 0.87–0.92, M 0.89, HT 0.88), eyes moderately large, temples less than twice as long as eyes (R 1.26–1.74, M 1.52, HT 1.60), the latter straight, moderately rounded posteriorly, median impression on disc narrow, but long and deep, lateral parts of head moderately granulose, median part very densely and ¿nely reticulate.

Pronotum distinctly broader than long (R 1.09–1.15, M 1.12, HT 1.10), strongly narrowed posteriorly; anterior angles slightly angular, dorsal impressions shallow, transverse impression deep, lateral impressions deep and delimited by a sharp longitudinal ridge laterally; lateral parts beside lateral impressions densely granulose, remainder of surface very densely and ¿nely reticulate, in dorsal impression scarcely and ¿nely granulose.

Elytra subquadrate, much broader than long (R 1.41–1.53, M 1.45, HT 1.44), with a sharp longitudinal ridge laterally; irregularly granulate, only with traces of reticulation.

Male. Aedeagus sclerotised, flattened dorso-ventrally (n = 5, length 0.40–0.42 mm, M 0.41 mm, HT 0.41 mm), slightly widened, with short tooth apically. Internal structures of aedeagus with two long apically hook-shaped bands. Parameres apically with numerous setae ( Fig. 29 ). Sternite 8 broadly emarginate in posterior eleventh ( Fig. 30 ), sternite 9 as in Fig. 31 .

Differential diagnosis. Octavius bicurvatus sp. nov. belongs among species with large eyes, with the temples at most twice as long as eyes, with the head not or at most slightly widened posteriorly, with large body size, and the disc with an impression. It is related to O. transvaalensis Puthz, 2006 and O. ndumu sp. nov. From the ¿rst species it can be distinguished by smaller body and regularly reticulate pronotum between lateral ridges (without more shining bands), from both species by the aedeagus morphology, which is characterized by the pointed apical portion of the median lobe, two long apically hook-shaped internal structures of the aedeagus and the parameres with numerous long setae in apical portion.

Etymology. This species is named after the form of its internal structures of the aedeagus (bi = two and curvatus = curved). Adjective.

Bionomics. All specimens have been found in siftings of forest litter among small roots at the base of large trees near a brook in indigenous forest.

Distribution. Octavius bicurvatus sp. nov. is currently recorded only from Fort Fordyce NR in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In the same locality occurs O. multisetosus sp. nov. ( Fig. 54 ).

Octavius ndumu sp. nov.

( Figs 32–34 )

Type locality. South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Ndumu Game Reserve , 26°54ƍS, 32°16ƍE.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 3: ‘ SOUTH AFRICA, [KwaZulu-Natal Province]: Natal, Ndumu Game Reserve , 26.54 S – 32.16 E, veget. litter sifted, 12.vi.1989, E-Y: 2614, leg. Endrödy-Younga // Octavius ndumu sp. n., J. Janák det. 2009’ ( TMSA). PARATYPE: 13, same data as holotype ( TMSA).

Description (n = 2). Body length 1.6–1.7 mm (HT 1.7 mm), forebody length 0.7 mm (HT, PT). Macrophthalmous, apterous, dark reddish-brown, head and pronotum dull, elytra and abdomen moderately shiny.

Head slightly narrower than pronotum (R HT 0.92, PT 0.93), eyes moderately large, temples less than twice as long as eyes (R HT 1.71, PT 1.66), straight, shortly rounded posteriorly, median impression between disc and base of head narrow, but long and distinct, lateral parts of head moderately granulose, median part very densely and ¿nely reticulate.

Pronotum slightly broader than long (R HT 1.08, PT 1.10), strongly narrowed posteriorly; anterior angles slightly angular, dorsal impressions moderately deep, transverse impression deep, lateral impressions deep and delimited by a sharp longitudinal ridge laterally; lateral parts beside lateral impressions densely granulose, remainder of surface very densely ¿nely reticulate.

Elytra subquadrate to slightly trapezoidal, much broader than long (R HT 1.43, PT 1.47), with a sharp longitudinal ridge laterally; irregularly granulate and moderately reticulate.

Male. Aedeagus long and moderately narrow (n = 2, length 0.30 mm, HT, PT), slightly emarginate apically, internal structure long and very narrow, acute apically; parameres about two thirds as long as median lobe, with 7–9 apical setae ( Fig. 32 ). Sternite 8 shortly and broadly emarginate in posterior one-tenth ( Fig. 33 ), sternite 9 as in Fig. 34 .

Differential diagnosis. Octavius ndumu sp. nov. belongs among species with large eyes, with temples at most twice as long as eyes, with head not or at most slightly arcuately widened posteriorly, with large body size and the disc of head with an impression. It is related to O. rostrifer Puthz, 1986 , from which it can be distinguished by more shining elytra and by the aedeagus morphology, which is characterized by the median lobe emarginate medially and the parameres more than two thirds as long as the median lobe, bearing 7–9 apical setae.

Etymology. This species is named after the Ndumu Game Reserve , where the type series was collected. Noun in apposition.

Bionomics. Both specimens have been found in siftings of vegetation litter.

Distribution. Octavius ndumu sp. nov. is currently recorded only from Ndumu Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Figures

Figs. 1-3. Habitus, males (paratypes). 1 – Octavius kogelbergensis sp. nov.; 2 – O. bicurvatus sp. nov.; 3 – O. multisetosus sp. nov. Abbreviations: MI – median impression, LI – lateral impression, TI – transverse impression, DI – dorsal impression, LR – lateral ridge.

Figs.29–34. 29–31 – Octavius bicurvatus sp. nov., HT male.32–34 – O. ndumu sp. nov., HT male. 29, 32 – aedeagus ventral; 30, 33 – sternite 8; 31, 34 – sternite 9. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Figs. 54–59. Localities. 54 – Fort Fordyce NR; 55 – Kogelberg NR; 56 – Mkhambati NR, forest at Mkhambati river; 57 – Mkhambati NR, Vulture Forest; 58 – Kologha State Forest (with Petr Bulirsch at background); 59 – Table Mt. NP, Echo valley.