Neosclerus granulicollis CAMERON , 1924

Assing, Volker, 2011, A revision of the genus Neosclerus C (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 6 (1), pp. 89-148 : 136-137

Neosclerus granulicollis CAMERON, 1924 ( Figs 166-168)

Neosclerus granulicollis CAMERON, 1924: 190 .

Lobochilus granulicollis: CAMERON (1931: 125) .

Neosclerus granulicollis: SMETANA (2004: 622) .

Neosclerus frater CAMERON, 1924: 190 f.; syn. n.

Type material:

N .. granulicollis : Lectotype : "Type H.T. / Kaligad, Dehra Dun. 10.VII.21 / Neosclerus granulicollis Cam. / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147. / Lectotypus  Neosclerus granulicollisgranulicollis Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Neosclerus granulicollis Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " ( BMNH).

N .. frater : Lectotype : "Kaligad, Dehra Dnn. [sic] / Dr. Cameron, 19.VI.21 / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955-147. / Lectotypus  Neosclerus frater Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2010 / Neosclerus granulicollis Cameron , det. V. Assing 2010 " ( BMNH). Paralectotype  [severely damaged, whole thorax missing]: "Type H.T. / Kaligad, Dehra Dnn. [sic], Dr. Cameron, 19.VI.21 / Neosclerus frater Cam. / Syntype / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955- 147" ( BMNH).

Additional material examined:

India: 1  [with teratological aedeagus and without posterior excision of sternite VIII], 1 , West Bengal, Ghum district, Mangpo , V.1931, leg. Cameron ( BMNH, FMNH) .

Comment:

The original description of N .. granulicollisgranulicollis is based on an unspecified number of specimens from "Mussorie District; Kaligad" ( CAMERON 1924). A single syntype , a female and probably the only syntype seen by Cameron , was found at the BMNH. It is designated as the lectotype .

Neosclerus fraterfrater was described from an unspecified number of specimens collected in "Mussorie District; Kaligad" ( CAMERON 1924). Two female syntypes were located at the BMNH, one of them severely damaged. The specimen in good condition is designated as the lectotype .

According to CAMERON (1924, 1931), N .. frater is distinguished from N .. granulicollis by the more densely punctate and, consequently, less shiny dorsal surface of the head and by the less distinct impuncte midline of the pronotum. These characters, however, are also subject to intraspecific variation in other Neosclerus species. Moreover, the type material of both names is extremely similar in other characters, including the conspicuous punctation of the pronotum, and both the type localities and the circumstances of collection are identical. Thus, even though the male sexual characters remain unknown, is seems reasonable to assume that the type material of both species is conspecific. Hence the synonymy proposed above.

Redescription:

Body length 3.0- 3.3 mm. Habitus as in Fig. 166. Coloration: body blackish-brown to blackish; legs yellowish-brown to brown, with the femora somewhat darker; antennae uniformly yellowish or with antennomere weakly infuscate.

Head across eyes approximately 1.15 times as wide as long; eyes very large, postocular region practically obsolete; punctation of dorsal surface characteristic, anteriorly very coarse and very dense, posteriorly also dense, but somewhat finer ( Fig. 168); antenna short, only approximately 0.7-0.8 mm long.

Pronotum approximately as long as wide, approximately 0.85 times as wide as head; punctation characteristic: fine, very dense, and weakly granulose; midline very narrowly impunctate ( Fig. 167); interstices without microsculpture and glossy.

Elytra rather long and broad, 1.00-1.05 times as long and 1.2-1.3 times as wide as pronotum; humeral angles marked ( Fig. 167); punctation dense and fine. Hind wings present.

Abdomen slightly to distinctly narrower than elytra; punctation fine, moderately dense on anterior tergites and sparse on posterior tergites; interstices with shallow microsculpture; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe.

: unknown.

Comparative notes:

This species is readily distinguished from other macropterous Neosclerus species by the characteristic punctation of head and pronotum. The male characters, which would be essential for assessing its phylogenetic affiliations, are unknown.

Distribution and bionomics:

If the two specimens listed as additional material from West Bengal, northeastern India, and the type specimens from Uttar Pradesh, northwestern India, are indeed conspecific, this species is rather widespread. According to CAMERON (1924, 1931), the type material of N .. granulicollisgranulicollis and N .. fraterfrater was collected from stream moss. The only male available has a teratologically deformed aedeagus and a sternite VIII without posterior excision.