Philonthus pallipes Blanchard, 1842

Chani-Posse, Mariana, 2010, Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) 2595, Zootaxa 2595, pp. 1-70 : 40-42

Philonthus pallipes Blanchard, 1842

(Figs. 4, 97–100, 151)

Philonthus pallipes Blanchard, 1842: 82 ; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 349 (catalog); Bruch, 1915: 445 (catalog); Blackwelder, 1944: 134 (list); Scheerpeltz, 1960: 114 (rev.); Herman, 2001b: 2904 (catalog); Chani-Posse, 2004: 231 (list).

Philonthus depressus Steinheil, 1869: 253 ; Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 349 (catalog); Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 349 (catalog; syn. of pallipes ).

Philonthus pallidipes Lynch-Arribálzaga, 1884: 152 (not clear whether misspelling or emendation for pallipes ); Bernhauer & Schubert, 1914: 349 (catalog; syn. of pallipes ).

Diagnosis. Philonthus pallipes may be identified by its body coloration, the antennal segments 4–10 elongate, and the eyes longer than temples seen from above. It differs from other species of southern South American Philonthus by the dorsal surface distinctly punctuate and the distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons about 2.5 times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures.

Redescription. Length of the body 5.3–6.1 mm. Coloration. Head black to castaneous-piceous; thorax castaneous to testaceous-brunneous; elytra darker at base, castaneous to castaneous- piceous, and brunneous to testaceous-brunneous distally; abdomen castaneous-piceous to brunneous; antennae with first three segments brunneous, outer segments piceous, palpi and legs testaceous-brunneous.

Head slightly wider than long (HW/HL= 1.0) (Fig. 4) and at basal third narrower than at distal third, moderately narrower than pronotum (HW/PW= 0.87–0.85); dorsal surface coarsely and distinctly punctate, with more than three postocular punctures and four to five epicranial punctures; distance separating medial interocular punctures about 2.5 times as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures; infraorbital ridge present, not extending beyond postgenal ridge. Eyes moderately to distinctly longer than temples (EL/TL= 1.36–1.25) seen from above (Fig. 4). Antennae with segment 1 distinctly shorter than segments 2 and 3 combined, segment 2 shorter than preceding segment, segments 4–5 elongate. Labial palpus with last segment gradually narrowed toward acute apex, about 1.5 times as long as preceding segment. Maxillary palpus with last segment aciculate, about 1.5 times longer than segment 3 (Fig. 4). Submentum 1.5 times as long as mentum. Neck no more than 0.6 times as wide as head at widest point (NW/HW= 0.5).

Pronotum about as long as to slightly longer than wide (PW/PL= 0.91–0.87), slightly narrowed anteriad; dorsal surface of pronotum with two rows of punctures, each with six punctures. Hypomeron visible in lateral view. Basisternum with medial longitudinal carina weakly developed. Metasternum with circum-mesocoxal ridge broadly rounded medially. Elytra at sides distinctly longer than pronotum at midline (EtL/PL=1.6–1.5), about 1.5 times as long as elytra along suture (EtL/Etl= 1.7), and longer than wide at base of elytra (EtL/ EtW=1.2–1.1); transverse distance between punctures about as large as diameters of punctures. Front tarsi as long as front tibiae; middle tarsi as long as middle tibiae; first segment of hind tarsus as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, and as long as last segment (S1/S5= 1.0). Abdominal terga coarsely punctuate at basal area, distance separating punctures distinctly smaller than diameters of punctures; terga 2 and 3 with elevated area between basal lines punctuate, posterior basal line straight medially. Male sternum 7 with apical margin slightly notched at middle. Tergum 8 in both sexes with posterior margin arcuate.

Male genitalia. Sternum 8 moderately emarginate medio-apically. Tergum 10 subacute medio-apically ( Fig. 98), with two long subapical macrosetae and 8–10 apical setae. Sternum 9 acutely emarginate apically and enlarged laterally, with two long subapical macrosetae and one apical setae at each side ( Fig. 97). Aedeagus with median lobe gradually narrowed from apical third of paramere; apex of median lobe subrectangular (in dorsal view); paramere reduced and fused to median lobe ( Fig. 99). Internal sac with distinctly sclerotized structures ( Fig. 99).

Female genitalia. Tergum 10 similar to that of male. Second gonocoxite with 2–5 strong setae along its outer margin, and stylus with one long apical seta ( Fig. 100).

Bionomics. Blanchard (1842) reports this species to occur under tree logs. According to the labelling data, this species was found in tropical and riverine forests, open forests, wet grassland and leaf litter near streams, and collected by light trap or at ultraviolet light.

Geographical distribution. P. pallipes has been recorded from many localities in the Neotropical region, from Cuba through Colombia, Venezuela, and French Guyana to Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. In southern South America, P.pallipes is known from three biogeographical provinces of the Neotropical region (Chaco, Pampa and Paranaense) and from Monte and Puna in the South American transition Zone ( Fig. 151).

Type material. Lectotype (here designated), ♀, with labels: “5294/ 34” (round green label; old handwriting on its underside), “ P. pallidipes Blanch. / Montevideo / M. d`Orbigny”, (rectangular folded green label), “ Philonthus pallipes ” (white label; modern handwriting), “ Lectotype Philonthus pallipes Blanchard, 1842 / Des. Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ” (MNHN).

Notes. I designate the lectotype of P. pallipes rather than assume that the examined type specimen is the holotype since in the original description by Blanchard (1842) gave no information about the number of specimens examined. Therefore, it is possible that this name was based on more than one specimen ( ICZN 1999, Recommendation 73F). The lectotype agrees with the description by Blanchard (1842).

Before the present designation, some research had to be done in order to confirm the status of this specimen as a type of P. pallipes . With the help of Ms. Taghavian (MNHN), I was able to establish a correspondence between the numbers given on the round green label and those detailed by Blanchard in the catalog d´Orbigny at the MNHN. Additional locality data was found by Ms. Taghavian at the site in the box to which this specimen belongs. This information agrees with the original description (îles du Parana, Corrientes), but disagrees with that on the rectangular folded green label which was attached to the specimen (Montevideo). The handwriting on such label would not belong to the author, when comparing it to that of C. E. Blanchard in Horn et al. (1990). My assumption is that there was a misplacement of locality data on this label (see P. rubromaculatus ). Moreover, this specimen and the additional information collected by Ms. Taghavian agree with the description by Blanchard (1842). Therefore, I conclude that this specimen was used by Blanchard (1842) to describe P. pallipes .

Additional material: 292 specimens (26 ♂, 35 ♀, 231 unsexed)

ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires: Delta, Abra Vieja , 15.II.1926, 4 specimens ( MLPA); Isla Martin Garcia, 4.1938/1939, M. J. Viana, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. , don. M. J. Viana " det. Bernhauer ", Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection/ Philonthus pallipes Bl . Chaco, 1 specimen ( FMNH), 1 specimen ( MLPA); La Plata, V. 38, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 1966 A. Bierig Collection, Acc. Z. 13812, P., 2 specimens ( FMNH); San Nicolas de los Arroyos , dic 2002, leg. D. Carpintero, 33 specimens (Col. J. E. Barriga) ; Tigre, 6-1938, M. J. Viana / J. Bosq, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. , don. M. J. Viana " det. Bernhauer ", Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection , 2 specimens ( FMNH); 15.X.1908, Philonthus pallipes Bl. , 4 specimens ( NMPC) . Catamarca: La Viña , XI/21/1995, L. Herman, 610m 28° 03' S, 65°35'W, Leaf litter near stream, 2893-2896, 1 specimen ( AMNH) . Chaco: 50km NW Resistencia , 13–16.XII.1990, S & J. Peck, FMHD #90-282, open grassy forest at campground, Perk HQ, 90–111, uv light, 4 ♂, 6 ♀, 30 specimens ( FMNH) . Córdoba: 1939, M. J. Viana, v. mrazi Brh , "Metatipo", 1 specimen ( MLPA) . Corrientes: Ituzaingo, 20.XII.1990, FMHD #90-290, wet grassland, 90–294, UV trap light, 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 specimen ( FMNH); Bella Vista , 1.1921/ IV-1931, Col. De Carlo, 2 specimens ( MLPA) . Entre Rios: Concordia , IV-1931, 1 specimen ( MLPA); Parana, 21.II.1938, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 1966 A. Bierig Collection, Acc. Z. 13812, 2 ♀ ( FMNH); Villaguay, XI.1954, Field Mus. Nat. History, 2 ♀ ( FMNH) . Formosa: P.N. Rio Pilcomayo, 50km NW Clorinda, 17.XII.1990, S & J. Peck, FMHD #90-290, riverine forest, 90–119, uv light, 14 ♂, 15 ♀, 49 specimens ( FMNH); Estancia La Marcela , 35 kmo E. El Colorado, 21 dic 2004, J. Willia /JEBarriga, 26° 17.35' S, 59° 8.6' W, 10 specimens (Col. J. E. Barriga) . Jujuy, Purmamarca, Richter, 1 specimen ( MLPA) . La Rioja: Iliar, M. Gomez, Philonthus pallidipes Bln. , 1 specimen ( FMNH), 1 specimen ( MACN); II. 1936, M. J. Viana, in Bernhauer handwriting " Philonthus pallipes Bln. ", 1 specimen ( FMNH), 2 specimens ( MLPA) . Misiones: Jardin America, Salto Tabay , 22.XII.1990, S & J. Peck, FMHD #90-262, tropical wet forest, stream edge, 90–95, uv light, 1 specimen ( FMNH); P. N. Iguazu, 4.I.1991, S & J. Peck, FMHD #90-319, cliff base by falls, 90–141, litter piles, 2 ♂, 4 ♀, ( FMNH); Puerto Canaos, 8.XII.1990 – 6.I.1991, S & J. Peck , 180m, FMHD #90-262,forest, 90–95,uv light, 1 ♀ ( FMNH); Puerto Iguazu , 30.XII.1990, S & J. Peck, FMHD #90-313, doeck on river, 90–142, uv light, 2 ♂ ( FMNH); C. Bruch, Philonthus pallipes Blnch. , 2 specimens ( MACN) . Salta: Campichuelo-Porcelana Rd. , XI/17/1995, L. Herman , 500m, 22° 56' S, 64°04'W, Leaf litter near stream, 1 specimen ( AMNH); Tartagal , 12–19.XII.1990, M. Archangelsky leg., Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 1 ♂ ( FMNH) . Santa Fe: Rosario , XII. 1917, José Bruch, 1 specimen ( NMPC) . Sgo. del Estero : 190, C. Bruch, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. ", det. Bernhauer; Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection / Philonthus pallidipes Bln. , 1 specimen ( FMNH), 3 specimens ( MLPA) . Tucumán: 10.III.1912, C. Bruch, Philonthus pallidipes Bln. , 1 specimen ( MLPA) . BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz, Guarayos, Perseverancia , 10.IX.1990, P. Bettella, 14º44`S, 62º47`W, white light, Field Museum, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . BRAZIL: Brasilia, Campos, Philonthus pallipes Blanch., Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection , 1 ♂ ( FMNH); W. Schönveldt, alumnus Er. ; C. Epplsh. Steind. D, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. " det. Bernhauer ", Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection, 1 ♀ ( FMNH) . Santa Catharina: Klimsch , in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. ", det. Bernh.; Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection , 2 ♂ ( FMNH); N. Teutonia, Plaumann, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. det. Bernhauer ", Chicago, M. Bernhauer Collection, 1 specimen ( FMNH) ; Sao Paulo, Jaro Mraz, 4 specimens ( NMPC) . COLOMBIA: Amazonas, Leticia, V.9–13.1970, leg. Malkin, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . CUBA: Rio Almendares , 11.X.1928, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 1966 A. Bierig Collection, Acc. Z. 13812, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . GUYANA FRANCESA: 1909, Coll. A. Bonhoure; Museum Paris don. Paulian; Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . PARAGUAY: Asuncion, January – March, B. Podtiaguin, 25 specimens ( AMNH) . San Pedro: Estancia Triangulo, Ruta 10, km 252 Umg. Vaca Jhu , 1.3.– 6.3.1993 / 7–11.XI.1995, leg. Bretzendorfer / Bretzendorfer & C. Hauser, 18 specimens ( SMNS) . Villarica : April 1936, F. Schade, Blackwelder collection, 4 specimens ( AMNH); Richter, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. det. Bernhauer "/ Bernhauer determ., Philonthus pallipes Bln., Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection, 1 specimen ( FMNH), 2 specimens ( MLPA) . URUGUAY: Montevideo: 13.XI.1900, J. Tremoleras, in Bernhauer handwriting " pallipes Blch. det. Bernhauer ", Chicago, M. Bernhauer Collection / Philonthus pallipes Bln., M. Bernhauer determ., 2 specimens ( FMNH), 1 specimen ( MLPA); J. Tremoleras, Philonthus pallipes Bln. , 1 specimen ( NMPC) . VENEZUELA: Guarico: Camagua, 1923 M. Grisol, Museum Paris don. Paulian, Chicago NHMus Bernhauer Collection, 1 specimen ( FMNH) . Calabozo: Biol. Station , 15.VII.1961, light trap, C. Bordon Leg., 3 ♀ ( FMNH) .