Baeocera pulchella Fierros-López, 2010

López, Hugo Eduardo Fierros-, 2010, Description of Two New Species of Baeocera Erichson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) from México, Journal Of The Kansas Entomological Society 83 (3), pp. 201-207 : 202-204

Baeocera pulchella Fierros-López new species

( Figs. 1–6 )

DIAGNOSIS: This species can be distinguished by the elytra with a transversal fascia, in addition to the following combination of characters: body elongate, slightly compressed laterally; third antennal segment shorter than fourth; scutellum covered by pronotal lobe; basal stria of elytron interrupted at humeral area; mesepimeron as long as most of the anapleural line; mesocoxal line parabolic; aedeagus symmetrical basal portion subequal in length to apical portion; apex of median lobe acute, slightly curved upright; parameres slender and slightly curved.

DESCRIPTION: Length 1.7 mm.

Coloration: Body ocherous, apical portion of pronotum lighter, elytron cream, with transverse red-brown fascia in middle of disc.

Head: spherical, polished, shiny, with few punctures, clypeus with two lateral groups of whitish setae. Antenna ( Fig. 1 ) with second segment about same length as third and fourth combined; third and fourth segments subequal in length.

Thorax: pronotum trapezoidal, wider at base, lateral borders with carina; inflexed at basal angles. Disc surface polished with few scattered punctures; microsculpture obsolete, at 50 magnification; scutellum hidden by pronotal lobe. Elytra elongated ( Fig. 2 ), widest at middle; basal stria interrupted at humeral area; discal punctuation more scattered than on pronotum; microsculpture obsolete; epipleura smooth, shining; metacoxal line parabolic ( Fig. 3 ), basal pits rounded, not extended laterally; mesepimeron long, covering almost all anapleaural line; mesosternum sparsely punctured; metasternum laterally widened near apex, surface with few punctures bearing decumbent setae; ventral area ornamented with punctures and setae; metepisternon wide, slightly widened at apex.

Legs: long, slender; first three protarsomeres slightly expanded laterally, with abundant setae on ventral surface; mesotarsus with ventral setae.

Abdomen: conical, with scattered punctures and few setae; microsculpture not evident; first visible ventrite with basal pits rounded, not expanded laterally. Aedeagus ( Figs. 4–6 ): length 0.49mm, symmetric, basal area bulbous, subequal in length to apical, apex of median lobe pointed, upright curved; internal sac with basal oval sclerite, flagellum with laminar ornamentation; parameres elongated, wider at apex, shorter than median lobe.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet name derives from the Latin word pulchella meaning ‘‘beautiful’’ and little, in reference to small size and showy coloration of this species.

TYPE LOCALITY: El Floripondio, Municipality San Gabriel, Jalisco .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Jalisco, México

BIONOMICS: This species was collected in a fir-oak forest and cloud forest, by fogging rotten logs with sporophores of Trichia and Poria ; other scaphidiinae beetles associated were Baeocera gutierrezberaudi , Scaphisoma opochtli Fierros-López and one unidentified species of Toxidium .

VARIATION: (7 males, 1 female). — length: male 1.7–1.92 mm, average (avg.) 1.8 mm, standar devation (stdv) ± 0.1 mm, female 1.86 mm; pronotum: male 0.62–0.7 mm, avg. 0.7 mm ± stdv. 0., female 0.68 mm; elytra: male 1.12–1.3 mm, avg. 1.2 mm, stdv ± 0.1 mm, female 1.18 mm. Elytral maculation varied in intensity and shape, from a wide transverse fascia to a small spot on the disc.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype: male, labeled as follows: MÉXICO: Jalisco, San Gabriel , El Floripondio , bosque mesófilo de montaña, 2300 m, km 4 RMO Las Víboras , 19 Julio 2007, 19 ° 37 ' N, 103 ° 37 ' O, ex tronco con micelio, H. E. Fierros- López col. - 1 male (holotype ) Paratypes: same data as holotype: 1 female ; same data except: km 6 R.M.O. Las Víboras , 9 Agosto 2007, H. E. Fierros-López col. (1 male); same data except: 23 Septiembre 2007, ex Poria sp. y Trichia sp.; H. E. Fierros- López col.- (5 males) .

Figures

Figs. 1–6. Morphology of Baeocera pulchella new species. 1. Antenna; 2. Dorsal view of elytron; 3. lateral view of thorax; 4–6. Aedeagus. Scale bar equals 1 mm.