Leptandria, HANLEY, IN, 2003

Hanley, Rodney S., 2003, Generic revision of the staphylinid beetle tribe Hoplandriini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 138 (1), pp. 83-140 : 106-108

GENUS LEPTANDRIA HANLEY, IN PRESS A ( FIG. 12 )

Leptandria Hanley, in press a. Hanley, in press b.

Type species: Leptandria ecitophila Hanley , by original designation.

Diagnosis: This genus is distinguishable from the other genera of Hoplandriina by the following combination of characters: body small to average in size, 1.7–3.2 mm; eyes medium to large, 0.4–0.7 times length of head; insertion of medial setae of prementum widely separated; pronotum with outer apical angles sinuate, apical area along midline extended posteriorly with rounded angles, pronotum somewhat hexangonal in shape; tarsal formula exclusively 4-5-5; males with secondary sexual features, including each elytron with medioapical region with a prominent denticle, and abdominal tergum VII with a narrow posteromedian longitudinal carina or conical process only.

Description: In agreement with Hoplandria description, except for the following characters. [1] Lengths of adults 1.7–3.2 mm. [2] Body more or less fusiform; [5] pubescence variably dense on head, [7] pronotum, [8] elytra, and [9] abdominal sterna; sparse on [6] abdominal terga.

Head: [10] Generally broader than long. [11] Eyes moderate to large, 0.4–0.7 times length of head. Antenna ( Fig. 12A ) with [17a] apical segment acute to broadly rounded, [18] coeloconical sensilla present in segment 11.

Mouthparts: Labrum ( Fig. 12B ) with epipharyngeal area with [19] medial pores moderate in size, numerous, more or less uniformly distributed in [20] welldelimited, longitudinal sensory field; [21] pores between longitudinal sensory field and lateral sclerotized areas present. Mandible ( Fig. 12C,D ) with [27] subcondylar molar patch small, [27a] composed of very fine hairs or spinules; dorsobasal ‘velvety patch’ [28] moderate in size, width subequal to slightly shorter than width of mandibular base, composed of [29] numerous, very fine hairs or spinules, often with anterior row of small spines; [30] ventral aspect with outer basal angle with two very small setae. Maxilla ( Fig. 12E ) with [32] lacinia more or less acute apically, with [33] teeth of adoral margin short, about 3 times longer than wide, [34] more or less closely placed, into [35] three more or less distinct regions; [37] galea very narrow, half as narrow as lacinia at widest area, and rounded apically, [38] membranous in apical 1/4–1/5, [39] densely covered with rows of more or less short, fine hairs giving mostly stubble appearance. Labium ( Fig. 12F ) with ligula [45] elongate, as long as labial palpus 1, [48] with two heavy spines at apex and two smaller subapical spines; [49] two more or less long medial setae of prementum present, longer than ligula, [50] insertion of setae widely separated; [53] median pseudopore field wide with pores positioned in more or less linear arrangement, [54] lateral pore field with a single setose pore and four large asetose pores; [55] hypoglossal lobes ( Fig. 12G ) long, typically reaching to middle of ligula, [56] with long, about 5–6 times longer than width of lobe, comb-like internally curved setae. Labial palpi ( Fig. 12F ) [58] very long, overall length 7–8 times longer than greatest width, [60] with distal pore field composed of two small spines and two large pores; [61] segment 1 about 3.0–4.0 times longer than segment 2, [62] segment 3 about 4.0–5.0 times longer than segment 2; [63] twin pores and [64] two median pores present. Mentum with [65] apical margin more or less concave with [66] antero-lateral angles obtusely rounded and extended anteriorly; [67] relatively few sensory pores typically distrubuted along each side of midline.

Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 12H ) [68a] outer apical angles slightly to significantly sinuate, with [68b] apical area along midline typically extended posteriorly, [69] typically 1.0–1.2 times wider than long. Setae [71] more or less densely distributed, [72a] disc with 5 large macrosetae near lateral margin of each side. [76] Elytra ( Fig. 12I ) together about 1.5–1.8 times as wide as long. Mesosternal process [82] longer than metasternal process, extended to basal 1/3 of coxal cavities; [83] meso- and metasternal processes contiguous to very short isthmus present; [84] mesosternal process generally flattened at apex. Metasternum [85] slightly shorter than width of mesocoxae. Macrosetae [88] distinctly present on metasternum; [89] group of small setae on mesosternum at apex of mesosternal process only. Legs ( Fig. 12J ) with empodial bristle [93] length variable, shorter to longer than tarsal claws; [96] segment 5 of hind tarsus subequal to shorter in length to combined lengths of articles 2–4.

Abdomen: ( Fig. 12N,O ) [100] Anterior corner of sternum III with distinct region of differentiated microsculpturing visible, generally delimited by very fine carina, irridescence not apparent; [100a] abdominal sternum VIII often with distinctive rounded, semilunate duct opening with apical hairs arranged into pointed process ( Fig. 12O ).

Secondary sexual characteristics: Males variable, ranging from no secondary sexual feratures in L. tishechkini to few secondary sexual features in L. ashei and L. ecitophila . Secondary sexual features include morphological modifications on the elytra in the form of [102] humeral carina or bump absent; [103] denticle on the medioapical region; [104] without denticle, carina or bump on the outer apical third. Abdomen: posterior corners of [105] sternum III and [106] IV not produced into a long spines; [107] without carina or raised area on tergum IV; [108] narrow posteromedian longtitudinal carina or distinct conical carina on tergum VII; [109] two transverse rows of large macrosetae on near apex of tergum VIII.

Aedeagus: ( Fig. 12K ) With bulb of median lobe [110] more or less elongate, generally subequal in length to tube, [110a] often with a distinct curve in tube, [110b] base of bulb often with distinct bulge, [113] parameres ( Fig. 12N ) with apical lobe of parmerite not extended beyond velum, [114] typically with 2–4 setae at apex, 2 most commonly; condylite with [116] apex typically heavily sclerotized, [117] generally subequal in length to apex of paramerite.

Spermatheca: ( Fig. 12M ) Neck [120] significantly bent, generally at 90∞ or greater, [120a] often with distinct secondary curves.

Habitat: Species of Leptandria were collected from primarily nomadic bivouac sites of the army ant, Eciton burchelli , and from the fallen flowers of various flowering trees. Further analysis is needed to confirm whether all species of Leptandria have an association with Eciton ants, or if feeding modes vary within the genus.

Comments: There are three described species in Leptandria : L. ashei Hanley , L. ecitophila Hanley , and L. tishechkini Hanley , all from Ecuador and Peru.

Figures

Figure 12. Leptandria ecitophila Hanley. (A) Antenna. (B) Labrum. (C) Mandible, dorsal view. (D) Mandible, ventral view. (E) Maxilla. (F) Labium. (G) Hypopharynx. (H) Pronotum. (I) Right elytron. (J) Tarsus, hind leg. (K) Aedeagus, lateral view. (L) Paramere, lateral view. (M) Spermatheca. (N) Abdominal tergum VII, male (arrow to conical carina). (O) Male abdominal sternum VII.