Malaisdius smetanai, Brunke, des Brunke, 2023

Brunke, Adam James, 2023, Review of Quedius (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) described from the 1934 expedition by R. Malaise to Myanmar, European Journal of Taxonomy 864, pp. 117-145 : 129-130

Malaisdius smetanai gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2868C1D2-F3E2-42CE-B4DF-48F4B5D4705F

Figs 2B , 4E–F , 5B , 6F–G

‘ Genus 2 sp. 1 ( Nepal)’: Brunke et al. 2021 (phylogeny, undescribed genus of Microsaurus lineage).

Diagnosis

Malaisdius smetanai gen. et sp. nov. is easily recognized by the overall pale coloration of the body ( Fig 2B ). The only other species of the genus is strikingly bicolored. Additionally, the bicolored hind femur and the elytra with loose rows of punctures will distinguish this species from M. ruficeps comb. nov.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to the late Dr Aleš Smetana, who was working with me on an early morphological concept of Malaisdius gen. nov. (and who created the name) several years before his passing in 2021. Aleš spent his career uncovering the great diversity of Quediini and without this enormous contribution, a generic revision of the tribe would not be possible.

Type material

Holotype

NEPAL – Gandaki Province • ♂; “ E-Nepal , Arun Valley, Deurali ; ca. 2100 mNN; 27°30′ N, 87°16′ E; 10.V.2014; J. Schmidt leg. [typed label] / collection NATURKUNDE MUSEUM ERFURT [typed yellow label] / AJB0001337 [identifier] / Quediini phylogeny DNA Voucher Specimen, SeqDB: AKH-07, Specimen AJB0001337 [blue label] / Malaisdius smetanai Brunke, des Brunke 2023 [red label]”; NME.

Description

Similar to M. ruficeps and differing only by the following: body (minus abdomen) 4.2 mm, paler overall, not sharply bicolored, head, centre of elytra, and abdominal tergites dark orange-brown to dark brown, pronotum, lateral parts of elytra and paratergites paler, brownish-orange; antennomeres 1–5 paler, orange-brown, 6–10 darker, brown; hind femora with dark apical band, hind tibia with very base darker; antennomeres 6–10 weakly transverse and slightly asymmetrical; pronotum less convex; elytral punctures arranged in loose rows, impressions even broader; abdominal tergites with punctures even more strongly impressed, slightly more numerous but still mostly restricted to basal impressions.

Male

Sternite VIII with emargination slightly wider; male sternite IX with basal part more strongly narrowed and hooked at the end, with distinct expansion opposite to this, apex slightly more rounded; male tergite X shorter, more strongly narrowed to apex, which is more rounded and without large setose crenulatons; median lobe in ventral view slightly broader, gradually narrowed to apical part, apex slightly broader, lateral tooth smaller and facing opposite direction ( Fig. 6F ) [median tooth and entire lateral view not visible due to previous mounting of genitalia in Canada balsam]; paramere narrower than median lobe in ventral view, slightly convergent apicad over much of its length, finger-like lobe hooked and on opposite side of paramere, one side of apex crenulate, crenulations bearing pairs of setae ( Fig. 6G ).

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in eastern Nepal.

Figures

Fig. 2. A–E. Dorsal habitus. A. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965), ♂, paratype (NHW). B. Malaisdius smetanai gen. et. sp. nov., ♂, holotype (NME). C. Quedius (Microsaurus) rutilipennis Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♂, holotype (NHRS). D. Q. (M.) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♂ holotype (NHRS). E. Q. (M.) impressithorax Scheerpeltz, 1965, ♀ holotype (NHRS). F. Forebody of Q. (M.) impressithorax Scheerpeltz, 1965. Abbreviation: Pf = posterior frontal puncture. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. A–B. Indoquedius dispersepunctatus(Scheerpeltz, 1965). A. Elytra. B. Dorsal abdomen. C–D. I. recticollis (Scheerpeltz, 1965). C. Elytra. D. Dorsal abdomen. E–F. Malaisdius smetanai gen. et sp. nov. E. Head. F. Elytra. Abbreviations: Af = anterior frontal puncture; b = basal puncture; pf = posterior frontal puncture; sa = supraantennal puncture. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. A. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965), dorsal abdomen. B. M. smetanai gen. et sp. nov., dorsal abdomen. C–E. Quedius (Microsaurus) rutilipennis Scheerpeltz, 1965. C. Antenna. D. Pronotum (white arrow: marginal punctures removed from marginal bead; black arrow: anterior angles with marginal bead entirely visible in dorsal view). E. Elytra and basal abdomen. F. Q. (M.) masasatoi Smetana, 2007, pronotum (arrows indicating punctures of the dorsal row). Abbreviation: Pf = posterior frontal puncture. Scale bars: A–B, D–E = 1 mm; C, F = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 6. A, F, H–I, K–L.Aedeagus, in situ. A, F, H, K. Ventral view (inset showing paired teeth). I, L. Lateral view. B–D. Median lobe. B. Ventral view. C–D. Lateral view. E, G, J, M. Underside of paramere. A–E. Malaisdius ruficeps (Scheerpeltz, 1965). F–G. M. smetanai gen. et sp. nov. H–J. Quedius (Microsaurus) piceolineatus Scheerpeltz, 1965. K–M. Q. (M.) masasatoi Smetana, 2007. Scale bars: A–D, F, H–I, K–L = 0.5 mm; E, G, J, M = 0.1 mm.