Vickibella, Leschen, Richard A. B. & Löbl, Ivan, 2005

Leschen, Richard A. B. & Löbl, Ivan, 2005, Phylogeny And Classification Of Scaphisomatini Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae With Notes On Mycophagy, Termitophily, And Functional Morphology, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 3) 59, pp. 1-63 : 32-33

Vickibella new genus

( Figs. 34–37 ) Type species: Brachynopus apicellus (Broun)

Diagnosis. Body convex and elongate-oval. Dorsal setae reduced. Mandible with apex bifid. Galea narrow and paniculate. Apex of submentum invaginate. Antennomeres 3 and 4 elongate. Corbiculum absent. Pronotal and elytral carinae hidden in dorsal view. Mesepimeron present. Elytron with basal stria. Hind coxae separate. Profemora without ctenidium. Pro- and mesotibiae without 2 basal spines.

Description. Body. Body convex and elongate-oval, about 1.2 3 longer than wide. Dorsal setae reduced. Pronotal and elytral carinae hidden in dorsal view.

Head. Labral setae present and apically notched or frayed. Mandible with apex bifid, subapical serrations present. Maxillary palp normal, palpomere 2 with 2 apical setae. Galea narrow and radulate, with brush apical. Lateral setae of lacinia absent. Hypopharyngeal setae absent. Labial palps normal, palpomere 2 with 1 subapical seta; terminal palpomere inserted apically and straight. Edge of mentum straight, surface setose. Apex of submentum invaginate. Maxillary ducts present and invaginate; gular pores absent. Gular suture not reaching submentum. Frontoclypeal suture present. Eye entire; interocular distance small. Antennal insertion hidden; level at or below midline of eye. Antenna filiform; antennomeres 3 and 4 elongate; antennomeres 7–11 asymmetrical. Tentorial spine present.

Prothorax. Corbiculum absent. Prosternum with anterior portion of procoxal cavity asetose; prosternal process not spinate. Anterior bead of pronotum absent. Hypomeron completely visible in lateral view; apex not extended beyond hind margin of pronotum. Pronotal carina prominent and beaded. Prothoracic angle rounded, not extending well below epipleural line and not to anapleural suture.

Mesoventrite. Mesoventral space (prepectus) present. Mesoventral lines present. Secondary lines present. Mesoventral process paxillate. Median lines absent. Mesepimeron present; length about one-third the full length of anapleural suture. Width of intercoxal process less than that of coxa.

Metaventrite. Metaventrite separate from mesoventrite. Mesocoxae round. Mesocoxal lines arcuate and impunctate; not connected at middle. Setiferous patch present only in male; primary setae present and discal. Premetacoxal lines and descrimen absent; intercoxal plate present. Metepimeral suture impunctate. Metepimeron mostly exposed. Metepimeron without longitudinal line. Metendosternal stem present. Metacoxal process digitate.

Pterothorax. Scutellum visible between elytral bases; width about one third the length of pteronotum; scutellar lines type III. Hind wing present. Elytron with basal and lateral striae present; serrations present but weak.

Abdomen. Hind coxae separate. Submetacoxal space absent; submetacoxal lines impunctate. Two primary setae present on disc of ventrite 1. Abdominal ventrites slightly setose. Brickwall membranes between segments 1–4 present. Paratergites of segments 4 and 6 absent. Spiracle 8 absent. Aedeagal sclerites not tripartite.

Legs. Profemora without ctenidium. Pro- and mesotibiae without 2 basal spines. Mesofemora rounded in cross-section; subapical seta not sclerotised. Tibiae smooth; length of mesotibia greater than tarsus; outer mesotibial spines absent; two inner mesotibial spines present, and subequal with largest one 2 3 greater than the other. Length of mesotarsomere 1 greater than 2. Metatarsi smooth. Empodium bisetose.

Comments. Vickibella is described for the single species Brachynopus apicellus which is separated from other members of Brachynopus by: having the terminal palpomere apical (14-0), prothoracic corbiculum absent (35-0), anterior bead of the pronotum reduced (45-1), mesocoxal lines arcuate (65-1), and metaventral setiferous patch present (68-1) (see Appendix 2). Details about the species can be found in Löbl and Leschen (2003 b). Specimens examined of V. apicella are maintained in the FMNH, MHNG, NHML, and NZAC.

Distribution. New Zealand.

Included Species. Vickibella apicella (Broun, 1880) , new combination.

Etymology. The genus name (gender feminine) is patronymic for Vicki Leschen and combined with the Latin word bellus, meaning pretty, referring to the coloration of the type species.

Figures

Figs. 34–37. Vickibella apicella (after Löbl and Leschen 2003b). 34) Dorsal and lateral habitus (scale bar ¼ 1 mm); 35) left mandible, ventral view; 36) left maxilla, ventral view; 37) labium and mentum, ventral view.