Baraxina lescheni, Hlaváč & Jałoszyński, 2021

Hlaváč, Peter & Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2021, The Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. IV. Revision of the genus Baraxina Raffray, 1896, Zootaxa 4941 (2), pp. 193-216 : 210-211

Baraxina lescheni sp. n.

(Fig. 34)

Material studied. Holotype: ♁: NEW CALEDONIA, with one label: “ NEW CALEDONIA / Prov. Sud, Col d’Amieu / 16.III.2007, R. Leschen / under bark / NC044b, 475 m / 21°33’25’’S / 165°45’11’’E “ [white, printed] ( MNHN) . Paratype: 1 ♀: same data as for holotype ( NZAC) .

Diagnosis. Profemora in males with bent basal spine; antennomeres 9 and 10 each as long as wide; pronotum conspicuously transverse; transverse basal impression of first visible abdominal tergite well-defined, with discal carinae long, reaching basal third of tergite; aedeagus slender, symmetrical, with subtriangular group of small endophallic sclerites just behind truncate apex, and parameres lacking setae.

Description. Body bicoloured, head and pronotum pitchy black, elytra, abdomen, maxillary palpi, antennae and legs reddish-brown. Body length 2.11 mm, maximum width 0.85 mm.

Head 1.08 times as long as wide. External apical margin of maxillary palpomere 2 evenly rounded, not projecting; palpomere 3 subrectangular, external margin rounded; palpomere 4 slender, 0.34 mm long, 4.67 times as long as wide.

Antennae 1.07 mm long, scape 2.31 times as long as pedicel; pedicel only 1.14 times as long as antennomere 3; antennomeres 3, 7 and 9 subequal in length; antennomere 5 long, 1.25 times as long as 6; antennomere 6 equally long as pedicel and 1.14 times as long as 7; antennomeres 9 and 10 each as long as wide; antennomere 10 1.57 times as long as 9; antennomere 11 0.21 mm long, asymmetrical, with basal notch.

Pronotum strongly transverse, 1.45 times as wide as long, 1.13 times as long and 1.40 times as long as head.

Elytra 1.79 times as long as pronotum, 1.23 times as wide as long.

First visible abdominal tergite (IV) with basal impression well-defined, with discal carinae long, reaching basal third of tergite.

Profemora with basal spine bent outwards; protibia in apical fourth with spine.

Aedeagus (Fig. 34) in dorsal view symmetrical, 0.45 mm long, apex of median lobe undivided, truncate; endophallic sclerites conspicuously small, forming transverse subtriangular group just behind aedeagal apex; parameres with rounded apices, lacking setae.

Etymology. Named after Rich Leschen (NZAC), who collected the holotype.

Distribution. New Caledonia, Southern Province.

Remarks. The only known specimen was found under bark.