Baraxina aoupinica, 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 : 205

Baraxina aoupinica sp. n.

( Figs 24–25 )

Material studied. Holotype: ♁: NEW CALEDONIA, with one label: “ NEW CALEDONIA / Prov. Nord, L’Aoupinié / 24.III.2007, R. Leschen / rotten wood berlesate / NC076, 800 m / 21°11’S / 165°17’E “ [white, printed] ( MNHN) . Paratypes (4 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀): 3 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀: same data as for holotype ( NZAC, MNHW, PCPH); 1 ♁: one label: “ NEW CALEDONIA 9926 / 21°11’S / 165°19’E, 850 m / Aoupinié / 20 Nov 2000, G.B.Monteith / Pyrethrum, trunks & logs“ [white, printed] ( QMBA) .

Diagnosis. Profemora in male with straight basal spine; antennomere 9 clearly transverse, about 1.42 times as wide as long; antennomere 10 as long as wide; transverse basal impression of first visible abdominal tergite poorly defined, lacking discal carinae; aedeagus with four groups of strongly elongate endophallic sclerites: two lateral, one large median proximal, and one small median distal, all situated in submedian region; each paramere with one apical and one subapical seta.

Description. Body bicoloured, head and pronotum pitchy black, elytra and abdomen reddish-brown, in some specimens elytra lighter than abdomen; maxillary palpi, antennae and legs same colour as elytra. Body length 1.80–1.90 mm, maximum width 0.70–0.85 mm.

Head about 1.0–1.1 times as wide as long. External apical margin of maxillary palpomere 2 with prominent round projection; palpomere 3 subrectangular, external margin rounded; palpomere 4 stout and short, 0.25 mm long, about 3.4–3.5 times as long as wide.

Antennae 1.00 mm long, scape about 2.6 times as long as pedicel; pedicel 1.15 times as long as antennomere 3; antennomeres 3, 4 and 9 subequal in length; antennomeres 2, 4 and 7 subequal in length; antennomere 5 short, 1.29 times as long as 6; antennomere 7 as long as 6, about 1.4 times as long as 8; antennomere 9 transverse, 1.42 times as long as wide; antennomere 10 as long as wide and 1.65 times as long as 9, with apical tubercle on ventral side; antennomere 11 0.21 mm long, asymmetrical, with basal notch.

Pronotum 1.10–1.15 times as wide as long, 1.05–1.15 times as long and 1.20–1.25 times as wide as head.

Elytra 1.35–1.52 times as long as pronotum, 1.20–1.40 times as wide as long.

First visible abdominal tergite (IV) with weakly-defined or absent basal impression, lacking discal carinae.

Profemora with straight sharp basal spine, protibiae in apical fourth with spine.

Aedeagus ( Figs 24–25 ) in dorsal view symmetrical, 0.47 mm long, apex of median lobe undivided; endophallus with four groups of long sclerites: one distal median group, two lateral groups, and one median proximal group, all situated in submedian region; parameres with narrowed, subtriangular apices curved mesad, each with one apical and one subapical seta.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, L’Aoupinié, located in the central region of La Grand Terre.

Distribution. New Caledonia, Northern Province.

Remarks. The majority of studied specimens were collected by sifting rotten wood; one specimen was taken from trunks and logs sprayed with pyrethrum.

Figures

FIGURES 17–30. Aedeagus in dorsal (17, 18, 20, 22–24, 26–29) and lateral (19, 21, 25, 30) views. Baraxina francoisi Raffray (17); B. amieuana sp. n. (18–19); B. grimbacheri sp. n. (20–21); B. kanakorum sp. n. (22); B. rutai sp. n. (23); B. aoupinica sp. n. (24–25); B. asymmetrica sp. n. (26); B. burwelli sp. n. (27); B. dzumacana sp. n. (28); B. jenisi sp. n. (29–30).