Neuraphomimus Franz

Jałoszyński, Paweł, 2013, Taxonomy of ' Euconnus complex'. Part II. Revision of Archiconnus Franz, Parapseudoconnus Franz and Mexiconnus gen. nov. (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae), Zootaxa 3666 (4), pp. 523-543 : 540

Subgenus Neuraphomimus Franz

Neuraphomimus Franz : 1986: 44 (replacement name for Pseudoconnus Franz, 1980 ). Pseudoconnus Franz, 1980: 216 (preoccupied, nec Leleup, 1971). Type species: Pseudoconnus simulator Franz, 1980 (original designation).

Vetusteconnus Franz, 1993: 101 (unnecessary replacement name for Pseudoconnus Franz ).

Revised diagnosis. A subgenus of Parapseudoconnus showing the following differences in relation to Parapseudoconnus s. str.: prothoracic hypomeral ridges complete; anterior margins of mesocoxal cavities distinctly demarcated by carina; mesocoxal sockets located on mesal surface of mesocoxal projections and therefore not visible in ventral view; posterior lobes of mesocoxal projections absent; and the internal armature of the aedeagus with long and slender flagellum projecting distally beyond the median lobe.

Redescription. Body of male (Fig. 45) strongly convex, elongate and relatively slender, with long appendages, vestiture distinct but unremarkable.

Head (Fig. 42) as in Parapseudoconnus s. str., without important differences.

Prothorax ( Fig. 33 ) differs from that of Parapseudoconnus s. str. in ventral structures: internal parts of hypomera demarcated laterally by complete hypomeral ridges ( Fig. 33 ; hyr), and pronotosternal sutures ( Fig. 33 ; nss) strongly curved laterally, so that the basisternal part of prosternum is expanded laterally.

Mesoventrite ( Fig. 33 ) as in Parapseudoconnus s. str., except for indistinctly demarcated asetose impressions ( Fig. 34 ; ai), presence of distinct carinae demarcating antrerior margins of mesocoxal cavities ( Fig. 34 ; mscc), and mesocoxal projections ( Fig. 34 ; mcp), which conceal mesocoxal sockets ( Fig. 34 ; mscs) located on their mesal margins; posterior lobes of mesocoxal projections absent.

Metaventrite ( Fig. 34 ) as in Parapseudoconnus s. str., except for broader metaventral intercoxal process ( Fig. 34 : mtvp).

Elytra (Fig. 45) as in Parapseudoconnus s. str.

Legs ( Figs. 21 , 33–34 ) long; femora clavate, tibiae slender, tarsi moderately elongate.

Abdominal sternites in the only studied specimen not preserved.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 35–36 ) partly damaged or distorted in studied specimens, so the shape of its distal part is not possible to describe, with thin walls and complex, asymmetrical internal armature composed of a system of irregular sclerites, with long flagellum projecting distally beyond median lobe.

Distribution and composition. Three species are known to occur in the northern part of Peru.

Remarks. Specimens of Parapseudoconnus belonging to Neuraphomimus are poorly preserved in NHMW and only the male of P. simulator is nearly intact, while the type specimens of the remaining two species are partly or nearly completely damaged. The aedeagi, partly damaged or distorted during previous studies, are fragile and they were remounted only to ensure their safety and visibility in the mounting medium (previously the aedeagi were mounted in such a way that they were barely visible), as described in the Materials and Methods section. No attempts were made to obtain preparations with the aedeagi in a perfectly dorsal or ventral position, which would have required additional manipulations and might have caused further damage. Therefore, the aedeagi are here illustrated as they are embedded, not necessarily in dorsal or lateral aspects. In order to identify new specimens their aedeagi must be studied in various positions to carefully examine the shape of internal armature and compare it with that showed in Figs. 35–36 and in Franz (1980; Fig. 205).

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 36. Morphology of Parapseudoconnus (Neuraphomimus) simulator Franz (32 – 35) and Parapseudoconnus (Neuraphomimus) fraudulentus Franz (36), holotype males. Head in ventral view (32); prothorax in ventral view (33); pterothorax in ventral view (34); aedeagus of holotype (35 – 36) in ventral or dorsal view (see Material and Methods). Abbreviations: ai, asetose impression; ar, anterior ridge; bs, basisternal part of prosternum; cd, cardo; gal, galea; gen, gena; gp, gular plate; gs, gular suture; fo, foramen occipitale; h, hypostoma; hr, hypostomal ridge; hy, hypomeron; hyr, hypomeral ridge; lac, lacinia; lp, labial palp; lmfa, lateral arm of metafurca; mcp, mesocoxal projection; md, mandible; mn, mentum; mscc, mesocoxal cavity; mscs, mesocoxal socket; mst, mesostipes; msvp, mesoventral intercoxal process; mtvp, metaventral intercoxal process; mxp, maxillary palp; nr, nss, pronotosternal suture; occ, occipital constriction; par, projection of anterior ridge; pc, prosternal intercoxal carina; pcc, procoxal cavity; pcs, procoxal socket; pf, profurca; pff, profurcal fovea; ppf, palpifer; pre, prepectus; ptp, posterior tentorial pit; smn, submentum; vIII, metaventrite; vlf, ventro-lateral fovea.

FIGURES 19 – 21. Parapseudoconnus (s. str.) aberrans Franz (19 – 20) and Parapseudoconnus (Neuraphomimus) simulator Franz (21). Dorsal habitus of male holotype (19, 21) and female paratype (20).