Atheta tenebrarum, Assing, 2006

Assing, V., 2006, Three new species of Staphylinidae from Spain, with a new synonymy (Insecta: Coleoptera), Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (2), pp. 1129-1137 : 1129-1137

Atheta tenebrarum nov.sp. ( Figs 22-33 ; Map 1 )

Holotype 3: E - Jaén, La Iruela, Cueva Secreta del Sagreo , 18.III.2006, leg. GEV / Holotypus 3 Atheta tenebrarum sp.n. det. V. Assing 2006 (cAss). Paratypes: 233, 1♀: same data as holotype (cAss).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Species of moderately large size, 3.8-4.2 mm; facies as in Fig. 22 . Coloration: head dark brown; pronotum reddish brown; elytra yellowish to yellowish brown; abdomen reddish brown, with the preapical segments somewhat infuscate; legs yellowish; antennae dark brown, with the basal 3-4 antennomeres yellowish.

Head slightly wider than long; eyes of normal size ( Fig. 24 ), approximately as long as postocular region in dorsal view, or slightly longer; postgenae finely carinate ventrally; integument with distinct microreticulation; puncturation rather dense and fine, barely visible in the microsculpture ( Fig. 23 ). Antennae slender; antennomere III slightly longer than II, IV weakly oblong, V-IX approximately as long as wide, X weakly transverse, and XI approximately as long as the combined length of IX-X or slightly longer ( Fig. 25 ).

Pronotum approximately 1.3 times as wide as head and 1.35 times as wide as long; maximal width a short distance anterior to middle; posterior angles obtuse, weakly marked; puncturation and microreticulation similar to those of head ( Fig. 23 ); pubescence directed cephalad in anterior 1/4 of midline, caudad in posterior 3/4, and diagonally latero-caudad in lateral area; marginal setae short, slightly shorter than maximal width of antennomere III.

Elytra about 1.25 times as wide and at suture almost as long as pronotum; microsculpture and puncturation similar to those of head and pronotum; pubescence short and depressed ( Fig. 23 ). Hind wings fully developed. Tibiae without long prominent setae.

Abdomen slightly narrower than elytra, widest at segments IV/ V ( Fig. 22 ); tergal surfaces with fine transverse microscupture everywhere; puncturation relatively sparse and very fine, barely noticeable; pubescence dark and depressed.

3: posterior margin of tergite VIII weakly concave and weakly serrate ( Fig. 26 ), that of sternite VIII convex ( Fig. 27 ); median lobe of aedeagus of highly distinctive shape ( Fig. 28-30 ).

♀: posterior margin of tergite VIII in the middle weakly concave ( Fig. 31 ), that of sternite VIII broadly convex and with long thin marginal setae ( Fig. 32 ); spermatheca as in Fig. 33 .

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E t y m o l o g y: The name (Lat.: noun, genitive: of the darkness) alludes to the fact that this species was discovered in a cave.

C o m p a r a t i v e n o t e s: Atheta tenebrarum is distinguished from all its congeners especially by the highly distinctive morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus and also by the shape of the spermatheca. Based on external morphology (pronotal pubescence pattern, chaetotaxy) and on the primary and secondary sexual characters, the new species is closely related to A. trinotata (KRAATZ) , A. hybrida SHARP , and allied species, its closest relative being A. hybrida , as is suggested particularly by the similar internal structures and shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus. From both A. trinotata and A. hybrida , it is separated also by the longer antennae, the relatively larger eyes, the paler and broader pronotum, the uniformly yellowish elytra, the different coloration of the abdomen (in A. trinotata and A. hybrida almost uniformly blackish), and by the secondary sexual characters.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d b i o n o m i c s: The species is currently known only from one cave near La Iruela in the Sierra de Cazorla, eastern Jaén province (altitude: slightly less than 1200 m). The Staphylinidae from this cave were collected using various methods, so that the particular circumstances, under which the four type specimens of A. tenebrarum were found, are unknown ( BAENA, pers. comm.).

Figures

Map 1: Distributions of Phloeocharis baenai nov.sp. (open circle), Geostiba jaenica nov.sp. (filled circles), and Atheta tenebrarum nov.sp. (square) in southern Spain.

Figs 22-33: Atheta tenebrarum nov.sp.: (22) habitus; (23) forebody; (24) head in lateral view; (25) antenna; (26) 3 tergite VIII; (27) posterior margin of 3 sternite VIII; (28-30) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view; (31) ♀ tergite VIII; (32) ♀ sternite VIII; (33) spermatheca. Scales: 22-23: 1.0 mm; 24-27, 31-32: 0.5 mm; 28-30, 33: 0.2 mm.