Ditropandria (Pedandria), Pace, 1991

Hanley, Rodney S., 2003, Generic revision of the staphylinid beetle tribe Hoplandriini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 138 (1), pp. 83-140 : 117-119

SUBGENUS PEDANDRIA PACE (1991) ( FIG. 18 )

Ditropandria (Pedandria) Pace, 1991:301 . Hanley, 2002a:314. Hanley, in press b.

Type species: Ditropandria (Pedandria) absurda Pace (1991) by original designation.

Diagnosis: This subgenus is distinguishable from the other genera of Platandriina by the following combination of characters: body more or less small, 2.2–2.9 mm; eyes average in size, 0.4–0.6 times length of head; apex of galea densely covered with rows of short, fine hairs, giving more or less stubble appearance; labial palps with two articles instead of three, articles 1 + 2 fused; mesosternum with a distinct, heavy ridge with setae; mesocoxal cavities continuous, only partially separated by meso- and metasternal processes; empodial bristle of hind legs slightly shorter than tarsal claws; apices of abdominal terga with typical macrosetae, not large, heavy, black setae; abdominal tergum IX with a distinct crescent-shaped setal pattern; males with secondary sexual features of abdominal tergum VII often with four, small, narrow denticles along midline and tergum VIII with many distinct, setiferous denticles along apical margin.

Description: In agreement with Platandria description, except for the following characters. [1] Lengths of adults 2.2–2.9 mm. [2] Body broadly fusiform to parallel-sided.

Head: [11] Eyes average in size, 0.4–0.6 times length of head. [13] Infraorbital carina more or less strongly developed and incomplete. Antenna ( Fig. 18B ) with [15] articles 1–3 elongate, 1.5–2.3 times longer than wide; [16] segment 4 about as long as wide; [17] articles 5–10 quadrate to short, 1.0–1.2 times wider than long, [18] coeloconical sensilla present in segment 11.

Mouthparts: Labrum with epipharyngeal area with [20] poorly delimited, longitudinal sensory field; [21] pores generally absent between medial pore region and lateral sclerotized. Mandible ( Fig. 18A ) [22] appearing asymmetrical with right with median tooth; [23] apex more or less acute and curved adorally; [24] condylar molar patch small, width less than 1/5 of basal mandibular width, [25] composed of very small denticles, [26] densely arranged in irregular transverse rows; dorsobasal ‘velvety patch’ [28] large, wider than half of mandibular base, generally composed of [29] numerous, very fine hairs or spinules. Maxilla with [32] lacinia more or less acute apically, [33] teeth on adoral margin relatively long, about 5–10 times longer than wide, and [34] more or less closely placed; [37] galea relatively narrow, subequal to narrower as lacinia at widest area, mostly parallel-sided and broadly rounded apically, [38] membranous in apical 1/2–1/3, [39] densely covered with rows of short, fine hairs, giving stubble appearance. Labium with ligula [45] long, subequal in length to combined lengths of labial palpi 1 and 2, [46] slightly broadened apically and [47] bilobed apically with fork about 1/5 length of ligula, [48] with 2 short spines apically and numerous sensory pores on each lobe, and 2 relatively short spines on apical half; [49] two short, medial setae of prementum present, about 0.8 times as long as ligula, [50] insertion of setae nearly adjacent; [54] lateral pore field typically with a single short setose pore, two asetose pores, and numerous, small pseudopores; [55] hypoglossal lobes moderately long, reaching to middle of ligula, [56] with more or less short, about 1.4 times longer than width of lobe, comb-like, straight setae along [57] entire length of adoral margin. Labial palpi [58] elongate, overall length 8–10 times longer than greatest width, with [59] 2 distinct articles, articles 1 and 2 appearing fused, [60] with distal pore field composed of two small pores; [62] articles 1 and 2 appearing fused, apical segment homologous with segment 3. Mentum with [65] apical margin slightly concave.

Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 18C ) [69] about 1.2 times wider than long, [69a] distinctly wider posteriorly than apically or in middle. Setae [72] directed primarily anterolaterally from midline. Elytra ( Fig. 18D ) with [75] apico-lateral angles generally deeply sinuate; [76] elytra together about 1.4 times wider than long. Mesosternum ( Fig. 18E ) [80] with distinct medial ridge with numerous small setae. [83] Meso- and metasternal processes contiguous, with distinct flange present touching apex of metasternal process, isthmus absent; [84] mesosternal process more or less truncate to acute at apex, generally forming to contour of apex of metasternal process. Metasternum [85] length about 0.5 times greatest width of mesocoxae. Macrosetae [89] present on metasternum. Legs with [93] empodial bristle slightly shorter than tarsal claws; [94,95] articles 1–4 subequal in length.

Abdomen: [101] Tergum IX with distinct crescentshaped setal pattern ( Fig. 18G ).

Secondary sexual characteristics: Males somewhat variable, with [108] tergum VII often with four small, narrow denticles along midline ( Fig. 18F ); [109] tergum VIII with distinct longitudinal row of setiferous denticles ( Fig. 18F ).

Aedeagus: ( Fig. 18H ) Bulb of median lobe [110] short, generally shorter than tube, [111] with distinct, straight, ventral projection, [111a] ventral projection not extended away from apex; internal sac [112] with numerous spinules, few distinct scleritites and distinct flagellum; parameres ( Fig. 18I ) [114] with 2 short setae at apex; [115] paramerite anterior margin straight with distinct bend; [117a] apex of paramerite with distinct, straight area directed ventrally.

Spermatheca: ( Fig. 18J ) [118] Generally long and straight, neck [120] typically very long, straight generally with two distinct bends of about 90–120∞; and tube [121] typically membranous, [122] more or less straight.

Habitat: Unknown.

Comments: This subgenus is composed of two species, D. (P.) absurda Pace and D. (P.) ambrensis Pace. Specimens of D. (P.) ambrensis , the type species of the subgenus Pedandria , were determined from Pace (1991). Type specimens of this species were not examined because they were unavailable for loan, even after repeated efforts. The above description is comparable to that of Platandria , while the abbreviated descriptions of the genus Ditropandria and the subgenus Ditropandria s. s. are not.

Figures

Figure 18. Ditropandria (Pedandria) ambrensis Pace. (A) Mandible, ventral view. (B) Antenna. (C) Pronotum. (D) Left elytron. (E) Meso- and metathoracic region. (F) Abdominal tergum VII (male) (arrows to denticles). (G) Abdominal tergum IX. (H) Aedeagus, lateral view. (I) Paramere, lateral view. (J) Spermatheca.