Philonthus floresi, Chani-Posse, 2010

Chani-Posse, Mariana, 2010, Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) 2595, Zootaxa 2595, pp. 1-70 : 31-32

Philonthus floresi sp. nov

( Figs. 72–75, 148)

Diagnosis. Philonthus floresi may be identified by the head narrower than pronotum, the eyes about as long as temples, and the distance separating medial interocular punctures less than twice as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures. It differs from other southern South American species of Philonthus by the antennal segments 8 to 10 transverse, and the dorsal rows of pronotum each with four punctures.

Description. Length of the body 7.0– 7.5 mm. Coloration. Head black; thorax castaneous- brunneous, elytra and abdominal segments castaneous-piceous; antennae castaneous-piceous, palpi and legs castaneousbrunneous.

Head slightly wider than long (HW/HL= 1.1) and at basal third as wide as distal third in both sexes, narrower than pronotum (HW/PW= 0.8); dorsal surface coarsely and moderately punctate, with three to four postocular punctures and three to four epicranial punctures; distance separating medial interocular punctures on frons less than twice as large as distance separating medial punctures from lateral punctures; infraorbital ridge present, extending not far beyond postgenal ridge. Eyes about as long as temples (EL/TL= 0.9) seen from above. Antennae with segment 1 slightly shorter than segments 2 and 3 combined, segment 2 and segment 3 subequal in length, segment 4 elongate, segment 5–7 quadrate, segments 8–10 transverse. Maxillary palpus with segment 2 not swollen, no more than twice as long as its maximum width; last segment fusiform, about 1.5 times longer than segment 3. Submentum and mentum subequal in length. Labial palpus with last segment 1.4–1.8 times as long as preceding segment. Neck more than 0.5 times as wide as head at widest point (NW/HW= 0.6).

Pronotum slightly longer than wide (PW/PL= 0.9), slightly narrowed anteriad; dorsal surface of pronotum with two rows of punctures, each with four punctures. Hypomeron not visible in lateral view. Basisternum with medial longitudinal carina moderately developed, bulbous. Metasternum with circum-mesocoxal ridge broadly rounded medially. Elytra at sides moderately to distinctly longer than pronotum at midline (EtL/ PL=1.4–1.2), distinctly longer than elytra along suture (EtL/Etl= 1.8–1.6); transverse distance between punctures distinctly larger than diameters of punctures. Both front and middle tarsi as long as front and middle tibiae; first segment of hind tarsus as long as segments 2 and 3 combined, and about as long as last segment (S1/S5= 1.15–1.00). Abdominal terga moderately punctuate at basal area, distance separating punctures about equal to diameters of punctures; terga 2 and 3 with elevated area between basal lines punctuate, posterior basal line straight medially. Male sternum 7 with apical margin straight. Tergum 8 in both sexes with posterior margin arcuate.

Male genitalia. Sternum 8 deeply emarginate medio-apically. Tergum 10 emarginate medio-apically, with two long subapical macrosetae and 2–6 apical setae ( Fig. 72). Sternum 9 moderately emarginate apically, with one long subapical macroseta and two apical setae at each side. Aedeagus with median lobe distinctly narrowed apically; apex of median lobe subacute (in dorsal view) and simple in its apical fourth (in lateral view); paramere elongate and entire, leaf-like, almost reaching apex of median lobe, with two lateral rows of sensory peg setae joined apically ( Figs. 73–74). Internal sac with distinctly sclerotized structures ( Figs. 73– 74).

Female genitalia. Tergum 10 similar to that of male but deeply emarginate medio-apically, with two long subapical macrosetae and 3 apical setae at each side of emargination. Second gonocoxite without stylus, with 2 strong setae along its outer margin and two apical setae ( Fig. 75).

Geographical distribution. Philonthus floresi is currently known from northwestern Argentina (Tucumán, Jujuy) ( Fig. 148).

Bionomics. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to my advisor, Dr. Gustavo Flores.

Type material. Holotype ♂, with labels: “ ARGENTINA / Tucumán / 16.XII.1928 ”, “2139”, “ Philonthus longicornis Steph (det. Bruch)”, “ Holotype Philonthus floresi Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ” ( MACN) . Paratypes: ♂, with labels: “ Jujuy: Termas de Reyes , December 27, 1971, Lee Herman”, “ Paratype Philonthus floresi Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ” ( IADIZA). Other two male individuals, with labels: “ Villa Nougués , Dec. 11, 1971, L. Herman ” “ Paratype Philonthus floresi Chani-Posse de Maus 2009 ” ( AMNH) .

Additional material: ARGENTINA: Tucumán: Siambon , VII. 1933, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MACN) .