Lithocharodes fuscipennis Sharp, 1876

Busanello, Dilson G. C. & Caron, Edilson, 2019, Redescription of the Type Species of Lithocharodes Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Xantholinini), with Remarks on the Genus, The Coleopterists Bulletin 73 (3), pp. 591-598 : 592-598

Lithocharodes fuscipennis Sharp, 1876 ( Figs. 1–23 )

Lithocharodes fuscipennis Sharp 1876: 205 (original description) [Type locality: “Tapajos” ( Sharp 1876)], 1885: 492 (distribution); Lynch 1884: 194 (characters, distribution); Bernhauer and Schubert 1914: 296 (catalog); Herman 2001: 3695 (catalog).

Type Material. The holotype is deposited in the British Museum of Natural History , London , UK (Ulrich Irmler, University of Kiel, Germany, personal communication) .

Material Examined. Male, dissected, labels: (1) “Brasil, Pará, Uruará\Mata, II-III-2015,\Inverno, Serapilheira,\Reinaldo, Wully, Idielson,\col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 male and 1 female, female dissected, same labels: (1) “ Brasil, Pará, Uruará\Pastagem, II-III-2015,\Inverno, Pitfall /sem iscas,\Reinaldo, Wully, Idielson,\col.” [white label, printed in black]. Female, labels: (1) “Brasil, Pará, Uruará\Mata, II-III-2015,\Inverno, Serapilheira,\Reinaldo, Wully, Lucas,\ Sidi, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 4 males and 1 female, 1 male dissected, same labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina\Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 18- II-2014 \Cord~ ao Vegetal CA-1\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina\Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 11-II-2014 \Soja- 5m MA-4\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina \ Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 18-II- 2014 \50,5m CA-5\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina \ Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 18-II-2014 \50,5m CA-5\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina \ Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 18-II- 2014 \50,5m CR-4\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, PR [Paraná], Londrina \ Fazenda Escola - UEL\ 18-II-2014 \50,5m MA-2\ T. H.C. Dias, col.” [white label, printed in black]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica \INTA-Terraço, Feij ~ ao de p. 4A\16/ VI/ 13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Feij~ ao de p. 4-A\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02-1” [handwritten]. 1 male, dissected, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Feij~ ao de p. 4B\16/ VI/ 13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Feij~ ao de p. 4-B\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 male, dissected, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Batata/Pit 16B\15/VII/ 14\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Batata/Pit 16-B\Data: 15/07/14” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.4” [handwritten]. 1 male, dissected, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 1B\18/VII/ 13\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 female, dissected, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget Espo 2B\24/ V/ 13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget Espo 2B\Data: 24/ 5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Batata/Pit 12B\20/ VI/ 14 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Batata/Pit 12-B\Data: 20 05 14” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 2 sex not determined, same labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 8A\06/ V/14 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “ST0.16” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 8A\06/ V/14 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crotalária 8A\Data: 6/5/14” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST0.16” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Batata/Pit 12A\20/ V/14 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Batata/Pit 12A\Data: 20/5/14” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.4” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 1A\16/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crotalária 1- A\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Feij~ ao de p. 10A\16/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Feij~ ao de p. 10-A\Data: 16/05/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Feij~ ao de p. 19B\16/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Feij~ ao de p. 19-B\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Feij~ ao de p. 4B\20/ VI/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Feij~ ao de p. 4B\Data: 20/6/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Feij~ ao+mil. 20B\20/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\ Feij~ ao+mil 20B\Data: 20/6/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget.Espo 2A\06/ V/14 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget. Espo. 2A\Data: 06/05/14” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget.Espo 2A\16/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget. Espo. 2A\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget.Espo 2A\18/VII/13\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget. Espo 2A\Data: 18/7/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget.Espo 18B\24/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget. Espo. 18B\Data: 24/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Veget.Espo 2B\09/VIII/13\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Veget. Espo 2B\Data: 9/8/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crot+ milho 3B\12/VII/13\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crot.+milho 3B\Data: 12/7/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crot+ milho 5B\16/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crot.+milho 5B\Data: 16/5/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 8B\20/ V/13 \ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crotalária 8B\Data: 20/6/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02” [handwritten]. 1 sex not determined, labels: (1) “ BRASIL, RJ [Rio de Janeiro], Seropédica\INTA-Terraço, Crotalária 1B\18/VII/13\ M.P. Ricalde, col.” [white label, printed in black]; (2) “INTA-Terraço\Crotalária 1B\Data: 18/7/13” [white label, printed in black and handwritten]; (3) “ST02.1” [handwritten] .

Diagnosis. Lithocharodes fuscipennis differs from its congeners by the specific color of the elytra, which are dark brown to black with the apical quarter conspicuously lighter, except on the elytral suture. It can be recognized also by the dispersed and fine punctures on the head and pronotum ( Fig. 1 ); male tergite VIII with posterior margin slightly emarginated medially ( Fig. 11 ), truncate in the female ( Fig. 14 ); and male sternite VIII with posterior margin broadly rounded to truncate ( Fig. 12 ), rounded in female ( Fig. 15 ).

Redescription. Maximum body length = 5.5 mm; maximum elytral width = 0.7 mm. Body elongate, parallel-sided. Dorsal surface glossy; body light brown to reddish brown, elytra dark brown to black with apical quarter conspicuously paler except on elytral suture, abdominal segments VII and VIII darker, legs paler; some specimens with apical half of head and apical half of pronotum darker, similar to elytra and abdominal segments VII and VIII. Head and pronotum with impunctate longitudinal medial line ( Fig. 1 ).

Male. Head: Rectangular, 1.5 times longer than wide, basal half slightly wider; eyes somewhat prominent, 0.4 times length of temples; neck 1/3 basal width of head ( Fig. 1 ). Antennae short, not reaching middle of pronotum; dense pubescence on antennomeres 5–11, increasing towards apex; scape, pedicel, and antennomere 3 somewhat conical; scape longest, as long as five subsequent antennomeres combined; pedicel and antennomere 3 subequal in length; antennomeres 4–10 transverse, increasing in width toward apex; antennomere 11 slightly longer than wide, as long as 2 preceding antennomeres combined ( Fig. 2 ). Labrum convex and short, anterior margin deeply emarginated, with long setae ( Fig. 3 ). Mandibles short and robust; internal margin asymmetrical, right mandible with 3 teeth, left mandible with 2 teeth; both with deep lateral groove ( Fig. 5 ). Maxilla with galea shorter than lacinia; maxillary palpus with palpomere 1 shorter, as long as wide; palpomere 2 slightly longer than wide; palpomere 3 longest, 1.7 times longer than wide; palpomere 4 pointed, 0.8 times length of palpomere 3, 0.6 times apical width of palpomere 3 ( Fig. 4 ). Labium with mentum very short and transverse, 3.5 times wider than long; labial palpomere 1 shortest, 0.7 times length of palpomere 2; palpomere 2 longest; palpomere 3 0.5 times width of palpomere 2 ( Fig. 6 ). Gular sutures contiguous. Thorax: Pronotum rectangular, 1.5 times longer than greatest width; apical 3/4 wider; angles rounded; superior line of hypomera very fine, fading out at 2/3–5/6 posteriorly, slightly deflected to ventral surface at level of procoxa and not joining inferior line. Elytra 2.0 times longer than wide; slightly shorter than pronotum ( Fig. 1 ). Hind wings well-developed. Tibia with apical ctenidium, protibia with additional 4 subapical ctenidia ( Fig. 7 ), meso- and metatibiae with additional 2 subapical ctenidia, basalmost reduced ( Figs. 8–9 ). Tarsus simple, not dilated, tarsomere 5 longest, as long as 2 preceding tarsomeres combined; protarsomeres 1–4 more robust compared to meso- and metatarsomeres 1–4 and decreasing slightly in length to apex; mesotarsomere 1 2 times longer than mesotarsomere 2, mesotarsomeres 2–4 decreasing slightly in length to apex; metatarsomeres 1–4 decreasing slightly in length to apex. Tarsal formula 5-5-5. Abdomen: Segments III–VI transverse, gradually widening to apex ( Fig. 1 ); tergite VII subquadrate; sternite VII transverse; tergite VIII longer than wide, posterior margin slightly emarginated medially ( Fig. 11 ); sternite VIII longer than wide, posterior margin broadly rounded to truncate ( Fig.12 ); tergite IX almost completely divided longitudinally, connected only on anterior margin ( Fig. 13 ); sternite IX 2.5 times longer than wide; tergite X longer than wide, posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 13 ). Aedeagus: Parameres developed and bifurcated ( Figs. 20–23 ); median lobe formed by 2 plates, 1 dorsal and 1 ventral, the largest, which extends to the dorsal face, slightly enveloping the dorsal plate ( Fig. 17–18 ); internal sac with longitudinal rows of spicules ( Fig. 19 ).

Female. Similar to male, except tergite VIII with posterior margin truncate ( Fig. 14 ); sternite VIII with posterior margin rounded ( Fig. 15 ); tergite IX and X fused ( Fig. 16 ); sternite IX a single plate, extended at base, and anterior margin emarginated medially.

Distribution. The species was originally described from Pará (northern Brazil) ( Sharp 1876). Subsequently, it was recorded in Amazonas ( Brazil), Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Argentina ( Lynch 1884; Sharp 1885; Newton 2019). Here we extended its distribution in Brazil to the southeast (Rio de Janeiro) and south (Paraná).

Biological Notes. The species has Xantholinus - like habits. It can be found in manure and under rocks and leaves and frequents all kinds of plant detritus. It is a slow runner, barely lifting its abdomen, and never rolls up in a volute shape ( Lynch 1884).

Taxonomic Notes on the Genus. All characteristics listed by Smetana (1982) for the genus are corroborated, except for the following: 1) Base of apical palpomere of maxillary palpus 2/3 width of apex of palpomere 3 in L. fuscipennis ; 2) Apical palpomere of maxillary palpus slightly shorter than palpomere 3, about 0.8 times in L. fuscipennis (listed by Smetana only in the key); 3) Superior line of hypomera fading out at 2/3–5/6 posteriorly and slightly deflected to ventral surface at level of procoxa, but not joining inferior line; 4) Punctures on apical portion of scutellum may have long setae in L. fuscipennis (up to five long setae were observed); 5) Tarsomere 5 as long as two preceding tarsomeres combined in L. fuscipennis ; 6) Mesotarsomere 1 two times longer than mesotarsomere 2 in L. fuscipennis .

Diagnosis of the Genus. Lithocharodes differs from Metolinus , Neoxantholinus , Stenistoderus , and Zeteotomus by the apical maxillary palpomere slightly shorter than palpomere 3; from Xantholinus and Leptacinus by one or two subapical ctenidia on the meso- and metatibiae (except for Lithocharodes longicollis LeConte, 1863 and Lithocharodes densus Smetana, 1982 ) and the developed and bifurcated parameres; and from Somoleptus by the pronotum widest across anterior third, with rounded and distinct anterior angles (Bordoni 1982; Smetana 1982; Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002; Zhou and Zhou 2011). Lithocharodes differs from Lissohypnus by the apical maxillary palpomere slightly shorter than palpomere 3, and from Neohypnus by the metatibia with subapical and apical ctenidia ( Smetana 1982; Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002).

Figures

Fig. 1. Lithocharodes fuscipennis, male dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 2 mm.

Figs. 2–10. Lithocharodes fuscipennis, male. 2) Antenna; 3) Labrum, dorsal view; 4) Maxilla, dorsal view; 5) Mandibles, dorsal and ventral view; 6) Labium, ventral view; 7) Protibia; 8) Mesotibia; 9) Metatibia; 10) Internal sac everted. Scale bars = 100 µm.

Figs. 11–19. Lithocharodes fuscipennis. 11) Male tergite VIII, dorsal view; 12) Male sternite VIII, dorsal view; 13) Male tergites IX and X, dorsal view; 14) Female tergite VIII, dorsal view; 15) Female sternite VIII, dorsal view; 16) Female tergites IX and X, dorsal view; 17–19) Aedeagus, dorsal, lateral, and ventral views, respectively. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figs. 20–23. Lithocharodes fuscipennis. 20–21) Aedeagus, ventral and dorsal views, respectively; 22–23) Apex of aedeagus, ventral and lateral views, respectively. A = ventral arm; B = dorsal arm; C = dorsal ring; D = ventral projections; E = membranous area. Scale bars: Figs. 20–21 = 0.5 mm; Figs. 22–23 = 0.2 mm.