Boreophilia nomensis ( Casey, 1910a )

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, Revision of some types of North American aleocharines (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), with synonymic notes, Zootaxa 353 (1), pp. 1-134 : 81-82

Boreophilia nomensis ( Casey, 1910a)

( Figs. 90–92 in Lohse et al. 1990 (as Boreophilia caseyiana ))

Dinaraea nomensis Casey, 1910a: 96 .

Atheta nomensis: Fenyes, 1920: 227 (as valid species of doubtful systematic position).

Atheta (s. str.) nomensis: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 647 (as valid species).

Atheta (Dinaraea) nomensis: Moore & Legner, 1975: 367 (as valid species).

Dinaraea nomensis: Seevers, 1978: 263 (as valid species).

Boreophilia caseyiana Lohse in Lohse et al., 1990: 160, syn. nov.

Boreophilia nomensis: Lohse in Lohse et al., 1990: 160 (as valid species).

Type material. Lectotype of Dinaraea nomensis (designated by Lohse et al. (1990)): UNITED STATES: Alaska: ♂, Nome ( NMNH).

Holotype of Boreophilia caseyiana : CANADA: Yukon Territory: ♂, North Fork Pass, Ogilvie Mts. , 3500’, 17.vi.1962 (R.E.Leech) ( CNCI).

Diagnosis. See Lohse et al. (1990).

Discussion. Lohse ( Lohse et al. 1990) considered the single type of Din. nomensis in the Casey collection as the holotype. However, Casey (1910a) neither used the word “ holotype ” nor stated that he had the single specimen of that species. Therefore, Lohse designated the lectotype of Din. nomensis by inference of holotype (Article 74.6; ICZN 1999).

Lohse ( Lohse et al. 1990) stated that “the aedeagi of B. caseyiana and B. nomensis are extremely similar”. However, based on a larger body size (3.8 mm versus 3.0 mm) and a less transverse pronotum (width to length ratio 11 /5 versus 11 /3) of the holotype of Boreophilia caseyiana in comparison to the lectotype of Din. nomensis, Lohse considered the two as separate species. The aedeagi of the types of both species, including the sclerites of the internal sac, are in fact identical. According to my measuring, in the holotype of Boreophilia caseyiana the body length is 3.6 mm and pronotal width to length ratio is 1.22. In the lectotype of Din. nomensis the body length is 3.3 mm, and pronotal width to length ratio is 1.29. In Athetini , such difference in body length and pronotal width is not unusual within the same species. Considering the identity of the aedeagi I place Boreophilia caseyiana in synonymy with Boreophilia nomensis .

Distribution. Boreophilia nomensis is known from Alaska and Yukon Territory.

Figures

FIGURES 89–92. Genitalia of Atheta ventricosa Bernhauer (female, Lituya Bay, Alaska (89); male, Baranof Island, Alaska (90–92)). 89 — spermatheca; 90 — apex of median lobe with partially everted internal sac, parameral view; 91 — apex of median lobe with partially everted internal sac, abparameral view; 92 — apex of median lobe with partially everted internal sac, lateral view. Scale bar 0.1 mm (90–92), 0.2 mm (89).