Baeocera basalis, Lobl, 2015

Löbl, Ivan, 2015, On the Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Revue suisse de Zoologie 122 (1), pp. 75-120 : 79-81

Baeocera basalis sp. nov.

Figs 14-19

Holotype: MHNG; ♂; Indonesia, Bali Mt. Agung above Besakih Temple , 1000-1100 m, 31.X.-1.XI.91, I. Löbl for.floor litter.

Paratypes: MHNG; 3 ♂, 1 ♀; with the same data as the holotype . – MHNG; 5 ♂, 7 ♀; Lombok Batu Koq (N of G. Rinjani) 500 m sec. forest in gorge D. Agosti 12.03.1991. – MHNG; 3 ♂; Lombok Mt. Rinjani , ca 400 m nr. Waterfalls, 5.XI.91 Löbl, veg.debris nr.river. – MHNG; 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Lombok Gn. Rinjani 1000 m (winkler) D. Agosti F91562 . – MHNG; 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Lombok Pusuk Pass , 300 m 3.XI.1991, I. Löbl degr. forest leaf litter. – 1 ♂; Lombok Mt. Rinjani above Senaro, 900- 1100 m 6.XI.1991, I. Löbl forest floor litter. – MHNG; 1 ♂; Lombok Batu Koq (N of G. Rinjani) 500 m sec. forest in gorge D. Agosti 12.03.1991.

Etymology: The species epithet is a Latin adjective meaning basal.

Description: Length 1.15-1.42 mm, width 0.79- 0.95 mm. Body strongly convex, without obvious microsculpture. Head and body very dark reddish-brown to blackish, appendages and apex of abdomen lighter than body. Length/width ratio of antennomeres as follows: III 25/7: IV 29/6: V 34/6: VI 30/6: VII 37/8: VIII 30/7: IX 35/11: X 35/12: XI 40/15. Lateral contours of pronotum and elytra continuously arcuate. Pronotum with hardly visible punctation and setation (100x magnification), lateral margins convex, anterior margin broad, basal lobe well developed; lateral pronotal carinae concealed in dorsal view. Tip of scutellum exposed. Elytra fairly strongly narrowed apically, not covering abdominal apex, lateral margin carinae concealed or hardly visible near base in dorsal view, sutural striae shallow, curved at bases to form basal striae abruptly ending about at mid-width of elytra; adsutural areas somewhat convex, parallel, very finely punctate. Discal punctation very fine near basal margins and along lateral striae, fairly coarse about up to apical fourth, with punctures well delimited, puncture intervals about twice to four times as large as puncture diameters, becoming finer toward apices but still distinct near apical margins. Epipleural striae entire, punctate, supraepipleural areas each with puncture row. Hind wings well developed. Hypomera impunctate, smooth. Mesoventral suture indistinct, mesoventrite punctate, lacking median ridge. Mesepimera about three times as long as wide and about twice as long as interval to metacoxae. Median part of metaventrite convex, smooth in middle, coarsely punctate around smooth centre. Entire lateral parts of metaventrite coarsely punctate, in particular near anterior margins, with punctures well delimited, mostly round, some punctures larges than puncture intervals. Submesocoxal lines arcuate, with marginal punctures not extending laterally, submesocoxal areas about 0.03 mm long, about as third of interval to metacoxae. Metanepisterna fused to metaventrite, suture indicated by not impressed outer row of coarse punctures. Tibiae straight. Sternite 1 with basal puncture row uninterrupted in middle, lateral punctures elongate, not separated by wrinkles, finely but distinctly punctate posterior basal punctures.

Male: Protarsomeres slightly widened. Aedeagus (Figs 14-18) 0.30-0.34 mm long, moderately sclerotized. Median lobe symmetrical, with basal bulb large, longer than apical process, latter tapering, weakly inflexed, with acute tip and slightly concave ventral side (lateral view). Articular process moderately large. Parameres slightly bent posterior basal fourth and almost straight and evenly wide in lateral view, slightly narrowed and curved in apical halves in dorsal view. Internal sac with curved, almost evenly wide flagellum, flagellar guide-sclerite narrow, hook-like at base and blunt at apex, accessory sclerites absent, scale-like membranose structures extremely fine and hardly visible.

Female: Ovipositor (Fig. 19) with distal gonocoxite long, narrowed apically, parallel-sided in apical section, bearing long apical seta, gonostyle absent.

Distribution: Indonesia: Bali, Lombok.

Type locality: Bali, Mt. Agung above Besakih Temple, 1000-1100 m.

Comments: This species is a member of the B. lenta group. Its aedeagal characters suggest relationship with B. louisi Löbl, 2012 from Luzon. The new species may be easily distinguished by the elytral punctation and sutural striae abruptly ending at elytral mid-width.