Liogluta vasta (Mӓklin, 1853)

Klimaszewski, Jan, Webster, Reginald P., Langor, David W., Sikes, Derek, Bourdon, Caroline, Godin, Benoit & Ernst, Crystal, 2016, A review of Canadian and Alaskan species of the genus Liogluta Thomson, and descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), ZooKeys 573, pp. 217-256 : 228

Liogluta vasta (Mӓklin, 1853) Figs 30-34

Homalota vasta Mӓklin, 1853: 183. As Atheta (Liogluta) : Moore and Legner 1975: 376; as Liogluta : Lohse and Smetana 1985: 297, Gusarov 2003a: 39. Lectotype (female): USA, Alaska: Sitka; Holmberg; Mus. Zool. H:fors, Spec. Typ. No. 2251, Homalota vasta Mӓkl.; Mus. Zool. Helsinki, Loan No. C98-138; Paralectotypus Homalota vasta Mӓklin, Lohse des. 1985, Gusarov rev. 2000; http://id.luomus.fi/GAC. 16963, UNITED STATES Alaska, Sitka, 57.1483N, 135.23W, Holmberg leg. Examined. We have added a new lectotype label (see discussion below) [there was no original label designated by Lohse]. Paralectotype (female): USA, Alaska: Sitka; Holmberg; Homalota vasta m. Sitkcha [Sitka]; Mus. Zool. Typ. No. 2250, Homalota vasta Mӓkl.; typus; Mus. Zool. Helsinki, Loan No. C 14527; Mus. Zool. Helsinki, Loan No. C 98; Lectotypus Homalota vasta Mӓklin, Lohse des. 1985, Gusarov rev. 2000; http://id.luomus.fi/GAC. 16962, UNITED STATES Alaska, Sitka, 57.1483N, 135.23W, Holmberg leg. Examined. We have added a new Paralectotype label (see discussion below) [there was no original label designated by Lohse].

Diagnosis

(based on female lectotype, male unknown). This species is very similar to Liogluta wickhami , but in Liogluta vasta the forebody is less reddish, and the pronotum is more trapezoidal and narrowest at base (Fig. 30); the apical margin of tergite VIII is broadly arcuate with the antecostal suture very narrowly separated from the basal margin (Fig. 32); the apical margin of sternite VIII is slightly, very broadly emarginate with the antecostal suture highly sinuate and well separated from the basal margin (Fig. 33).

The female lectotype is missing the spermatheca. The spermatheca of the Yukon specimen in CNC cited by Lohse and Smetana (1985), tentatively identified as belonging to this species, is illustrated in Fig. 34 (after Lohse and Smetana 1985). Males and more females from the type locality are needed to clearly define this species, which is here tentatively listed as a valid species. When more specimens of Liogluta vasta become available for study and the morphological variation is known, we will be able to understand the relationship of this species to other nearctic Liogluta species. Liogluta vasta is also similar to some specimens (with broad pronotum) of Liogluta trapezicollis . A DNA comparison between Liogluta vasta and other Liogluta species is needed to clarify its identity and relationships.

Distribution.

Canada: YT?. USA: AK.

Discussion.

The original type material of Homalota vasta Mӓklin, 1853 (ZMH) consists of two female specimens representing two different species in two genera, Atheta (as Boreophilia in Lohse and Smetana 1985) and Liogluta . Lohse and Smetana (1985) designated the female specimen belonging to Liogluta as the lectotype of Homalota vasta Mӓklin. However, the label data published by Lohse and Smetana (1985) for the Liogluta specimen corresponded to the Atheta specimen (see also discussion in Gusarov 2003b, who also mislabelled the specimens). We consider Lohse and Smetana’s lectotype designation as valid regardless of the obvious mistake of publishing the wrong label data; therefore, the name vasta is affiliated with Liogluta . The female paralectotype belongs to Atheta keeni Casey, 1910.

It is noteworthy that despite years of intensive collections made primarily between 2008-2013 in southeast Alaskan lowland forests and alpine zones, including in and around Sitka, which have resulted in 22,029 specimens of Staphylinidae (http://arctos.database.museum/saved/SE-AK-Staphylinidae), no specimens of Liogluta vasta were found.