Philhygra atypicalis Klimaszewski & Webster

Webster, Reginald P., Klimaszewski, Jan, Bourdon, Caroline, Sweeney, Jon D., Hughes, Cory C. & Labrecque, Myriam, 2016, Further contributions to the Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) fauna of New Brunswick and Canada including descriptions of 27 new species, ZooKeys 573, pp. 85-216 : 129-130

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Philhygra atypicalis Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n. Figs 206-218

Holotype (male).

Canada, New Brunswick, Queens Co., C.F.B. Gagetown, 45.7516°N, 66.1866°W, 16.VIII.2013, R.P. Webster // Old mixed forest with Quercus rubra , in decaying mushroom (LFC). Paratypes: Canada, New Brunswick, Northumberland Co., ca. 2.5 km W of Sevogle, 47.0876°N, 65.8613°W, 21.VIII.2013, R.P. Webster // Old jack pine forest, in rotten Boletus mushroom (1 ♀, RWC); same data except 27.VIII.2013 // In rotten gilled mushroom (1 ♂, 2 ♀, LFC; 1 ♂, RWC). Queens Co., C.F.B. Gagetown, 45.7516°N, 66.1866°W, 31.VII.2013, R.P. Webster // Old mixed forest with Quercus rubra , in decaying mushroom (1 ♂, RWC); same data except 16.VIII.2013 (1 ♀, LFC; 1 ♀, RWC); same data except 28.VIII.2013 (1 ♂, LFC; 2 ♂, RWC).

Etymology.

Atypicalis is a Latin adjective meaning not typical, in reference to the atypical shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus of this species, for Philhygra .

Description.

Body length 3.2 mm, narrow, subparallel, antennae, head, pronotum, and posterior abdomen dark brown, legs and elytra rust brown, latter mottled with black (Fig. 206); integument moderately glossy; forebody with minute and dense punctation and dense pubescence; head rounded and slightly angular posterolaterally, eyes large, mouthparts as illustrated (Figs 214-218); antennae with articles 5-10 subquadrate to slightly transverse; pronotum transverse, slightly wider than head and about as wide as elytra, with all angles moderately narrowly rounded, pubescence directed obliquely posteriad from midline of disk; elytra slightly transverse, with pubescence directed posterolaterad; abdomen subparallel, narrower than elytra. Male. Median lobe of aedeagus with bulbus narrowly oval, tubus moderately wide, triangular in dorsal view (Fig. 207), sinuate ventrally with apical part narrowly elongate in lateral view (Fig. 208); internal sac with complex structures (Figs 207, 208); tergite VIII deeply and broadly emarginate apically (Fig. 209); sternite VIII with apical margin strongly produced to narrowly truncate apex (Fig. 210). Female. Tergite VIII with apical margin shallowly emarginate in middle one-third (Fig. 211); sternite VIII slightly produced and obtusely angulate apically (Fig. 212); spermatheca with short sac-shaped capsule without apical invagination and with short and narrow stem (Fig. 213).

Distribution.

Known only from NB, Canada.

Natural history.

Adults of Philhygra atypicalis were collected from rotten bolete mushrooms in an old jack pine forest and from decaying mushrooms in an old mixed forest with Quercus rubra . Specimens were collected during July and August.

Comments.

Philhygra atypicalis externally agrees with all characteristics of the genus Philhygra but does not have the typical shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus (Figs 207, 208). In typical forms, the median lobe has an unusually enlarged tubus of complex forms. Interestingly, all specimens of this species were found among decaying mushrooms, an atypical habitat for Philhygra , which are typically associated with wetland and riparian habitats.