Formicocephalus raptor Théry, 2011

Théry, Thomas & Lecoq, Jean-Claude, 2011, Redescription of the genus Formicocephalus Heller, and description of two new species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae), Zootaxa 2764, pp. 61-68 : 64-65

Formicocephalus raptor Théry , n. sp.

( Figs. 1 a, 2a, 4, 7, 10, 13).

Holotype Ψ (fig. 7): “ 22.XI.2007 / Mont Do (Bouloupari) // 21° 45.486 S / 166° 00.009 E / 928 m // Nouvelle-Calédonie / Province Sud / T. Théry leg // HOLOTYPE / Formicocephalus raptor n. sp. T. Théry des. 2010” (rectangular red labels). MNHN. Paratypes Ψ, 1 ex.: same data (IAC); 1 ex. same data but 24.I.2008 ( CTT).

Description. Body length approximately 13.5 mm, the tegument dark reddish-brown, quite matt, the appendices paler. Apterous. Pubescence brown-red more or less darkened, golden on anterior three-quarters of the protibiae.

Head slightly longer than wide (L/W≈1.2); eyes very small, flattened; temples very long, the distance between the posterior edge of eye to neck around 3 times the distance between the anterior edge of eye to the anterior margin of frons, very large and rounded; the base of head wide; genae subparallel, narrower than temples; frons slightly concave, antennal tubercles smooth and glossy, elevated anteriorly, disc flattened; tegument clearly microreticulate, the punctation compound with small round and shallow umbilicate punctures (fig. 13), regularly spaced, less marked and much less dense (around 20) on frons; pubescence suberect but with some longer well developed setae notably on margins; margin of genae punctate also with some developed setae. Antennae relatively long, slightly shorter than head and pronotum combined; scape thin, reaching half of head; the first article of funicle less than 2 times shorter than the following one, the eight first articles of funicle elongate, the two most apical articles short. Mandibles elongate and slightly thickened (fig. 1a). Notch of labrum angulose, the lateral teeth rounded (fig. 10).

Pronotum approximately 1.4 times longer than wide, slightly narrower than head, widest at anterior third; disc flattened, with a longitudinal impunctate area, a longitudinal sulcus present on the basal third of the pronotum; lateral margins a bit rounded anteriorly, straighter in posterior half and convergent basally, barely sinuate in posterior third; surface texture and punctation similar to those of head, but pubescence slightly less dense.

Elytra combined more than 1.3 shorter than pronotum, as long as wide, around as wide as pronotum, lateral margins almost straight, subparallel, barely divergent apically; elytral punctation very dense, punctures convergent, transversely wrinkled and appearing granulose; pubescence more dense than that of pronotum, the setae less erect. Scutellum with wider microreticulation than that of head and pronotum, a few setae along margins.

Abdomen with lateral margins evenly curved, widest at level of tergite VI; surface slightly microreticulate, the tergal punctation similar to those of elytra but more shallow and less pronounced; pubescence a bit less dense than on elytra, with longer setae. Second (IV) and third sternite (V) each with two tufts of contiguous setae (fig. 4).

Male unknown.

Etymology. The name derived from the Latin name “ raptor ”, snatcher.

Distribution. New Caledonia.

FIGURES 6–8. Holotypes of Formicocephalus spp.: 6, F. h e r m a n i n. sp.; 7, F. r a p t o r n. sp.; 8a, F. uranoscopus Heller (scale: 5 mm); 8b, labels of Formicocephalus uranoscopus type.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Head, pronotum and elytra in Formicocephalus Heller and in Noumea Fauvel: 1 a, Head of Formicocephalus raptor n. sp.; 1 b, Head of Noumea sp.; 2 a, Prothorax and elytra of Formicocephalus raptor n. sp.; 2 b, Prothorax and elytra of Noumea sp.