Somoleptus puntarenae, Irmler, 2024

Irmler, Ulrich, 2024, Additions to Neotropical species of the genera Lithocharodes Sharp, 1881 and Somoleptus Sharp, 1881 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), Contributions to Entomology 74 (1), pp. 13-34 : 13

Somoleptus puntarenae sp. nov.

Figs 17a-d , 21E

Material examined.

Holotype: COSTA RICA male; Puntarenas-Guanacaste border; Cerro Amigos; 1780 m elevation; sifted leaf litter; 9 May 1989; J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Leschen leg.; Snow Entomol. Mus. Costa Rica Exped. KNHM #089.

Paratypes: COSTA RICA 1 male; same data as holotype; KNHM ; 1 female; Puntarenas; Monteverde; Estacion Biologica Monteverde ; 10°18'53"N, 84°47'49"W; 1750 m elevation; cloud forest litter; 15 VI 2001; R. Anderson leg.; KNHM CR1A01 114 .

Diagnosis.

The species’ characters are typical for the Somoleptus alticola -subgroup. The parameres are bilobed and the posterior margin of sternite VII of the male is straight. Regarding the overall habitus of the species, it resembles S. loretensis Irmler, 2022 in total size, proportion of elytra and head and size of eyes. Compared to S. loretensis , the pronotum is more parallel. Moreover, the structure of the aedeagus is unique amongst the Neotropical Somoleptus species with its elongate apical cones forming a triangle.

Description.

Length: 5.7 mm; Colouration: completely black; legs and antennae lighter brown.

Head: 0.98 mm long, 0.77 mm wide; eyes not prominent; moderately long; PS:E ratio 4.0; posterior sides slightly divergent; posterior angles widely rounded; combined with posterior margin semi-circular; inter-antennal furrows weak, but long; reaching mid-length of eyes; setiferous punctation moderately deep and dense; on average, interstices as wide as diameter of punctures; along mid-line sparser; surface without microsculpture; polished; antennae with first antennomere elongate; half as long as head-length; second and third antennomere longer than wide; conical; following antennomeres, wider than long; anteriad increasing in width. Pronotum: 1.15 mm long, 0.68 mm wide; widest at anterior third; anteriad, conically narrowed to neck; posteriad parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; posterior margin slightly convex; setiferous punctation moderately deep and moderately dense; on average, interstices between punctures as wide as diameter of punctures; irregular line of punctures adjacent to impunctate mid-line with 23-24 punctures; surface without microsculpture; polished. Elytra: 0.86 mm long, 0.79 mm wide; humeral angles obtuse; sides posteriorly nearly parallel; posterior angles sub-rectangular; posterior margin retreated to suture; setiferous punctation deeper and denser than on head and pronotum; on average, interstices between punctures half as wide as diameter of punctures; close to suture, punctation partly coriaceous; surface without microsculpture; shiny. Abdomen with setiferous punctation finer and denser than on fore-body; sternite VII of male conically narrowed to short straight posterior margin; tergite VII of male also conically narrowed; posterior margin broadly prominent; meso- and metatibia with several striae, but without distinct ctenidia. Aedeagus long oval; dorsal plate circular; endophallus thick; strongly sclerotised; covered by thick spines; with longitudinal torsion; adjacent to circular apical orifice, two elongate cones; with smooth long shaft and short rough top; forming an elongate triangle; parameres bilobed; covering triangle; thick inner lobe centrally with crease in longitudinal direction; at apex with several teeth; soft outer lobe thin; with fold in opposite direction to inner lobe; inner lobe on back side, outer lobe on front side of apical lobes.

Etymology.

The species name is derived from the name of the Province Puntarenas in Costa Rica, where it was sampled.

Geography.

Northern Costa Rica.

Ecology.

Floor of cloud forests at 1700 m elevation.

Figures

Figure 21. A. Fore-body of Somoleptus densiceps; B. S. guianensis; C. S. luteicornis; D. S. paramocola; E. S. puntarenae; F. S. umicola. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figures 17, 18. 17. Somoleptus puntarenae; 18. S. umicola. a. Aedeagus; b. Paramere; c. Sternite VII; d. Tergite VII. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (a, c, d); 0.1 mm (b).