Plochionocerus hermani Asiain, Márquez & Morrone, 2007

Asiain, Julieta, Márquez, Juan & Morrone, Juan J., 2007, Phylogenetic systematics of the genera Plochionocerus Dejean and Agrodes Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Xantholinini), Zootaxa 1584, pp. 1-53 : 17

Plochionocerus hermani Asiain, Márquez & Morrone , sp. nov.

Type material. Holotype, male: “ PANAMA: Darien, Cerro Malí, 1400 m, Serranía del Darién, I.1975, C. W. Myers / Holotype Plochionocerus hermani Asiain, Márquez & Morrone, 2007 ” ( AMNH).

Description. Total length 18.5 mm. Body metallic violet.

Head. Rounded, dorsally flat, ventrally moderately convex, slightly longer than wide (1.25 times), wider than pronotum (1.34 times); ventral surface of head lacking expanded umbilicate punctures ( Fig. 52 ); first antennomere 1.56 times the length of antennomeres 2+3 combined; second antennomere 0.54 times as long as third antennomere; antennomeres 4–10 moderately transverse, increasing in size toward antennomere 10; apical antennomere in male 1.36 times as long as wide, 0.83 times as long as antennomeres 9+10 combined; mandibles with basal external channel ( Fig. 63 ).

Thorax. Pronotum long (length/width: 1.6), shorter than elytra (0.81 times), with two clearly visible depressed areas in posterior third ( Fig. 56 ). Prosternum almost as long as wide (0.92 times).

Aedeagus. Ovate, length 3.55 mm, with parameres short (0.29 times as long as median lobe), apical area of median lobe 0.24 times as long as the total length of median lobe, and internal sac of aedeagus moderately visible ( Fig. 80 ).

Comparative notes. This species is similar to P. newtonorum and P. transversalis , based on the head rounded or ovate, with dorsal surface flat. It can be distinguished from both species as follows: the ventral surface of the head is moderately convex and lacks expanded, umbilicate punctures, the apical antennomere in males is shorter than antennomeres 9+10 combined, the head is wider than the pronotum and the aedeagus is ovate.

Geographical distribution. Panama.

Etymology. We take pleasure in dedicating this species to Lee Herman (American Museum of Natural History), for his contributions to the study of Staphylinidae , and for his friendship and support.

Figures

FIGURES 48 – 53. Cephalic ventral view: 48, Renda flagellicornis; 49, Philonthus testaceipennis; 50, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 51, P. gracilis; 52, P. h e r m a n i; 53, P. puncticeps.

FIGURES 63 – 66. Lateral view of pronotal hypomeron: 63, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 64, Renda spp.; 65, Agrodes conicicollis; 66, A. elegans.

FIGURES 54 – 62. Pronotum: 54, Philonthus testaceipennis; 55, Renda flagellicornis; 56, Plochionocerus simplicicollis; 57, P. reticularis. Elytra: 58, Agrodes spp.; 59, Plochionocerus spp. Midleg: 60, Philonthus testaceipennis; 61, Agrodes spp.; 62, Plochionocerus spp.

FIGURES 79 – 87. Ventral (left) and lateral (right) view of aedeagus: 79, Plochionocerus fulgens; 80, P. h e r m a n i; 81, P. humeralis; 82, P. ig neu s; 83, P. impressipennis; 84, P. janthinus; 85, P. marquezi; 86, P. modestus; 87, P. newtonorum. Scale bar 1 mm.