Seeversiella castanea Gusarov

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, A revision of the genus Seeversiella Ashe, 1986 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 142, pp. 1-102 : 32-34

6. Seeversiella castanea Gusarov , sp. n. ( Figs. 90­104 )

Type material. Holotype ,, MEXICO: Chiapas: 2.8 km NW Las Piedrecitas, 5 km NW San Cristobal de las Casas, 2400 m, oak and pine forest litter (R.Anderson), 20.ix.1991 ( KSEM).

DS – distal sclerite of internal sac.

Paratypes: MEXICO: Chiapas: 10 specimens, same data as the holotype; 6 specimens, Yerbabuena Reserve, 2.1 km NW Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, 2070 m, liquidambar forest litter (R.Anderson), 23.ix.1992; 6 specimens, 8.9 km E Rayon, 1500 m, cloud forest litter (R.Anderson), 19.ix.1991; HONDURAS: La Paz: 2, 4, Cord. Montecillos, 18 km NW La Paz, 14°21'N 87°47'W, 2000 m, pine and hardwood forest litter (R.Anderson), 21.viii.1994 (all ­ KSEM).

Diagnosis. Seeversiella castanea can be distinguished from other species of Seeversiella by having brown body; temples 1.5­1.7 times as long as eyes; glossy pronotum with weak isodiametric microsculpture; elytra longer or as long as pronotum; wings fully developed; tergum 8 with four pairs of macrosetae; the distinct shape of aedeagus ( Figs. 94­103 ) and spermatheca ( Fig. 104 ).

Seeversiella castanea can be distinguished from S. globicollis and the other similar species (3, 5, 7­8, 10­12) with long elytra and weak pronotal microsculpture by the combination of the following characters: distal sclerites of internal sac poorly sclerotized, not dentiform or hook­shaped and have strong spicules ( Figs. 99, 101 ); apex of median lobe in lateral view not widened subapically ( Figs. 96­97 ); spermatheca C­shaped with large umbilicus ( Fig. 104 ).

Description. Length 2.3­2.8 mm, pronotal width 0.46­0.50 mm. Body brown to dark brown with lighter pronotum and elytra, legs brown.

In all external character states S. castanea is similar to S. globicollis , but differs in the shape of the aedeagus and spermatheca as described in the diagnosis.

In large males posterior angles of male tergum 3 projecting as spines up to 1 time as long as tergum 3 (measured medially), tergum 7 with medial carina along midline, the carina up to 2/3 as long as tergum length.

Aedeagus as in Figs. 94­103 .

Spermatheca as in Fig. 104 .

Distribution. Known from Mexico and Honduras ( Fig. 387 ).

Natural History. Seeversiella castanea was collected in forest litter at altitude of 2000­2400 m.

Figures

FIGURE 387. Geographical distribution of Seeversiella from Mexico to Honduras.

FIGURES 90 ­ 93. Abdominal segment 8 of Seeversiella castanea Gusarov, sp. n. (paratypes from Rayon (90 ­ 91) and Las Piedrecitas (92 ­ 93), Mexico). 90 – male tergum 8; 91 – male sternum 8; 92 – female tergum 8; 93 – female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 94 ­ 104. Genitalia of Seeversiella castanea Gusarov, sp. n. (paratypes from Rayon (94 ­ 97, 99 ­ 102) and Las Piedrecitas (98, 103 ­ 104), Mexico). 94 – median lobe, parameral view; 95 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 96 – median lobe, lateral view; 97 – apex of median lobe, lateral view; 98 – everted internal sac, parameral view; 99 – right hook of internal sac; 100 ­ 101 – details of internal sac retracted into median lobe, lateral view; 102 – apex of left paramere; 103 – copulatory piece, lateral view; 104 – spermatheca. Scale bar 0.2 mm (94, 96, 98, 100 ­ 101), 0.1 mm (95, 97, 99, 102 ­ 104).