Seeversiella nigriceps Gusarov

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, A revision of the genus Seeversiella Ashe, 1986 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 142, pp. 1-102 : 36-38

8. Seeversiella nigriceps Gusarov , sp. n. ( Figs. 117­125 )

Type material. Holotype ,, MEXICO: Puebla: 1.6 km E Nicolas Bravo, 2410 m, forest litter (J.S.Ashe), 17.vii.1992 ( KSEM).

Diagnosis. Seeversiella nigriceps can be distinguished from other species of Seeversiella by having brown body; temples twice as long as eyes; glossy pronotum with weak and partially missing microsculpture; elytra longer than pronotum; wings fully developed; tergum 8 with four pairs of macrosetae; and the distinct shape of aedeagus ( Figs. 119­125 ).

Seeversiella nigriceps differs from closely related S. sonomotoides in having narrower distal sclerites of internal sac of aedeagus ( Figs. 124 ; 63, 65).

Seeversiella nigriceps can be distinguished from S. globicollis and the other similar species (5­7, 10­12) with long elytra and weak pronotal microsculpture by the combination of the following characters: distal sclerites of internal sac sclerotized and dentiform ( Fig. 124 ); apex of median lobe in lateral view not widened subapically ( Figs. 121­122 ).

Description. Length 2.4 mm, pronotal width 0.47 mm. Body dark brown, elytra and legs brown.

In all character states S. nigriceps is very similar to S. sonomotoides , but differs in the shape of the distal sclerites of internal sac as described in the diagnosis.

In the only known male specimen the posterior angles of male tergum 3 not projecting as spines, tergum 7 in front of posterior margin with small medial tubercle.

Aedeagus as in Figs. 119­125 .

Female unknown.

Distribution. Known from Mexico ( Fig. 387 ).

Natural History. The only known specimen of S. nigriceps was collected in forest litter at altitude of 2410 m.

Figures

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

FIGURES 117 ­ 125. Abdominal segment 8 and aedeagus of Seeversiella nigriceps Gusarov, sp. n. (holotype). 117 – male tergum 8; 118 – male sternum 8; 119 – median lobe, parameral view; 120 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 121 – median lobe, lateral view; 122 – apex of median lobe, lateral view; 123 ­ 124 – details of internal sac retracted into median lobe, lateral view; 125 – apex of left paramere. Scale bar 0.3 mm (117 ­ 118), 0.2 mm (119, 121, 123 ­ 124), 0.1 mm (120, 122, 125). DS – distal sclerite of internal sac.