Tomoglossa improvisa ( Casey, 1910 ) Gusarov, 2002

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2002, A revision of Nearctic species of the genus Tomoglossa Kraatz, 1856 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 30, pp. 1-19 : 13

3. Tomoglossa improvisa ( Casey, 1910) , comb. nov. ( Fig. 30 )

Noverota improvisa Casey, 1910: 91 .

Type material: lectotype (here designated), 1 specimen of undetermined sex with the tip of abdomen missing, UNITED STATES: “Del Rio, Tex[as]., June 22­27, 955ft.” [Wickham leg.], “ improvisa Csy. ”, “Casey bequest 1925”, “ TYPE USNM 39101” (red label), “ Lectotype Noverota improvisa Casey. V.I.Gusarov des. 2001” (red label) (NMNH). While describing N. improvisa , Casey did not specifically state how many specimens were available.

Diagnosis. Tomoglossa improvisa is very similar to T. ornatella , but differs in having more shallow puncturation of the forebody. Because the only known localities of these taxa are very distant (Texas and New Jersey) T. improvisa is considered here to represent a distinct species. Additional material from Texas is necessary to examine the characters of genitalia and reconfirm the identity of T. improvisa .

Description. Length 2.0 mm (according to Casey (1910)). Head, elytra and antennal articles 2­11 reddish brown; pronotum, abdominal segments III­V, antennal article 1, mouthparts and legs reddish yellow; apical fifth of elytra yellow (The apical half of the abdomen is missing in the lectotype, but, according to Casey (1910), tergum VI was dark).

Externally similar to T. ornatella except for more shallow puncturation of the forebody. Pronotum width to length ratio 0.41 mm: 0.34 mm, pronotum width to head width ratio 0.41 mm: 0.34 mm. Elytra length (measured from humeral angle) to width ratio 0.41 mm: 0.51 mm.

Distribution. Known only from Texas ( Fig. 47 ).

Natural History. Casey (1910) did not provide habitat information.

Figures

FIGURE 47. Geographical distribution of Nearctic Tomoglossa. T. ornatella (Casey) (c), T. improvisa (Casey) (⌂), T. decora (Casey) (z), T. arizonica Gusarov, sp. nov. (S), T. floridana Gusarov, sp. nov. („).

FIGURES 29 ­ 33. Antennae of Nearctic Tomoglossa. 29, T. ornatella (Casey) (lectotype); 30, T. improvisa (Casey) (lectotype); 31, T. decora (Casey) (Pennsylvania); 32, T. arizonica Gusarov, sp. nov. (holotype); 33, T. floridana Gusarov, sp. nov. (holotype). Scale bar 0.1 mm.