Pselaphomorphus microphthalmus Raffray 1890
Creators: name: Vásquez-Vélez, Laura M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Pselaphomorphus
Pselaphomorphus microphthalmus

description: Pselaphomorphus microphthalmus Raffray, 1890
(Fig. 22)
Pselaphomorphus microphthalmus Raffray, 1890: 298; 1893: 44.
Pselaphomorphus muticus Raffray, 1890: 298 (as valid species); 1893: 44 (as synonym of P. microphthalmus).
Diagnosis. Pselaphomorphus microphthalmus is characterized by the combination of medium body size (from 2.1 to 2.4 mm), antennae with five antennomeres forming a clava, and the obtuse angle at the end of the lateral lobes in the pronotum.
Redescription. Male. Body length 2.4 mm. Amber coloration with yellowish pilosity. Head elongate (length 0.7 mm, width 0.4 mm). Longitudinal sulcus spindle-shaped. Eyes kidney-shaped (diameter 0.15 mm). Antennal length 1.2 mm. Antennomere length as follows: 1 (0.1 mm), 2 to 6 (0.06 mm), 7 to 10 (0.1 mm), and 11 (0.24 mm), clava conspicuous. Maxillary palpi yellowish, with short and even pilosity. Pronotum quadrate (length and width 0.5 mm), lateral lobes triangular, basal angle obtuse. Basal lobe rectangular with two truncated projections on both sides. Pronotal disc rounded, longitudinal and transverse sulci wider towards edges. Elytra length 0.7 mm, width 0.8 mm. Humeral teeth present. Sutural and basal discal fovea present and evident, framed by basal carina. Sutural stria present. Abdominal segments I–V dorsally with length as follows: 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 (mm). Ventrally, segment V distally round, segment VI flat and small, without depression, pygidial suture present. Genitalia. Phallobase regular, globose and symmetrical, bilobed. Median lobe divided apically into two small teeth. Center of median lobe elevated. Accessory lobes absent (Figs. 22 B, 22C).
Female. Body length 2.1 mm. Amber coloration with yellowish pilosity. Head elongate (length 0.5 mm, width 0.3 mm). Longitudinal sulcus spindle-shaped. Eyes small and rounded (ratio 0.02 mm). Antennal length 1.0 mm. Antennomere length as follows: 1 (0.08 mm), 2 (0.06 mm), 3 to 6 (0.04 mm), 7 to 10 (0.08 mm), and 11 (0.2 mm), clava conspicuous. Maxillary palpi yellowish with short and even pilosity. Pronotum quadrate (length and width 0.4 mm), lateral lobes triangular, basal angle obtuse. Pronotal disc square, longitudinal and transverse sulci linear. Elytra small, slightly rectangular (length 0.5 mm, width 0.6 mm). Subhumeral elytral fovea circular and deep, subhumeral stria connected apically with humeral spine. Sutural and basal discal fovea present and evident, framed by basal carina. Sutural stria present, short. Abdominal segments I–V dorsally with length as follows: 0.4, 0.1, 0.1, 0.15, 0.1 (mm). Ventrally without modifications.
Material examined. Venezuela: 5 males, 1 female, Mérida, Merida, 34 km NW, 2350 m, 8°37’0”N, 71°20’12”W, V-22-1998. R, Anderson, montane forest litter (KSEM); 1 male, Merida 42.4 km NW Merida, near La Carbonera, 2360 m, 8°37’38”N, 74°21’10”W, V-22/25 -1998, flight intercept trap, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley (KSEM); 1 male (cleared and dissected), Merida, Tabay 7 km E. La Mucuy Station Sierra Nevada National Park, 2300–2700 m, 8°37’41”N, 71°2’26”W, V-26/27 -1998, flight intercept trap, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, R. Hanley (KSEM); 1 male, Aragua, Rancho Grande Biological Station, 1450 m, 10°21’N, 67°41’W, “La Cumbre”, II-28- 1995, berlese leaf litter, Robert W. Brooks (KSEM).
Note. The specimens listed above are considered to belong to P. microphthalmus because they were compared to and found matching the photographs of the holotype (female) of P. microphthalmus and the holotype of P. muticus (male) (the two names were synonymyzed by Raffray 1893), both deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (photographs courtesy of C. Carlton).
description: Published as part of Vásquez-Vélez, Laura M., 2016, Revision of the genus Pselaphomorphus Motschulsky, 1855 (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae: Jubini), pp. 1-48 in Zootaxa 4107 (1) on pages 31-32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/261931