The Pseudolathra species of the East Palaearctic and the Oriental regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) Author Assing, V. text Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 2012 2012-12-20 62 299 330 journal article 2537 10.21248/contrib.entomol.62.2.299-330 63d99f1a-3ec7-4d97-a0d4-d7f23c214113 0005-805X 5873469 Pseudolathra nigerrima ( CAMERON , 1924) , comb. n. ( Figs 45-51 , Map 2 ) Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron, 1924: 192 f. Type material examined: Lectotype ♂ , present designation:“Malhan Range, Siwaliks. Dr. Cameron, 24.IX.22. / Lathrobium nigerrimum Cam. / H. Stevens. Brit. Mus. 1922-307. / Type / M. Cameron. Bequest. B.M. 1955- 147. / Lectotypus ♂ Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron , desig. V. Assing 2011 / Pseudolathra nigerrima (Cameron) , det. V. Assing 2011” ( BMNH ) . Paralectotype ♂ : “Arni Gad. Mussoorie / Dr. Cameron , 28.V.21 / Cotype / L. nigerrimum Cam / Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron / Coll. W. Champman in Coll. P. Griveau, MHNG - 2007 / nigerrimum Cam. / Paralectotypus Lathrobium nigerrimum Cameron / Pseudolathra nigerrima (Cameron) , det. V. Assing 2011” ( MHNG ) . Figs 38-44: Pseudolathra pulchella from Malaysia ( 38-39 ) and P. vellicans ( 40-44 ): male sternite VII ( 38 ); male sternite VIII ( 39-40 ); aedeagus in lateral and in ventral view ( 41-42 ); ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view ( 43 ); apex of ventral process of aedeagus in ventral view ( 44 ). Scale bars: 38-43: 0.5 mm; 44: 0.2 mm. Comment: The original description is based on an unspecified number of syntypes , among them at least one male , from “Siwaliks; Mussorie District; Arni Gad, Kaligad” ( Cameron 1924 ). A male syntype was located in the collections of the BMNH; an additional male syntype was found in the collections of the MHNG. The specimen deposited in the BMNH is in better condition and designated as the lectotype . An examination of these specimens revealed that the species belongs to Pseudolathra . Additional material examined: Nepal : 2 ♀♀ , Ilam district , between Mai Pokhari and Ilam , 1330 m , arable land, 1.IV.1980 , leg. Martens & Ausobsky ( SMNS , cAss) ; 1 ♂ , trail from Pokhara to Ghoropani , leg. Franz ( NHMW ) ; 1 ♀ [teneral], Phulchoki , near Dalikhel , 2000 m , leg. Franz ( NHMW ) . India : 3 exs. , Haldwani District , Kumaon , leg. Champion ( BMNH , cAss) . Redescription: Body length 7.0- 9.5 mm ; length of forebody 4.0- 4.4 mm . Habitus as in Fig. 45 . Coloration: head and abdomen black; pronotum and elytra blackish-brown; legs and antennae dark-yellowish. Head ( Fig. 46 ) distinctly transverse, approximately 1.15 times as broad as long; posterior angles marked; dorsal surface with few macropunctures laterally and with sparse micropunctation; interstices without microsculpture. Eyes large, more than twice as long as postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna long and slender, almost 3 mm long. Pronotum ( Fig. 46 ) approximately as long as broad and approximately 1.05 times as wide as head, lateral margins straight, weakly converging posteriorly in dorsal view, posterior angles broadly rounded; on either side of midline with a dorsal series of 6-7 coarse punctures, laterad of these series with very few macropunctures; micropunctation very sparse; microsculpture absent. Elytra ( Fig. 46 ) almost 0.9 times as long as pronotum, humeral angles marked; macropunctation arranged in one sutural and three dorsal series; microsculpture and micropunctation absent. Hind wings probably fully developed. Abdomen narrower than elytra; punctation very fine and rather sparse; posterior margin of tergite VII with palisade fringe. ♂ : tergite VIII strongly convex posteriorly; sternite VII posteriorly weakly and broadly concave, on either side of middle with comb of stout, black, spine-like setae increasing in length and stoutness laterad ( Fig. 47 ); sternite VIII oblong, with deep and narrow posterior excision almost reaching middle of sternite ( Fig. 48 ); aedeagus approximately 1.1 mm long, shaped as in Figs 49-51 . Comparative notes: This species is readily distinguished from all the preceding species by the different morphology of the aedeagus, darker coloration, and larger size. Distribution: This species has been recorded from several localities in North India and Nepal ( Cameron 1931 , Coiffait 1975 ).