Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 85. (Budapest 1993)

Zanetti, A.: Contribution to the knowledge on Eastern Palaearctic Eusphalerum Kraatz with descriptions of new species (Coeloptera, Staphylinidae: Omaliinae)

Diagnosis - Eusphaierum related to E. reitteri (BERNHAUER), different in larger size, darker colour on average, with blackish-brown pronotum and brown elytra, pronotum without or with scarcely marked longitudinal groove, and, mainly, with apex of median lobe of aedeagus with a relief with subparallel sides and sharp apex (dorsal view), and sinuate (lateral view). Apex of parameres with a number of hairs, internal sac with a large characteristic sclerite (Figs 13-14). Measurements of holotype - Width of head: 0.57 mm; length of head, from clypeus to neck: 0.20 mm; width of pronotum: 0.75 mm; length of pronotum: 0.49 mm; length of elytra, from shoulder to apex: 1.07 mm; width of elytra: 1.07 mm; length from clypeus to apex of elytra: 1.85 mm; total length, (with partially retracted abdomen): 2.5 mm. Derivatio nominis - This species is dedicated to dr. OTTÓ MERKL, coleopterist, curator of the Coleoptera Collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, who has provided me the Eusphaierum specimens from Korea belonging to his museum. Description of holotype - Head and pronotum blackish, elytra brown, abdomen black with two apical segments brown. Legs yellowish, antennae yellowish at base, yellowish brown from 7th segment. Head transverse (width/length ratio = 2.8); eyes moderately prominent, with infraorbital carina

3 not much marked, and without little stripes at internal margin; temples short; pu notation rather fine and irregular, the distance between the punctures wider than their diameter on average; microsculpture strong with mainly isodiametrical mesh; subantennal depression deep, anteocellar pits small but well marked; antennae with 1st segment ovoid, 2nd globular, clearly shorter than 1st, 3rd conical, as long as 2nd, 4th and 5th longer than wide, 6th subsquare, 7th to 10th feebly transverse, 11th elongate, pear-shaped. - Pronotum transverse (width/length ratio = 1.5), widest near middle, fore margin just a little bit shorter than hind, lateral margins rounded in fore half, subrectilinear in hind one, with hind angles obtuse and rounded; surface convex, with two pits in front of middle (only in holotype!); punctation similar to that on head, microsculpture very strong with isodiametrical mesh, surface a little bright; depressions near hind angles deep; pubescence very short, scarcely evident. -Elytra 2.1 times longer and 1.4 times wider than pronotum, dilated at apex, very bright, with rather strong and dense punctation, truncated at apex as in Fig. 39; pubescence very short, little evident. -Abdomen rather bright, with little marked microsculpture and sparse decumbent pubescence; Abdominal sternites without particular characters. -Tibiae straight, narrow, fore tibiae rather dilated at apex, middle ones scarcely curved at apex. - Aedeagus as in Figs 13-14; median lobe narrowed towards apex, with an apical relief narrow and subacute, parameres dilated at apex with a number of hairs, internal sac with a large copulatory sclerite. Sexual dimorphism - Female with middle tibiae straight at apex. Elytral apex similar in both sexes (Figs 39-40). Variability - Size: 1.7-2.6 mm; colour of head, pronotum and abdomen from brown to blackish, colour of elytra from yellowish to brownish. Punctation of pronotum more or less stronger and denser than in holotype, widest sometimes in front of middle, lateral margins more or less rounded. Remarks -E. merkli sp. n. is similar toE. minutum (FABRICIUS) from Europe in external characters, but differs in the elytra truncated at apex in both sexes, without projections in females. Pronotum of males less convex and punctation of elytra finer and closer. Aedeagus is completely different. According to WATANABE (in litt.) E. merkli is "similar to E. pollens SHARP in blackish colour, but differs from it in the much more transverse pronotum, and the shape of male genital organ. Also, it resembles E. takane WATANABE in general appearance, but more transverse pronotum and the configuration of male genital organ". Distribution - It is known only from the type locality, Kumgang-san in southeastern North Korea. The Kumgang-san (the famous Diamond Range) is "one of the most interesting and, from the zoologist's point of view, most valuable region of Korea. The range of mountains extends from the seacoast inwards and its main valleys also follow this direction. It is extremely broken: the jagged cliffs, sharp ridges, deep gorges present a landscape of great beauty. Except for the narrow coastal zone of agriculture, the whole complex is 3 Nomenclature of surface of head as in ZANETTI 1987.