Paussiger grandis ( Dajoz, 1982 ), 2025

Raveloson, Ricca, Andrianaharison, Fumiko, Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Hlaváč, Peter, 2025, The Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Madagascar. X. Revision of the myrmecophilous clavigerine genera Rhynchoclaviger Wasmann, 1891 and Paussiger Wasmann, 1893, Zootaxa 5673 (3), pp. 399-410 : 406-407

Paussiger grandis ( Dajoz, 1982) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 3 )

Marofustiger grandis Dajoz, 1982: 518 (Type locality: Madagascar Nord-Est, massif du Marojejy, 1450 m. Type serie: holotype ♂ in MNHN).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, seven labels: “ Madagascar: Marojejy / 1450 m, 7/XII/1972 / J. M. Betsch leg.“ [blue, handwritten], “ HOLOTYPE “ [red, printed], “ Muséum Paris“ [blue, printed], Marofustiger / grandis m. g., n. sp. / R. Dajoz det.1961“ [white, printed and handwritten], “ Paussiger / grandis Dajoz / Cl. Besuchet / dét. 2007“ [white, printed and handwritten], “PHOTO (P. Krásenský) / P. Hlaváč, Prague“ [yellow, printed], “ PAUSSIGER / = MAROFUSTIGER / grandis (Dajoz) / P. Hlaváč des., 2020“ [red, printed]. ( MNHN).

Other material examined. 2 ♀, four labels: “ MADAGASCAR EST / Majorejy / Rés. Nat. Int. XII“ [white, printed], “1300 M / 8-XII-1972 / A. PEYRIERAS“ [white, printed] / FDHMA“ [white, printed], “ “ PAUSSIGER / = MAROFUSTIGER / grandis (Dajoz) / P. Hlaváč det., 2020“ [white, printed]. ( MNHN) .

Diagnosis. Antenna long, about 0.44–0.46 mm long, terminal antennomere about 2.7 times as long as wide; pronotum with median sulcus, lacking median fovea; first visible paratergite strongly protruding laterally.

Redescription. Body length 2.65–2.80 mm. Head capsule rectangular, about 1.5 times as long as wide, slightly longer than pronotum, with two parallel lateral carinae; lateral sides dentate, with about eight sharp teeth located from under eyes to posterior margin of head capsule; anterior margin of rostrum triangular. Antenna 0.44-0.46 mm long, antennomere 3 well-separated from 4, terminal antennomere about 0.3 mm long, slightly, evenly narrowed to truncate apex.

Pronotum 1.15–1.20 times as wide as long, rounded on sides, with about 5–6 sharp teeth, with dentate median and lateral carinae; with wide, well-defined median sulcus bordered by discal carinae; lacking foveae.

Elytra 1.4–1.5 times as wide as long, shorter than abdomen, glabrous, with sutural striae reaching two third of elytral length, with five discal and one humeral striae, humeral stria and lateral elytral margin finely dentate; interstriae with small punctures, punctation especially dense close to striae.

Abdomen long, 1.6–1.7 times as long as elytra; anterior part of composite tergite with transverse impression; lateral foveae large, distant from posterior margin of elytra, with well-defined trichome; first visible paratergite longest, strongly protruding to side, protrusion rounded, with well-defined trichome, second visible paratergite longer than third visible paratergite, both narrowed distad.

Legs short and stout; mesofemur with sharp, long, outwards curved basal spine; mesotibia with apical, small spine.

Sexual dimorphism. Females with mesofemora and mesotibia simple, lacking spines.

Remarks. The aedeagus is still unknown, only one male, the holotype was not dissected to avoid its possible damage.

Host ant. Unknown, collected in ant nest on tree branch.

Distribution. Madagascar.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Habitus. 1. Rhynchoclaviger cremastogastris, female. 2. Paussiger perrieri, male. 3. Paussiger grandis, male. 4. Paussiger fisheri, male.