A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF ALEOCHARINE ROVE BEETLE (COLEOPTERA STAPHYLINIDAE ALEOCHARINAE HOPLANDRIINI) FROM THE NEW-WORLD

Based on external structural features and those of the male and female genitalia, the aleocharine staphylinid genus Ligulata, new genus, is proposed and diagnosed, along with L. hansoni, new species (type local ity: Costa Rica: San Jose, Zurqui de Moravia). Specimens of L. hansoni were collected using Malaise traps placed within a montane tropical e vergreen forest. Among members of the Hoplandriini, Ligulata is most s imilar to the genus Bessoglossa Pace 1986 and share the following poss ible synapomorphies: ligula long with numerous setae at apex; and hypo glossal lobes long, comb-like with long, internally curved setae.