Sonoma baylessae, Ferro & Carlton, 2010

Ferro, Michael L. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2010, Fifteen new species of Sonoma Casey from the eastern United States and a description of the male of Sonoma tolulae (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (137), pp. 1-44 : 10-11

3. Sonoma baylessae new species

Fig. 3 , 20 ; Map 2

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.32 long, 0.35 wide; pronotum 0.42 long, 0.45 wide; elytra 0.60 long, 0.32 wide; antennomeres 1-11 total 0.95; total length 1.84.

Head. Eyes large, maximum length in dorsal view equal to length of first antennal segment, with approximately 20 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 2/3 width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with row of 5 sutural foveae in basal 2/5, first fovea large; single fovea lateral and slightly basal to second sutural fovea; central row of 3 foveae in basal 2/5. Brachypterous.

Abdomen. Tergite one without transverse patch of microtrichia. No abdominal foveae. Basal pubescence present on all visible ventrites.

Aedeagus. Asymmetrical. Left paramere: swollen at base, lobed internally (scoop shaped); subapical setose process large, flattened, curved dorsomesad; 2 thick setae inserted on lateral margin; 4 thick setae inserted along obliquely truncate apex; large rounded mesal lobe; subapical shelf narrow and spine-like. Endophallus: lateral digitate process base as wide as endophallus base, ventrad of right paramere, sharply curved dorsally; large bulbous apex. Right paramere: dorsolateral setose process near base, long, with 5 apical setae; lateral constriction at level of digitate process of endophallus; apical 4/5 sinuate, apex acute. Tubercles on parameres fine and sparse, concentrated dorsally on left paramere, dorsomesally on right paramere.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * U.S.A., TN, Sevier Co. GSMNP, 0.5 km NE Newfound Gap, elv. 1600m 83 o 24’46”W, 35 o 38’9”N / forest liter Berlese 26 June 2001 C. Carlton, V. Moseley A. Tishechkin / LSAM0002288 ( GSNP) (1M). Deposited in FMNH.

Paratypes (n=4). UNITED STATES: NORTH CAROLINA: Swain Co.: *Gt.Smoky Mts.Nat.Pk. Newfound Gap Swain Co., N. C. 9. VI.60 Alt. 5000’ Leaf duff / W. Suter & J. Wagner Collectors / [male symbol] ( FMNH) (2M). *N CAROLIA: Swain Co. GSMNP, Appalachian Tr. at Beech Gap. 35 o 28’27”N 83 o 42’27”W. 1650m. Forest litter / rotten wood 20 July 2003. A.Tishechkin / LSAM 0091887 ( GSNP) (1M). TENNESSEE: Sevier Co.: * USA Tenn. –N.Car. Sevier Co. GSMNP, Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome / Lot # 76–107 Oct. 11,197 6 Berlesate R.Chenowith & R. T.Allen / LSAM 0002046 (1M) SLIDE.

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma baylessae is known from the proximity of Newfound Gap in GSMNP, which is on the border of Sevier and Swain counties in Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. One other specimen was collected approximately 30 km west at Beech Gap in GSMNP, Swain County, North Carolina. Specimens were collected between 1520 and 1650 m elevation.

Comments. Specimens were collected in June, July, and October from leaf litter and rotten wood and extracted using a Berlese funnel.

Sonoma baylessae has aedeagal characters unlike any other Sonoma . The large rounded mesal lobe of the left paramere and the large bulbous apex of the endophallus serve to distinguish this species from all others in the genus.

Etymology. This species is named for Victoria “Vicky-Loo” Lynn Moseley Bayless, co-collector of the holotype, curator of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, and participant and co-PI of the Coleoptera component of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory at GSMNP.

Figures

Figure 1-5. Habitus images. 1) Sonoma cygnus, holotype. 2) Sonoma parkorum, holotype. 3) Sonoma baylessae, holotype. 4) Sonoma brasstownensis, holotype. 5) Sonoma nicholsae, holotype. Scale lines equal 1.0 mm.

Figure 20-23. Aedeagus images. 20) Sonoma baylessae, aedeagus (dorsal view). 21) Sonoma brasstownensis, aedeagus (dorsal view). 22) Sonoma nicholsae, aedeagus (dorsal view). 23) Sonoma gilae, aedeagus (dorsal view). Scale lines equal 0.1 mm. Right side of figure is anatomical left.