Sonoma tishechkini, 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 : 24-25

15. Sonoma tishechkini new species

Fig. 15 , 32 ; Map 12

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.32 long, 0.40 wide; pronotum 0.39 long, 0.45 wide; elytra 0.61 long, 0.29 wide; antennomeres 1-11 total 0.87; total length 2.08.

Head. Eyes large, maximum length in dorsal view 9/10 length of first antennal segment, with approximately 50 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 1/2 width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with row of five large sutural foveae in basal 2/5; single large fovea lateral of second sutural fovea; central row of 5 foveae in basal 2/5. Winged.

Abdomen. Tergite one with transverse patch of microtrichia narrowly interrupted at midpoint. No abdominal foveae. Basal pubescence present on all visible ventrites.

Aedeagus. Elongate. Left paramere: broadly triangular in basal 1/2, distal 1/2 elongate, narrowly acuminate to extremely acute apex; 6 long stout setae on lateral low flange at midpoint. Endophallus: elongate, thin, weakly sinuate, 1.4 x length of left paramere; lateral digitate process short and sharply curved dorsally, ventrad of right paramere; apex blunt. Right paramere: elongate, slightly longer than endophallus; lateral setose process low with 5 thick setae; lateral constriction at level of digitate process of endophallus; apical 4/7 parallel sided, distal 1/3 weakly curved measly; apex blunt. With sparse tubercles on basal half of dorsal face of both parameres.

Type Material. Holotype, male: *N CAROLINA: Rutherford Co. Chimney Rock State Park at 35 o 26.07’N 82 o 15.27’W. 620m Deep litter/dead logs, Berlese 20 Sept 2005. A.K.Tishechkin / LSAM 0170164 (1M). Deposited in FMNH.

Paratypes (n=11). UNITED STATES: GEORGIA: Rabun Co.: *GA: Rabun Co., Satolah (3 mi S.) 15 April 1973 / Litter under Rhododendron leg. W. R. Suter / [male symbol] ( FMNH) (1M). * USA:GA: Rabun Co. , Satolah, V–29–1983 DSChandler, sift Rhododendron and mixed leaf litter ( DENH) (1M) ; same data, no genitalia ( DENH) (1M) . NORTH CAROLINA: Brunswick Co.: * N. Carolina: Brun. [Brunswick] Co., nr. Mako [Maco?] X–15–1979 / JPCornell hardwood litter ( DENH) (1M) SLIDE . Jackson Co.: * N.Car.: Jackson Co. Cashiers 7 mi SE 11. VI.1973 b / Pseudofork Elm-Maple Whitewater Falls W.Suter leg. / [male symbol] ( FMNH) (1M) . Transylvania Co.: * USA NC TRANSYLVANIA CONr Brevard PisgahNF PinkBeds Picnic Area N35 o 21’11” W82 o 43.557’ El 2500’ 4/5 Aug 09J.F.& TADCornell ExLitter/ FloodDebr UnderRhododendrononBeaver Pond Trail Sift/Berlese ( JFCC) (1M) . SOUTH CAROLINA: Greenville Co.: *SC: Greenville Co. Paris Mtn. St. Park 373263 3867371 [zone 17] 6-VII-09 UV light ( JFCC) (2M) . Oconee Co.: * USA:SC: Oconee Co. 7 mi S NC state line on Hwy. 107 / V –29–1983 DSChandler, sift forest litter ( DENH) (3M) .

Geographical Distribution. Specimens have been collected from Rutherford and Jackson counties in southwestern North Carolina, Oconee County in northwestern South Carolina, and Rabun County in northeastern Georgia. A single specimen was reportedly collected from Brunswick County in extreme southeastern North Carolina near the Atlantic Coast. This is an unexpected location as all other eastern Sonoma appear to be restricted to highland locations. Specimens have been collected from elevations ranging from 620- 762 m.

Comments. Specimens have been collected in April-October from “deep litter/dead logs,” “pseudofork elm-maple,” “rhododendron and mixed leaf litter” using a Berlese funnel. Two specimens were collected at an ultraviolet light trap, this is the only record of Sonoma specimens being taken with this collection technique.

Sonoma tishechkini has aedeagal characters unlike any other Sonoma . A combination of the elongate, pointed left paramere, weak lateral digitate process of the endophallus, thin elongate endophallus lacking subapical modifications, low lateral setose process on right paramere and right paramere slightly longer than endophallus of S. tishechkini will serve to separate this species from all others in the genus.

Etymology. This species is named for Alexey Konstantinovich Tishechkin, collector of the holotype, histerid systematist, and participant in the Coleoptera component of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory at GSMNP.

Figures

Figure 11-16. Habitus images. 11) Sonoma streptophorophallus, holotype. 12) Sonoma nhunguyeni, holotype. 13) Sonoma tridens, holotype. 14) Sonoma holmesi, holotype. 15) Sonoma tishechkini, holotype. 16) Sonoma mayori, holotype. Scale lines equal 1.0 mm.

Figure 32-33. Aedeagus images. 32) Sonoma tishechkini, aedeagus (dorsal view). 33) Sonoma mayori, aedeagus (dorsal view). Scale lines equal 0.1 mm. Right side of figure is anatomical left.