Phlaeopterus obsoletus Mullen and Campbell, 2018

Mullen, Logan J., Campbell, J. M. & Sikes, Derek S., 2018, Taxonomic Revision of the Rove Beetle Genus Phlaeopterus Motschulsky, 1853 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 72, pp. 1-54 : 42-45

15. Phlaeopterus obsoletus Mullen and Campbell , new species

( Figs. 4C , 13A, 15H , 17G , 20B , 21D, 29A, 31G, 33G, 34E–F, 37H–I, 39C–D, 41A) Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D2D70CE0-DDEC-4834-857E-DC6D80FFD18D

Hatch 1957: 461 [misidentification as V. longipennis ].

Type Locality. Berkeley Park , Mt. Rainer National Park, Washington, USA .

Description. Habitus: Length 2.9–3.9 mm. Light brown to dark brown, legs lighter, antennae sometimes lighter ( Fig. 4C ). Head: Width across eyes to head length slightly wider than long ( Fig. 34E–F ). Interantennal groove absent. Anteocellar foveae moderately large, deeply impressed. Eyes moderately pubescent on ventral half, with more than 10 setae. Antennomeres 3–10 each 1.3–1.9 times longer than wide, antennomeres 4–11 each with many sensory pits with groups of pore-like openings ( Fig. 37H–I ). Ocelli absent. Nuchal constriction vague. Mandibular molar area with Lshaped row of setae. Epipharynx as in Fig. 33G. Maxillary palpus as in Fig. 39C–D . Hypopharynx as in Fig. 41A . Labrum with sensory pores along anterior margin only ( Fig. 31G ). Labial palpi with 3 rd palpomere 1.4–1.8 times longer than palpomere 2. Thorax: Pronotum narrow ( Fig. 15H ), length to width ratio = 0.79–0.88; ratio of pronotal width to head width = 1.25–1.33; maximum width slightly narrower than elytra at base; punctures separated by average distance subequal to or slightly greater than diameter of a puncture; lateral margins not explanate anterad or posterad lateral fovea; lateral foveae moderately deeply impressed, narrowly separated from lateral margins. Elytra with humeral angles convex; epipleural carina not projecting; 2.0–2.3 times longer than pronotum; apical margins convex. Wings developed or brachypterous. Mesosternum with projecting tooth; longitudinal carina along midline of mesosternum vaguely present, becoming obscured on posterior half ( Fig. 20B ). Legs: All tibiae evenly pubescent to apex. Metatrochanter without tooth on apical margin. Abdomen: Tergites IV and V with wing-folding spicules very broad, nearly contiguous or contiguous in shape of single transverse band. Apical palisade fringe on tergite VII absent. Aedeagus: Length 0.52–0.63 mm. Median lobe short, oblong, sides subparallel, apex broadly convex. Parameres diverging in basal half (Fig. 21D). Internal sac large; with two mediolateral patches of microspinules.

Type Specimens. Holotype male (UAMObs: Ento:235217) and allotype female (UAMObs: Ento:235837) labeled as follows: WASH, Mt. Rainer N.P., Berkeley Park, 3.5 mi. W.Sunrise,6700’, 8.VIII.1975, J.M. & B.A. Campbell / HOLOTYPE ³ (or ALLOTYPE ♀) Phlaeopterus obsoletus desig. L.J. Mullen and J.M. Campbell, CNC No. 18470 (red label). Both specimens are deposited in the CNC. Paratypes (n = 878) are deposited in the AMNH, BMNH, CAS, CNC, CSCA, FMNH, MCZ, OSAC, and USNM.

Distribution. Phlaeopterus obsoletus is known from the Cascade Range in British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and California, and from Jasper National Park, Alberta ( Fig. 13A).

Bionomics. Adults have been collected at 1,000–2,130 m elevation during May–August in wet moss at the edges of streams or in the splash zone of waterfalls.

Remarks. Phlaeopterus obsoletus can be distinguished from all other Phlaeopterus species except P. longipennis by the absence of ocelli. Phlaeopterus obsoletus and P. longipennis are very similar but can be differentiated by characters discussed in the Remarks section of the latter species. This species has been misidentified as P. longipennis in most collections as well as by Hatch (1957).

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Latin adjective for effaced or indistinct, referring to the absence of ocelli.

Figures

Fig. 4. Phlaeopterus species, habitus. A) P. loganensis, female (UAMObs:Ento:233072), B) P. longipennis, male

Fig. 15. Pronota, dorsal view, of A) Lesteva pallipes LeConte, 1863, B) Lesteva longoelytrata (Goeze, 1777), C) Unamis sp. undescribed, D) Unamis sp., E) Phlaeopterus lagrandeuri, F) Phlaeopterus houkae, G) Phlaeopterus longipennis, H) Phlaeopterus obsoletus.

Fig. 17. Phlaeopterus species. Pronota, dorsal view, of A) P. fusconiger, B) P. frosti, C) P. filicornis, D) P. hatchi, E) P. elongatus. Abdominal segments 4–6, dorsal view, of F) P. houkae, G) P. obsoletus, H) P. elongatus.

Fig. 20. Phlaeopterus species, mesosterna, ventral oblique view. A) P. longipennis, B) P. obsoletus, C) P. olympicus, D) P. frosti, E) P. occidentalis, F) P. elongatus.

Fig. 34. Phlaeopterus species, head, dorsal and dorsal oblique views. A–B) P. lagrandeuri, C–D) P. houkae, E–F) P. obsoletus.

Fig. 37. Sensory structures on antenna of A) Lesteva pallipes, B–C) Lesteva pubescens, D–E) Unamis sp. undescribed, F–G) Phlaeopterus houkae, H–I) Phlaeopterus obsoletus, J–K) Phlaeopterus elongatus. In B, D, F, H, and J, white boxes indicate inset area that is magnified in the image to the right.

Fig. 39. Phlaeopterus species, maxillae, dorsal and ventral views. A–B) P. houkae, C–D) P. obsoletus, E–F) P. elongatus.

Fig. 41. Phlaeopterus species, hypopharynges, dorsal view, of A) P. obsoletus, B) P. kavanaughi, C) P. elongatus. D) Phlaeopterus lagrandeuri, metatrochanter with apical tooth. Heads, ventral view, of E) Lesteva pallipes, F) Lesteva pubescens.

Fig. 31. Labra of A) Lesteva pallipes, B) Lesteva pubescens, C) Unamis sp. undescribed, D) Unamis sp., E) Phlaeopterus lagrandeuri, F) Phlaeopterus houkae, G) Phlaeopterus obsoletus, H) Phlaeopterus filicornis. White arrows indicate labrum.