Phlaeopterus bakerensis 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 : 10

1. Phlaeopterus bakerensis Mullen and Campbell , new species

( Figs. 1A , 6A , 16D, 23A, 29B, D, 32D, 36E) Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C3A41F65-E096-48F6-BADE-0FFB4E24A78A

Type Locality. Mt. Baker , Washington, USA .

Description. Habitus: Length 8.2–10.1 mm. Dark brown to reddish brown ( Fig. 1A ); antennae and palpi reddish brown; elytral epiplurae sometimes lighter. Head: Broad, ratio of width across eyes to length of head about 5:4. Interantennal groove broadly and deeply impressed. Anteocellar foveae large, deeply impressed. Eyes glabrous ( Fig. 36E ). Antennomeres 5–10 at least 2 times longer than wide; antennomeres 4–11 each with many sensory pits with papilliform projections. Ocelli present. Nuchal constriction vague. Maxillary palpi as in Fig. 32D . Mandibular molar area with L-shaped row of setae ( Fig. 29B ). Labrum with sensory pores along entire surface. Labial palpi with 3 rd palpomere 1.6–1.8 times longer than 2 nd. Thorax: Pronotum wide (Fig. 16D), length to width ratio = 0.61–0.65; ratio of pronotal width to head width = 1.72–1.79; maximum width subequal to elytral width at humeral angle; punctures on dorsal surface separated by average distance slightly greater than 1 puncture diameter; lateral margins broadly explanate anterad and posterad lateral foveae; lateral foveae deeply impressed. Elytra with humeral angles projecting ( Fig. 29D ); epipleural carina projecting; 2.0–2.3 times longer than pronotum; apical margins broadly convex. Wings fully developed in most individuals, brachypterous in very few. Mesosternum with projecting tooth; longitudinal carina along midline of mesosternum complete. Legs: All tibiae with dense pubescence to apex or with small subglabrous region at apex, subglabrous apex of mesotibia less than or equal to length of basal mesotarsomere. Metatrochanter without tooth on apical margin. Abdomen: Wing-folding spicules on tergites IV and V broad, transverse, narrowly separated; tergite VI lacking wing-folding spicules. Aedeagus: Length 1.60–1.73 mm. Median lobe abruptly narrowed just before apex ( Fig. 23A ). Parameres subparallel near base, nearly evenly convex for remainder; ending past apex of median lobe. Internal sac oblong; lightly sclerotized, microspinules denser on basal half.

Type Specimens. Holotype male (UAMObs: Ento:235822) and allotype female (UAMObs: Ento:235823) labeled as follows: WASH., Mt. Baker , Heather Meadows, 23.VII.1979, 4000’, J.M. & B.A. Campbell / HOLOTYPE ³ (or ALLOTYPE ♀) Phlaeopterus bakerensis desig. L.J. Mullen and J.M. Campbell CNC No. 18468 [red label]. Both specimens are in CNC. Paratypes (184) deposited in AMNH, CAS, CNC, CSCA, FMNH, MCZ, RBCM, ROM, UCRC, and USNM.

Distribution. Phlaeopterus bakerensis is known only from Mt. Baker and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington ( Fig. 6A ) at elevations of 1,220 –1,500 m. We found one additional specimen of this species in the J. Jarrige collection, Schmitt box 359, in the MNHN, with nearly illegible label data that we tentatively interpret as follows: Austin Pass N.W. Cass. OR. [illegible, possibly niv co.] 1600 m 27.VII.62 G.D./ Phlaeopterus m.h. [possibly a reference to Melville Hatch]/ Phlaeopterus bakerensis n. sp. det. L.Mullen 2015. This specimen suggests that P. bakerensis may also occur in Oregon, but this should be regarded with suspicion unless confirmed by additional collection records. This specimen was not included in the range map of P. bakerensis due to our uncertain interpretation of the locality data.

Bionomics. Adults were collected at night on the surface of snowfields during August, where they were observed feeding on arthropods (mostly Diptera) or during the day under rocks at edges of snowfields.

Remarks. Phlaeopterus bakerensis is, to our knowledge, the largest species in the subfamily Omaliinae . It can be easily distinguished from other Phlaeopterus species by its large size, broad pronotum, and projecting humeral angles of the elytra. This species has not been collected since 1979 (arctos.database.museum/saved/ Phlaeopterus % 5Fbakerensis) and so would be an ideal candidate for recollection efforts.

Etymology. This species was named for the type locality of Mt. Baker, Washington.

Figures

Fig. 1. Phlaeopterus species, habitus. A) P. bakerensis, female (UAMObs:Ento:233271), B) P. castaneus, female

Fig. 6. Distributions of Phlaeopterus species based on all georeferenced specimen records. A) P. bakerensis, B) P. castaneus. Grey dots represent localities where at least one Phlaeopterus species, but not the species of interest, was collected. Red dots represent localities where the species of interest was collected. In B, red triangles represent localities of P. castaneus castaneus, red squares represent localities of P. castaneus cascadiensis, and green stars represent areas of overlap of the two subspecies.

Fig. 36. Phlaeopterus species, eyes, dorsal view. A) P. lagrandeuri, B) P. houkae, C) P. longipennis, D) P. frosti, E) P. bakerensis, F) P. olympicus.

Fig. 32. Maxillary palpi of A) Lesteva pallipes, B) Unamis sp. undescribed, C) Phlaeopterus longipennis, D) Phlaeopterus bakerensis. Labial palpi of E) Unamis sp., F) Phlaeopterus cavicollis.

Fig. 29. Phlaeopterus species. Right mandibles, ventral view, of A) P. obsoletus, B) P. bakerensis, C) P. elongatus. D) P. bakerensis, humeral angle of elytron, dorsal view. Apices of elytra of E) P. loganensis, F) P. hatchi, G) P. filicornis female.

Fig. 23. Phlaeopterus species, aedeagi (left = ventral view; right = dorsal view of median lobe). A) P. bakerensis, B) P. smetanai, C) P. smetanai, D) P. occidentalis.