Pseudoopterus otiraensis, Larochelle & Larivière & Larochelle & Larivière, 2017

Larochelle, Larivière, Marie-Claude, Larochelle & Larivière, 2017, Synopsis of the tribe Zolini in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (594), pp. 1-110 : 56

Pseudoopterus otiraensis new species

Fig. 54 , 100 , 151

Holotype: male ( NZAC) labeled: “ NEW ZEALAND WD Arthur’s Pass NP, Kellys Creek x Otira River [= Kelly Creek near Otira River Junction] 4248 S 17134 E 350m 5.III. 2009 Larochelle and Larivière (typed) / Floodplain Podoc.-brleaf for. [= Podocarp-broadleaf forest] (Fuchsia-Horopito dom. [= dominant]): wet clayish soil. Under large, deeply embedded stones. (typed) / HOLOTYPE [male symbol] Pseudoopterus otiraensis Larochelle & Larivière, 2017 (red label; typed).” Paratypes: one female (NZAC) and one male (AMNZ) from the same locality as the holotype, bearing blue paratype labels.

Description. Body length 3.7–4.6 mm. Head and pronotum reddish, dark brown medially; elytra and abdomen dark brown; lateral margins and apex of elytra widely reddish; abdomen reddish laterally and apically; antennae, palpi, and legs reddish; antennal segments 1+2 and femora pale yellowish. Microsculpture absent. Iridescence absent. Very shiny, without metallic luster. Head. Labrum strongly transverse, slightly emarginate anteriorly. Antennae submoniliform, short: segment 1 (scape) short, stout, about 1.5x longer than its maximum width. Frontal furrows wide, shallow, subparallel. Eyes slightly convex; a single setiferous puncture on inner side of each eye (posteriorly). Tempora moderately inflated (about half as long as eyes). Mentum: medial tooth bifid, moderately shorter than lateral lobes. Paraglossae membranous, prominent, about as long as ligula. Thorax. Pronotum strongly convex, coarsely punctate across base, wrinkled discally, strongly transverse, slightly cordate, widest before middle; apex subtruncate; anterolateral angles poorly developed, obtusely rounded; anterior bead incomplete, obsolete medially; sides strongly rounded, moderately sinuate posteriorly; lateral grooves absent; two setiferous punctures on each side; posterolateral angles acute, projected laterally; posterolateral carinae blunt, very long (about as long as adjoining foveae); laterobasal foveae well defined, coarsely punctate, very deep and wide, square, not prolonged forward, simple; posterior bead absent; base emarginate, about as wide as pronotal apex and elytral base. Legs. Short. Elytra. Strongly convex, ovate, widest about middle. Shoulders obtuse. Sides strongly rounded. Scutellar striole present. Striae replaced by rows of coarse punctures, deep; row 1 complete; rows 2–7 obsolete apically; row 3 with three setiferous punctures. Recurrent stria long, blunt, directed apically toward row 7. Intervals subdepressed. Sutural apices obtuse. Abdomen. Last visible sternum (sternum VII): male with two apical ambulatory setae; female with four apical ambulatory setae. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 100 ): moderately arcuate, slightly widened in apical half; base moderately convex dorsally; middle slightly convex dorsally, rather straight ventrally, with dorsal membranous area moderately wide, very long; apex subtriangular, almost straight dorsally, slightly concave ventrally, with extreme tip wide and long. Dorsal view: moderately wide, asymmetrical (ostium of membranous area deflected to right); apex straight; basal orifice wide, open anteriorly, moderately distant from membranous area. Parameres with three apical setae.

Material examined. 11 specimens ( AMNZ, CMNZ, LUNZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 151 ). South Island: BR –Greymouth. WD –Arthur’s Pass National Park (Kelly Creek; Kelly Creek near Otira River Junction). Fox Glacier.

Ecology. Lowland, montane. Endogean. Forests (broadleaf, podocarp) and scrublands. Shaded ground. Nocturnal; hides during the day under well-embedded stones. Gregarious.

Biology. Seasonality: November–January, March, May. Predacious (based on mouthpart morphology).

Dispersal power. Subapterous (incapable of flight). Slow runner.

Collecting techniques. Lifting stones; pitfall trapping.

Remarks. This species is named after the type locality “Kelly Creek near Otira River Junction” (WD) and the Latin suffix - ensis, denoting a place, locality, or country. In addition to diagnostic characters of the male genitalia, Pseudoopterus otiraensis has the following distinguishing features: a single setiferous puncture on inner side of each eye (posteriorly); elytra without microsculpture, striae replaced by rows of coarse punctures. This species occurs in western areas of the South Island (BR, WD).

Figures

Figures 51–54. Dorsal habitus. 51) Oopterus garnerae new species. 52) O. nunni new species. 53) Synteratus ovalis. 54) Pseudoopterus otiraensis new species. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 98–105. Aedeagi, lateral. 98) Oopterus nunni new species. 99) Synteratus ovalis. 100) Pseudoopterus otiraensis new species. 101) P. plicaticollis. 102) P. latipennis. 103) P. fiordlandensis new species. 104) Maungazolus pygmeatus. 105) M. septempunctatus new species.

Figures 148–153. Species distribution maps. 148) Oopterus trechoides new species. 149) Pseudoopterus fiordlandensis new species. 150) P. latipennis. 151) P. otiraensis new species. 152) P. plicaticollis. 153) Synteratus ovalis.