Custotychus rothorum Chandler and Geromini, 1962

Chandler, Donald S. & Geromini, Sarah D., 1962, A Revision of the Eastern Nearctic GenusCustotychusPark and Wagner, 1962 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 1962 (2), pp. 217-242 : 217-242

5. Custotychus rothorum Chandler and Geromini , new species

( Figs. 6 , 20a–b , 34 )

Specimens Examined. n = 44. Holotype male: //ALA: Shelby Co. Montevallo, Aug. 11, 1979, T. K in g, a t l i g ht / [r e d la b e l] H O L O T Y P E Custotychus rothorum Chandler & Geromini // ( FMNH) . Paratypes: Alabama: Jefferson Co .:

Vestavia, Rocky Ridge , VIII-19-1979, T. King, at light (1M, FMNH) . Lee Co.: Auburn , IV-2-1969, E.J. Kiteley (1M, FMNH) . Monroe Co.: Haines Island Park, C.E. Carlton, FIT beech/magnolia for. (1M, LSAM) . Shelby Co.: Montevallo , VII-11- 1979, T. King, at light (1M, FMNH) . Arkansas: Faulkner Co.: Game and Fish Field Trail Demo. Area , V-10/11-1991, C.E. Carlton (1M, LSAM) . Garland Co.: Jessieville , II-8-2015, B. Baldwin; same locality, berlese leaf litter (1M, BBC) ; same locality, V-10-2011 (1M, BBC) , V-31-2011 (1M, BBC) , VII-16-2012 (1M, DSCC) , VIII-22-2012 (1M, DSCC) , VIII-22-2013 (1M, DSCC) , B. Baldwin, UV light trap. Polk Co.: Mena, XII-2- 2009, B. Baldwin, leaf litter Berlese funnel (1M 1F, DSCC) . Pulaski Co.: Little Rock , III-6-2003, B. Baldwin, berlese leaf litter (1M, BBC) . Florida: Hamilton Co.: Jasper , 8 mi. S of Hwy. 129, III-24- 1977, C.W. O’ Brien, berlese mixed hardwood litter (1M, DSCC) . Leon Co.: Coes’ s Landing , L[ake] Talquin , VIII-17-1965, W. Suter, buttress debris walnut (1M 1F, FMNH) . Tallahassee , XII-2-1976, G.B. Marshall, mixed hardwood litter (1M 1F, DSCC) . Georgia: Grady Co.: Calvary , VIII-9- 1965, W. Suter, oak buttress debris (1M, FMNH) . Marion Co.: Highway 41, 1.9 mi. SW Junction 30, IV-2-1995, R. Turnbow (1M 1F, RHTC) . Louisiana: Natchitoches Par.: Kisat [chie] Nat [ional] For [est], Red Dirt W [ildlife] M[anagement] A[rea], IV-27-1985, E.G. Riley (1M, TAMU) . Mississippi: Chickasaw Co.: Natchez Trace , mile 241.1, VII-21- 2003, J.A. MacGown, berlese beside and under rotting log (1M, MEMC) ; same locality, III-30/ VI-7-2003, J.A. MacGown & T. Schiefer, pitfall traps in deciduous forest (2M, MEMC) ; same locality, VII-25/30-2003, J.A. MacGown & T. Schiefer, pitfall traps in deciduous forest (2M, MEMC) . Oktibbeha Co.: Dorman Lake , II-13-1981, R.L. Brown, pine litter in tree (1M, DSCC) . Woods nr. Dorman lake , II-13-1981, R.L. Brown, pine litter in tree (1M, MEMC) . Prentiss Co.: Natchez Trace , mile 288.4, V-19-2003, J.A. MacGown, berlese litter in mixed forest (1M, MEMC) . Scott Co.: Forest , XI-30-1991, K. Stephan (1M, DSCC) . Tishomingo Co.: Tishomingo State Park , V-13-2008, J.A. MacGown, berlese litter in deciduous forest (1M, MEMC) ; same locality, V-26-2010, J.A. MacGown & J.G. Hill, litter from hardwood forest on slope (1M, MEMC) . Winston Co.: Louisville , III-24-1981, G.L. Snodgrass, berlese litter in hardwood forest (1M 2F, MEMC) . Tombigbee National Forest , II-14/21-2000, J.A. MacGown & T. Schiefer, pitfall trap in deciduous forest (2M, MEMC) . Texas: San Jacinto Co.: Sam Houston Nat [ional] For [est], 1 mi. E Big Creek Scenic Ar [ea], Lone Star Trail , III-18-1994, E.G. Riley, berlese forest litter (1M, TAMU) . Possible females: Arkansas: Garland Co.: Jessieville ,

II-23-2011, B. Baldwin, Berlese funnel leaf litter (2F, BBC). Polk Co.: Mena , X-31-2010, B. Baldwin, Berlese funnel leaf litter (1F, BBC) .

Description. Body: Light brown; 1.62–1.74 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 40 facets; metasternal tubercle ( Fig. 20a, b ) at apex of metasternum; in lateral view, curved anteriorly, posterior face concave; in posterior view, apex subtruncate, lateral margins straight to apex or slightly widening to apex; tubercle height 0.083 mm, maximum apical width 0.030 mm, minimum stem width 0.025 mm; metasternal disc impressed anteriorly to tubercle [tubercle measurements taken from specimen from Natchez Trace, Chickasaw Co., MS; MEMC]. Mesotibiae with aciculate preapical spur, apical spur bifurcate, with row of specialized setae by spurs. Ventrite 2 evenly convex at middle, ventrite 6 with small, indistinct circular impression at middle. Aedeagus ( Fig. 6 ) 0.34 mm long; median lobe elongate and narrow, lateral margins parallel apex truncate; in dorsal view, lateral arms of dorsal plate short, appearing briefly bifurcate at apices; in lateral view, 1 spur strongly curved ventrally, other spur directed more apically, median lobe curved ventrally in apical third; parameres with large membranous lobe at apices, with setose inner area on mesal margins. Female: Unknown. Two females were collected at a site and time of year where both C. minor and C. rothorum males have been frequently collected (Jessieville, Arkansas). These have fewer and larger eye facets (about 10 facets) than is found in typical females of C. minor (20–30 small facets) and may be females of C. rothorum . They are tentatively placed as C. rothorum .

Collection Data Synopsis. This species has been collected in all months but January, June, and September. Individuals were generally taken from leaf litters in mixed forests, with a few taken by blacklight traps and pitfall traps. Specimens are present in the collections of BBC, DSCC, FMNH, LSAM, MEMC, RHTC, and TAMU.

Distribution. Custotychus rothorum is present from Florida to Texas and Arkansas ( Fig. 34 ). Specimens were examined from the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, and TX.

Etymology. This species is named for the maternal grandparents of the second author, Elise and Wayne Roth, for their support of her academic and personal endeavors.

Comments. The form and placement of the metasternal tubercle and the form of the genitalia (see characterization of spinosus species-group) link this species to C. spinosus . The genitalia are slightly different in the form of the median lobe (for C. rothorum the lateral margins are parallel, but slightly concave for C. spinosus ). The two species are easily separated by the lack of a tibial spur at the middle of the mesotibiae for C. rothorum .

Figures

Figs. 1–7. Custotychus species. 1) C. natchez, dorsal habitus; 2–7) Aedeagus, dorsal and left lateral views:

Figs. 16–27. Custotychus species, scanning electron micrographs right lateral (a) and posterior (b) views of metasternal tubercle. 16) C. chickasaw; 17) C. daggyi; 18) C. lobatus; 19) C. turnbowi; 20) C. rothorum; 21) C. spinosus; 22) C. verticalis; 23) C. watrousi; 24) C. carloritaorum; 25) C. leei; 26) C. minor; 27) C. natchez. Grid for measurements of 20 or 50m at bottom of micrographs.

Figs. 34–36. Distribution of Custotychus species. 34) Distribution of species in the spinosus and verticalis species-groups: C. rothorum and C. spinosus, and C. cavei, C. verticalis, and C. watrousi; 35) Distribution of C. minor; 36) Distribution of other species in the minor species-group: C. carloritaorum, C. leei, C. natchez, and C. pocahontas.