Custotychus lobatus 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

3. Custotychus lobatus Chandler and Geromini , new species ( Figs. 4 , 18a–b , 33 )

Specimens Examined. n = 52. Holotype male: // Mud Creek, Dillard , Rabun Co., GA. 11.VIII.63/ forest floor debris/ H.R. Steeves, Jr., J.D. Patrick, Jr. Collectors / H.R. Steeves, Jr. Collection / [male symbol]/ [red label] HOLOTYPE Custotychus lobatus Chandler & Geromini // ( FMNH) . Paratypes: Alabama: Blount Co.: Blountsville , V-23- 1976 (1M, FMNH) , VII-3-1974 (1F, FMNH) , XII-16-1979 (1F, FMNH) , XII-30-1979, T. King, forest floor (1M, FMNH) . Highland Lake / Copeland Church , VII-13-2011, T. King, berlese litter/mixed deciduous forest (1M, LSAM) . Franklin Co.: The Dismals , VI-17-1961, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris, (1M 1F, FMNH) , same locality, VIII-30- 1958 (1M, FMNH) , VIII-11-1963 (3M 2F, FMNH) , H.R. Steeves Jr. & J.D. Patrick Jr., forest floor debris. Jefferson Co.: Birmingham , Mtn. Brook , III-1-1971 (2M 1F, FMNH) , III-12-1971, T. King, forest floor debris (2M 3F, FMNH) . Homewood , IV-23-1960, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris (1M, FMNH) . Lee Co.: Auburn, Chewacla State Park , IV-15- 1978, T.P. Copeland (1M 1F, DSCC) . Shelby Co.: nr. Westover, The Penitentiary , IX-3-1966, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris at rotten wood (1M, FMNH) . Winston Co.: nr. Natural Bridge Cave , V-8-1965, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris at rotten wood (1F, FMNH) . Georgia: Clarke Co.: 3 mi. N Athens , VI-11/17-1977 (1M, DSCC) , VII-6/10-1976, R. Turnbow , bl trap (1M, RHTC) . Dade Co.: Cloudland Canyon State Park , VI-17- 1962 (1M, FMNH) ; VII-7-1962, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris (1F, FMNH) . Douglas Co.: Hwy. 5 at Dog River , VI-16-1996, R. Turnbow (1M, DSCC) . Meriwether Co.: Greenville , 8th Land District, L.L. 201, V-16-2004 (1M, DSCC) , V-30- 2004 (2M, UGAC) , VI-24-2005, J.H. Chandler, Jr., mercury vapor light trap in wooded area (1M, UGAC) . Rabun Co.: Mud Creek, Dillard , VIII-11- 1963, H.R. Steeves Jr. & J.D. Patrick Jr., forest floor debris (3M 2F, FMNH) . Rabun Co.: Satolah , V-29-1983, D.S. Chandler, sift Rhododendron & mixed leaf litter (1M 1F, UNHC) . North Carolina: Haywood Co.: G[reat] S[moky] M[ountains] N[ational] P[ark], Baxter Creek Trail boulder area, VI-4/5-2005, C. Wright, FIT (1M, LSAM) . Swain Co.: G[reat] S[moky] M[ountains] N[ational] P[ark], boundary nr. Okunaluftee Visitor Center, 600m, VI-17-2006, K. Langdon & S. Higdon, forest litter (3M 3F, LSAM) . Tennessee: Hardin Co.: 0.5 mi. W Olive Hill , 165m, V-28-1991, C.E. Carlton, old growth berleate (1M, LSAM) . Virginia: Lee Co.: Cumberland Gap N [ational] P[ark], Skylight Cave , VII-10-1971, W.A. Shear (1M, CNCI) .

Description. Body: Brown; 1.68–1.90 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 50 facets. Metasternal tubercle ( Fig. 18a, b ) slightly posterior to middle; in lateral view, erect with acute apex; in posterior view, broadly T-shaped, apex flat; posterior face flat, apical width over twice width of narrowest part of stem; tubercle height 0.043 mm, maximum width of apex 0.095 mm, minimum width of stem 0.039 mm [tubercle measurements taken from a specimen from near Okonaluftee Visitor Center, NC; LSAM]. Mesotibiae with acute preapical spur, apical spur bifurcate, without specialized setae around area. Abdomen with ventrite 2 evenly rounded across disc; ventrite 5 with shallow circular impression through length at middle. Aedeagus ( Fig. 4 ) 0.37 mm long; in dorsal view, median lobe short, narrow, margins convergent to subtruncate apex, base of dorsal plate broadly V-shaped, lateral arms elongate and parallel, with apical half of lateral arms membranous and forming long striate membranous area; in lateral view, with lateral arms, somewhat sinuate, basal half darkly sclerotized, large ventral tooth at middle often with 2 points, 1 large and 1 small, occasionally with only 1 large tooth; parameres with margins nearly parallel to rounded apices. Female: Eyes with about 10 facets; mesotibiae lacking spurs.

Collection Data Synopsis. Custotychus lobatus has been taken from March to September, and in December. Most records are from “forest floor debris,” with a few specimens taken by a blacklight trap and at mercury vapor light traps. The most precise collection record indicates Rhododendron and mixed leaf litter. Specimens are present in the collections of CNCI, DSCC, FMNH, LSAM, RHTC, UGAC, and UNHC.

Distribution. This species is found in the Southeastern United States ( Fig. 33 ). Records are from AL, GA, NC, TN, and VA.

Etymology. The long, protruding lobes at the apices of the lateral arms of the dorsal plate suggested this name.

Comments. The base of the dorsal plate is most similar to that of C. turnbowi , but it is more V-shaped in C. lobatus , and the lateral arms are more extended as membranous lobes. The large, ventral tooth of the lateral arms is quite distinct in C. lobatus and is often indistinctly to distinctly bidentate, while in C. turnbowi this is a rounded lobe. The ranges of the two species overlap in Alabama, and specimens from there can only be separated by examining the male genitalia.

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.

Fig. 33. Distribution of Custotychus species in the daggyi species-group: C. chickasaw, C. daggyi, C. lobatus, and C. turnbowi.