Custotychus turnbowi 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

4. Custotychus turnbowi Chandler and Geromini , new species

( Figs. 5 , 19a–b , 33 )

Specimens Examined. n = 9 9. Holotype male: // Ala. Dale Co. Ft. Rucker Mil. Res. 7 Dec. 1999 R. Turnbow / berlese beech-magnolia litter/ [red label] HOLOTYPE Custotychus turnbowi Chandler & Geromini // ( FMNH) . Paratypes: Alabama: Cleburne Co.: Mt. Cheaha State Park, IX-23-1962, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris (2M 1F, FMNH). Dale Co. : Ft. Rucker Mil [itary Res [ervation], XII-6-2001 (1M, RHTC), XII-13- 2001 (1M, RHTC), I-31-2002, R. Turnbow, berlese beech leaf litter (1M, DSCC); same locality, XII-7-1999 (1M 1F, DSCC), I-9-1998 (2M 1F, RHTC), II-16-2000 (2M 1F, DSCC; 1F RHTC), II-18-2000 (1M, DSCC; 1M 7F RHTC), R. Turnbow, berlese beech magnolia litter; same locality, III-13-1998 (1F, RHTC), III-19-1998 (1F, RHTC), III-22-1991 (1M, DSCC), III-31- 1993 (1M 1F, RHTC), III-7-2005 (2M 1F, RHTC), IV-27-2000 (1F, RHTC), R. Turnbow, berlese leaf litter (1M, DSCC); same locality, III-31-1993, R. Turnbow, leaf litter (1M, DSCC); same locality, III-7-2005 (2M 1F, DSCC), IV-24/ V-1-1995 (2M, DSCC), R. Turnbow; same locality, V-1/8-1995 (4M, DSCC; 3M, RHTC), V-11/15-1995 (3M, RHTC), V-12/16-1994 (1M, RHTC), VI-5/9-1995 (1M, DSCC), VI-9/15-1995 (1M, RHTC), R. Turnbow, flight intercept trap; same locality, V-2/9-1986, R. Turnbow, feces baited pitfall (1M, DSCC); same locality, VI-10/13-1994, R. Turnbow, bl trap (1M, DSCC). Jackson Co. : 5 mi. NW of Princeton, V-19-1972, S. Peck (1M, CNCI). Jefferson Co. : Birmingham, Mtn. Brook, II-10-1971, T. King (1M, FMNH); same locality, II-16-1971 (2M 1F, FMNH), II-21-1975 (1F, FMNH), III-1-1971 (2M 1F, FMNH), III-12-1971 (2M 3F, FMNH), T. King, forest floor debris; same locality, VI-25- 1977, T. King, at light (1M, FMNH); same locality, II-16-1971 (1M, FMNH), III-10-1971 (3F, FMNH), III-21-1971 (1M, FMNH), IV-3-1971 (1M, FMNH), V-20-1971 (2F, FMNH), XI-9- 1971 (1F, FMNH). Birmingham, Shades Mountain , V-30-1980 (1M, FMNH), VII-14-1979 (1M, FMNH), T. King, at light. Homewood, IV-23- 1960, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris (2M 1F, FMNH). Vestavia, V-22-1979 (1M, FMNH), VI-1- 1980 (1M, FMNH), VI-14-1979 (1M, FMNH), VI-3-1982 (1M, FMNH), VI-4-1979 (4M, FMNH), VIII-15-1975 (1M, FMNH), T. King, at light. Vestavia, Rocky Ridge, VIII-19-1979, T. King, at light (1M, FMNH). Shelby Co. : Chelsea, 1 mi. N Fred’ s Place, VI-2-1982, T. King, at light (1M, FMNH). Nr. Westover, The Penitentiary, IX-3-1966, H.R. Steeves Jr., forest floor debris at rotten wood (1M, FMNH). St. Clair Co. : Moody, VI-2-1977, at light (2M, FMNH).

Description. Body: Brown; 1.62–1.70 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 40 facets. Metasternal tubercle ( Fig. 19a, b ) at about 2/3 point of metasternal length; in lateral view, stem vertical, apex acutely pointed; in posterior view, tubercle broadly T-shaped, apex flat, slightly more than twice width of tubercle at narrowest point; posterior face of tubercle flat; tubercle height 0.048 mm, maximum apical width 0.095 mm, minimum stem width 0.043 mm [tubercle measurements based on specimen from Fort Rucker Military Reservation, AL; UNHC]. Mesotibiae with aciculate preapical spur, apical spur bifurcate, lacking specialized setae in this area. Ventrite 2 broadly convex; ventrite 5 with shallow, circular impression extending through length. Aedeagus ( Fig. 5 ) 0.32 mm long; in dorsal view, median lobe elongate, lateral margins slightly convergent to subtruncate apex, base of dorsal plate broadly arcuate and heavily sclerotized, lateral arms with irregular triangular form; in lateral view, apex of median lobe bluntly

rounded, humped at middle, lateral arms of dorsal plate strongly angulate at middle, angled ventrally and heavily sclerotized in basal half, then oriented horizontally in apical half as membranous lobes with narrowly pointed apices; parameres with margins gradually convergent to rounded apices. Female: Eyes with 9–12 facets; mesotibiae lacking apical/preapical spurs.

Collection Data Synopsis. Custotychus turnbowi has been taken in all months but November. Adults were primarily berlesed from leaf litter, particularly beech and magnolia leaf litter, but they also have been frequently taken at light and by flight intercept traps. Specimens are present in the collections of CNCI, DSCC, FMNH, and RHTC.

Distribution. Known only from Alabama ( Fig. 33 ).

Etymology. This species is named for Robert H. Turnbow, whose diligence in collecting in southern Alabama has greatly increased the coleopterological knowledge of the Southeast.

Comments. This species shares with C. lobatus the heavily sclerotized basal portion of the dorsal plate, though in C. turnbowi it is more arcuate, and in C. lobatus it is more broadly V-shaped. The median lobe is longer in C. turnbowi , nearly extending to a point even with the apices of the lateral arms of the dorsal plate, while in C. lobatus the median lobe extends only half the length of the lateral arms. Both have the very broad T-shaped metasternal tubercle. These two species occur in Alabama, with C. lobatus being found throughout the southeastern states, while C. turnbowi is known only from Alabama.

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.