Custotychus leei 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

11. Custotychus leei Chandler and Geromini , new species

( Figs. 12 , 25a–b , 36 )

Specimens Examined. n = 124. Holotype male: // USA:OH:Huron CO., Dublin Rd., Bronson Twp., X-23-2005, mesic woods, Lee & Sheets, ex: tree moss, Climacium americanum / [red label] HOLOTYPE Custotychus leei Chandler & Geromini // (FMNH). Paratypes: Alabama: Monroe Co.: Big Flat Creek, V-27-1995, C.E. Carlton, upland deciduous berlese (5M 6F, LSAM). Wilcox Co.: Pineapple, VIII-30, Hubbard & Schwarz (1M, USNM). Illinois: [state locality only], Brendel (1M, MCZC). Cook Co.: Elk Grove, X-15-1942 ,, forest floor debris (3M 3F, FMNH). Union Co.: Dongola (Hogam Bottoms), VII-29-1968, D. Dillow, oak butress (1M 2F, FMNH). Mississippi: Oktibbeha Co.: 3 mi. W Adaton, VI-10-1998, T.L. Schiefer, blacklight trap (1M, MEMC). Ohio: Ashtabula Co. : Geneva Twp., West Geneva Swamp, VIII-30-2013, J.K. Bissell, Berlese funnel, ex: mixed moss under Carex bromoides (7M 1F, DSCC); XI-22-2013, J.K. Bissell, Carex bromoides area. berlese funnel, ex. Atrichum crispulum moss (1M 1F, DSCC). Geneva, Geneva Swamp, V-27-2008, Bissell & Kriska, swamp forest, mosses with Carex bromoides (2M 2F, DSCC). Cuyahoga Co.: Westlake, Bradley Woods Reservoir, X-11-2003, H.J. Lee, swamp forest berl. Sphagnum moss (1F, DSCC). Franklin Co.: 2 mi. NE Columbus, IX-13-1975, L.E. Watrous, berlese leaf litter (1M 2F, DSCC). Columbus, III-13-1977, L.E. Watrous, sift under rotten logs (2F, DSCC); III-20-1976 (1M, DSCC); XI-20- 1976, L.E. Watrous, sift leaf litter (1F, DSCC). Hocking Co.: Enterprise, VII-29-1979, L.E. Watrous, sift rotten wood (1M, DSCC). Huron Co.: Bronson Twp., Dublin Rd., VI-13-2004, H.J. Lee, mesic woods, ex. Carex clumps (1M 2F, DSCC); I-2- 2006, T.C. Sheets, mesic woods, berl. Climacium americanum (tree moss) (3M 2F, DSCC); IV-13- 2003 (1F, DSCC), IV-26-2003 (3M 2F, DSCC), IX-26-2003 (5M 7F, DSCC), VII-6-2003 (2M 6F, DSCC), X-11-2003 (1F, DSCC), X-12-2003, H.J. Lee, mesic woods, berl. Climacium americanum (tree moss) (2F, DSCC); same data except, IX-19- 2004 (3M 2F, DSCC), VI-13-2004, H.J. Lee, mesic woods, berl. tree mosses (2M 2F, DSCC); same data except, VII-4-2004, H.J. Lee, mesic woods, ex.: sedge clumps (1F, DSCC); same data except, IX-18-2005 (6M 2F, DSCC), VI-12-2005 (2M 1F, DSCC), X-23-2005, H.J. Lee & T.C. Sheets, mesic woods, ex: tree moss, Climacium americanum , (7M 3F, DSCC); same data except, X-9-2005, H.J. Lee & T.C. Sheets, mesic woods, vacuumed tree moss (3M 3F, DSCC). Bronson Twp., Peru Olena Rd., IV-20-2003, T.C. Sheets, mesic woods, berl. mosses (2F, DSCC). Texas: Wood Co.: Godwin

Woods, 3.5. mi. SW Hainesville, IV-23/30-2000, M. Yoder, yellow pan (1M, TAMU).

Description. Body: Rarely brown to usually dark brown; 1.60–1.64 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 35–40 facets. Metasternal tubercle ( Fig. 25a, b ) with apex at about 2/3 point of metasternal length; in lateral view, tubercle erect/straight, apex obliquely angled to acute anterior margin, posterior face concave; in posterior view, apical portion with preapical angles, stem width about 2/3 width at apex; tubercle height 0.050 mm, maximum width near apex 0.026 mm, minimum width of stem 0.019 mm [tubercle measurements based on a specimen from Dublin Road, Bronson Twp, OH; UNHC]. Mesotibiae with preapical spur aciculate, apical spur briefly bifurcate at apex. Ventrite 2 shallowly impressed in middle third, ventrite 6 with small, shallow, circular impression at middle extending through length. Aedeagus ( Fig. 12 ) 0.33 mm long; in dorsal view, median lobe elongate, about half length of basal bulb, lateral margins evenly expanded to middle of apical (exposed) portion, margins narrowing to broadly truncate apex; in lateral view, sinuate, evenly thick in basal half, then margins smoothly narrowing to acutely pointed ventrally curving apex; lateral arms of dorsal plate short, about half length of median lobe, in dorsal view evenly curving medially to pointed apices, in lateral view lobes strongly curved ventrally in apical third, with small preapical acute spine directed posteriorly; parameres in dorsal view gradually widening to membranous apices, in lateral view parameres sinuate with margins of about equal width through length. Female: Eyes with 25–30 facets. Mesotibiae lacking apical spurs.

Collection Data Synopsis. Specimens were collected in all months but February and December. This species has been generally collected from forest floor debris or leaf litter, but focused sampling by Harry J. Lee and J. K. Bissell produced a strong association of this species with tree mosses ( C. americanum ) or grasses ( Carex bromoides Schkuhr , Cyperaceae ) in mesic woods in Ohio. Material is present in the collections of DSCC, FMNH, LSAM, MCZC, MEMC, TAMU, and USNM.

Distribution. Custotychus leei occurs from northeastern Ohio to east Texas ( Fig. 36 ). Individuals were examined from AL, IL, MS, OH, and TX.

Etymology. This species is named for Harry Lee of Rocky River, Ohio, whose enthusiasm for sampling at various conservation lands under the auspices of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History led to accumulation of most of the known specimens of this species.

Comments. This species, together with C. natchez and C. watrousi , are the three most common species in the Midwest. The females of these species cannot be separated except by association with males. The male metasternal tubercles of C. leei and C. watrousi are obliquely truncate in lateral view, and in posterior view the apices are apically pointed with two lateral angles, while for C. natchez the apex is angulate in lateral view, and in posterior view the apex is rounded with the lateral margins only slightly concave. The lateral arms of the dorsal lobe in C. leei are relatively short and have a distinct ventral spur, while for C. watrousi the lateral arms extend to the apex of the median lobe and lack a ventral spur.

Figures

Figs. 8–15. Custotychus species, dorsal and left lateral view of aedeagus. 8) C. cavei; 9) C. verticalis; 10) C. watrousi;

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.