Sonoma caterinoi, Ferro, 2016

Ferro, Michael L., 2016, Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America, Insecta Mundi 2016 (472), pp. 1-57 : 11

5. Sonoma caterinoi new species

Fig. 5 , 54 ; Map 7.

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.21 long, 0.33 wide; pronotum 0.34 long, 0.39 wide; elytra 0.43 long, 0.26 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.65; total length 1.90. Body brown, maxillary papli and legs paler. Body covered in elongate setae (greater than half the length of the eye).

Head. Eyes reduced, maximum length in dorsal view 0.79x length of first antennal segment, with approximately 12 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 0.95x width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with indistinct sutural foveae; 1 fovea lateral to sutural fovea; central row of 3 foveae in basal 1/3. Apparently brachypterous. Metatibia unmodified.

Abdomen. Tergite IV without transverse patch of microtrichia. Basal lateral foveae obscured, weak if present. Basal pubescence present on all ventrites.

Aedeagus. Left paramere: oval; 2/3 length of endophallus; with tuft of lateral subapical setae approximately 1.5x longer than paramere; central ventral shelf with tuft of short setae. Endophallus: deflexed left in basal 1/4; approximately same width throughout; tip widened with apical and subapical processes directed anteriorly. Right paramere: widest at middle; ventral tuft of setae originating below midline, setae subequal in length to paramere; ventral shelf above midline against mesal border with tuft of short setae; three part digitate process at apex.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * CA: Riverside Co. 33.8093°N, 116.7761°W SBNF, UC James Reserve v.19-26.2005, M.Caterino unbaited pitfall / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0029957 (1♂). Deposited in SBMNH.

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma caterinoi is known from a single specimen collected in Riverside Co., California.

Comments. The single specimen was collected in an unbaited pitfall trap during May. The reduced eyes, apparent brachyptery, and collection method indicate that the species may be associated with more subterranean habitats than its congeners.

Aedeagal characters of Sonoma caterinoi are similar to those of S. dolabra . The two can be separated based on the following characters, S. dolabra in brackets []: left paramere with subapical setae longer than paramere [subapical lateral setae equal to or less than length of paramere]; endophallus with apical processes projecting anteriorly [apical processes projecting posteriorly]; right paramere with ventral tuft of setae originating below midline, setae subequal in length to paramere [without ventral tuft of setae, all setae shorter than paramere].

Etymology. Sonoma caterinoi is named for Michael Stephen Caterino, collector of the type specimen and creator and first director of the California Beetle Project.

Figures

Figures 1–6. Sonoma spp. holotype habiti. 1) S. agitator. 2) S. cardiac. 3) S. carltoni. 4) S. cataloochee. 5) S. caterinoi. 6) S. chandleri.

Figures 53–55. Aedeagi of Sonoma spp. 53) S. dilopha Marsh and Schuster. 54) S. caterinoi new species. 55) S. cataloochee new species. Right side of figures is anatomical left.