Paraquedius marginicollis sp. nov.

Figs 2H, 5B, 8A-F, 9G, 11D (map)

Quedius (Paraquedius) puncticeps Horn (misidentification): Smetana 1981 (distribution records); Brunke et al. 2016, 2019, 2021 (phylogeny).

Type locality.

5.4 miles southeast of Seiad Valley [probably at O’Neil Creek], Siskiyou County, California, United States.

Type material.

Holotype (male, CNC): Siskiyou County, 5.4 mi SE Seiad Valley, 457 m, 4.VII.1976, #1272, L. & N. Herman [printed label] / CNC977001 [identifier] / HOLOTYPE Paraquedius marginicollis Brunke, des A. Brunke 2022 [red printed label]. Paratypes (19, CNC, FMNH, UTCI, MCZ). Same data as holotype (2 females, CNC).

Canada: British Columbia: Vancouver Island: ‘V.I’ [no data] (1 female, CNC); Darling River, Pacific Rim National Park, 13.VII.1975, J.M. Campbell & B.A. Campbell (1 male, CNC); 10 mi E [Port] Alberni, MacMillan Provincial Park, 26.V.1968, Campbell and Smetana (1 female, CNC); Lower Mainland: Hells Gate, rest stop approx. 2 km S on Hwy 1, mountain stream, under weeds, 17.IX.1982, B & J. Carr (1 male, CNC).

United States: California: ‘Cal.’ (1 female, MCZ); El Dorado Co.: 0.7 mi E Pacific House, 38.758, -120.493, 1190 m, ex. screening flume, 18.VI.1989, A.R. Hardy & D. Carlson (1 male, UTCI); Humboldt Co.: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, ca. 2 mi S Fern Canyon, base of Gold Bluffs, 41.3748, -124.07, 10 m, scrubby coastal forest, on algae and vertical rock face at seep, 18.VI.2006, A. Newton & M. Thayer (1 female, FMNH); Marin Co.: Samuel P. Taylor State Park, 4.V.1968, Campbell and Smetana (1, CNC); Napa Co.: 10.1 mi N Calistoga, 579 m, flood debris, forest stream, 21.V.1976, A. Newton & M. Thayer (1 male, CNC); San Bernardino Co.: 1 mi SW [W] Mountain Home Village, 15.III.1983, A. Smetana (1 female, CNC); Camp Angelus [= Angelus Oaks], 1.VII.1970, K. Stephan (1 female, CNC); Trinity Co.: Upper Canyon Creek Meadows, 16 mi N Junction City, 1463 m, 13-19.VII.1979, J.M. & B.A. Campbell (1 female, CNC); Tulare Co.: Ash Mountain Power Station [Sequoia National Park], 23.XI.1982, J.A. Halstead (1, CNC); Oregon: Benton Co.: Mary’s Peak, 1158 m, 27.VII.1979, J.M. & B.A. Campbell (1 female, CNC); Curry Co.: Agness Rd., crossing at Wake Up Rilea Creek, under stones and in little pools of water along shady, cascading creek, 10.VIII.1978, B.F. & J.L. Carr (1 male, CNC); Jackson Co.: Highway 140, Little Butte Creek, 23.VI.1974, A. & D. Smetana (1 male, CNC); Washington: Clallam Co.: 6.5 miles N Sappho, 366 m, 16.VII.1978, #1669, L. & N. Herman (1 male, CNC.

All paratypes with: PARATYPE Paraquedius marginicollis Brunke, des A. Brunke 2022 [yellow printed label]

Etymology.

The species epithet refers to the diagnostic pale margin of the pronotum.

Diagnosis.

Paraquedius marginicollis is most easily distinguished from the only other species of the genus by the pale base of antennomere 1 and margins of the pronotum. For other differences see the key above.

Description.

Measurements ♂ (n = 5): HW/HL 1.04-1.09; PW/PL 1.01-1.08; EW/EL 1.13-1.17; ESut/PL 0.83-0.88; PW/HW 0.99-1.07; forebody length 4.0-4.3 mm.

Measurements ♀ (n = 5): HW/HL 1.06-1.10; PW/PL 1.01-1.08; EW/EL 1.11-1.17; ESut/PL 0.86-0.89; PW/HW 1.01-1.08; forebody length 4.3-4.5 mm.

Similar to P. puncticeps and differing only in the following: antennomeres 1 and 2 with pale base (Fig. 5B); marginal area of pronotum and at least extreme base of elytra, suture and sometimes scutellar area, paler (Fig. 2H); maxillary palpi usually slightly paler; head and pronotum with microsculpture more distinct; frons with central glabrous area not reaching posteriad to middle of eyes (Fig. 5B); frons with pair of impressions shallower and usually more linear, forming a border around raised central area (Fig. 5B); elytra with punctures slightly finer, disc always strongly uneven, with metallic greenish blue reflection; abdominal tergites with central, sparsely punctate to impunctate, raised areas, in addition to usual basal impressions; whorls of pale setae on tergites appearing more distinct from surrounding setae; male with emargination of sternite VIII slightly shallower, about twice as wide as deep; tergite X more slender, with narrower apex and setae more restricted to apical area; sternite IX with apex broadly, shallowly emarginate; median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view subparallel-sided, with truncate or broadly rounded apex (Fig. 8A, B); median lobe in lateral view with short apical area that is acute to obtusely pointed (Fig. 8C, D); paramere varying from slightly longer to slightly shorter than median lobe, spoon-shaped to lancet-shaped (Fig. 8E, F), peg setae forming long, oval-shaped median field (Fig. 8E, F). Female with tergite X shorter, with apex broader and truncate (Fig. 9G).

Distribution.

Canada: BC. United States: CA, OR, WA.

Bionomics.

Specimens with microhabitat data were collected at a variety of elevations (near sea-level to 1463 m), on or under surfaces (under rocks, on vertical rockface), in association with running water, including mountain streams, vertical seeps and waterfalls. The specimen from flood debris was likely washed out of its normal microhabitat by heavy rains.

Comments.

Initially, it was thought that the specimen from Clallam County, Washington represented yet another species, as the paramere is remarkably lancet-like (Fig. 8E) and longer than the median lobe, while most specimens have a spoon-shaped paramere that is shorter than the median lobe. With further dissections, a few intermediate forms were found, though this specimen still represents the extreme of variation.