Nesamblyops ovipennis, sp. nov.

Figures. 10C, 12I, 15G–I, 17H, 19

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, in NZAC, labeled: \ Mt.Arthur 1140m Nelson 13–19 Nov 69 J.I. Townsend \ Mats 69/216 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \. PARATYPES (12 specimens, dissected 5 exx.), 1 male and 1 female labeled same as holotype; 1 male labeled: \ 2m . below Lake Cobb Nelson. \ 17.ii. 67 F. Alack \ litter 67/90 \ Nesamblyops oreobius (Broun) Det. I.Townsend 1973 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 1 female labeled: \ Mt.Arthur 13–1500m Nelson 14–19 Nov 69 J.I. Townsend \ Litter 69/227 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 2 males and 1 female labeled: \ Mt.Arthur 1140m Nelson 13–19 Nov 69 J.I. Townsend \ Mats 69/216 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 3 females labeled: \ Devils Thumb Wangapeka \ 19.iv. 67 F. Alack \ litter 67/195 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective (from Latin ovum meaning ‘egg, oval” and pennae meaning “feather, wings”) in the masculine form and refers to the oval shape of the elytra of the new species.

Type locality. New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Mount Arthur .

Recognition. Adults of this species (Fig. 10C) are practically indistinguishable from the adults of many Nesamblyops species based on external characters (e.g., Figs 9B, E) and are distinguished from them by the structures of the male genitalia.

Description. Large for genus (SBL range 1.72–2.01 mm, mean 1.82± 0.124 mm, n=9).

Habitus. Body form (Fig. 10C) markedly convex, elongate ovoid, general proportions wide (WE/SBL 0.41±0.007), head narrow relative to pronotum (WH/WPm 0.69±0.022), proportions of pronotum in comparison to elytra average for genus (WPm/WE 0.75±0.025).

Color. Body color brunneorufous, appendages testaceous.

Prothorax. Pronotum (Fig. 12I) moderately long in comparison to elytra (LP/LE 0.41±0.009) and moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.24±0.021), with lateral margins rectilinear constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.31±0.037). Anterior angles indistinct, posterior angles obtuse (114–124°), rounded. Width between posterior angles greater than between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 0.90±0.033). Basal margin almost rectilinear.

Elytra. Ovoid, narrowly depressed along suture, comparatively long (LE/SBL 0.59±0.007) and moderately wide (WE/LE 0.67±0.018). Humeri completely rounded. Lateral margins slightly divergent at basal half, subparallel at middle and evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 15I) moderately arcuate and moderately twisted. Shaft widening basally, tapering in apical half. Apex curved dorsally with narrowly rounded tip. Apical orifice long, occupies almost half of the shaft length. Ventral margin of median lobe almost straight. Walls of shaft with several poriferous canals scattered across shaft body. Dorsal copulatory sclerites with rC-sclerite and V-contour of moderate sizes, the latter with dorsal branch protruding toward basal orifice (Fig. 15I). Left paramere (Fig. 15G) comparatively wide, with narrow apex, bearing three long setae. Right paramere (Fig. 15H) narrow, of moderate length, bearing three long setae, which are slightly shorter than the length of paramere. Ring sclerite as in Fig. 17H.

Female internal genitalia. Not examined.

Geographical distribution. The range of the species lies in the northwest corner of the South Island and occupies the east-central part of the Kahurangi National Park stretching from the Wangapeka River at the south to the Tasman Mountains at the north (Fig. 19, blue circles).

Habitat. Specimens were collected mostly from litter and [plant] mats.

Relationships. The structure of the male genitalia of N. ovipennis suggests its relatedness to the other species with trisetose parameres and well-developed rC-sclerite, such as N. hobbit and N. canaanensis .