Agnosthaetus kaikoura Clarke, 2011

Clarke, Dave J., 2011, A Revision of the New Zealand Endemic Rove Beetle Genus Agnosthaetus Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 10) 2011, pp. 1-118 : 57-58

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1649/0010-065X-65.mo4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0818A3A2-AB42-43D8-8F76-4F65F367C584
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038787B5-FFA7-537E-46BE-BE8C8037FCBA
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus kaikoura Clarke
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

(25) Agnosthaetus kaikoura Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 4 View Figs , 158 View Figs , 161 View Figs , Map 6 View Map 6 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “ New Zealand KA| Blue Duck SR [ Scientific Reserve , 380 m, 42°13′60″S, 173°46′60″E]| Kaikoura| 12-Mar-05/ in forest| floor| litter/ FMNH-INS 0000 019 677 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus kaikoura Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011”, in JTNC GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 2 specimens (1♂ 1♀). 1♀, same data as holotype, FMNH-INS 19688 (in JTNC); Spey Downs, 30.ix.1962 [as 31 Sep 1962], 62/15, litter, J.I. Townsend GoogleMaps , 1♂, FMNH-INS 38394 (in NZAC) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus kaikoura can be distinguished from all other Agnosthaetus species by the combination of short temple (<50% EYL; e.g., Fig. 11 View Figs , tm), two elytral ridges ( Fig. 24 View Figs , ek, mr), faint microsculpture of the head and near absence of it from the pronotum and elytra, metathoracic pleural ridge present ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mp), lack of any elytral setae, and paramere with distinct tooth-like projection at middle ( Figs. 158 View Figs , 161 View Figs , arrows).

Description. Color: Darkly pigmented, with thorax and abdominal segment VI nearly black ( Fig. 4 View Figs ). Head: Frontal ridge absent. Dorsum moderately densely punctate; with punctures distributed over entire surface except for small medial impunctate region. Punctures deep, but indistinctly defined; diameter greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance anteriorly less than half puncture diameter, posterolaterally subequal to or greater than puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture present on entire or most of surface; faintly reticulate, fainter posteriorly. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) distinctly slit-like; subcrescentic, width less than puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , sr) distinct; not confused by smaller carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle without distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) with distinct subsidiary carina formed by confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or behind middle (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , ao). Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) short, much less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface more or less evenly microsculptured (cf. Fig. 65 View Figs ). Labrum distinctly sexually dimorphic. Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 18–20 teeth (n =2), with medial row of dorsally projecting teeth, occasionally fused into single broad tooth. Apical labral margin in females broadly convex, not emarginate medially; with 18 teeth (n =1), all teeth subequal in length. Adoral labral surface in males with subapical transverse ridge. Mandible sexually dimorphic; males with single, dorsally directed tooth, without preapical spur (cf. Fig. 189 View Figs ); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture, or at most with faintly reticulate microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from, and terminating posterior to anterior punctures or continuous with anterior punctures (cf. Fig. 76 View Figs ); basally continuous with basal foveae (cf. Fig. 23 View Figs , bf, ms). Distance between medial sulci very slightly greater posteriorly. Pronotal basolateral carina present, distinct ( Figs. 73–74 View Figs , bp). Pronotal macrosetal punctures indistinct. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci (cf. Fig. 75 View Figs ). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) with distinct reticulate microsculpture. Prosternum with faintly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture, or with at most very faint microsculpture; without macrosetae; laterally with 2 ridges (cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mer) with at most faint microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , m) with distinct reticulate microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge present, fully developed; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) incomplete posteriorly, forming elongate oval punctiform impression. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture long, dorsally with radiating fans of setae either side of midline, and laterally. Abdominal sternite IV of male with surface very slightly impressed apicomedially, flanked by small diffuse patches of coarse acuminate setae; V with surface impressed apicomedially, flanked by coarse acuminate setae forming small tufts apically, apex of sternite slightly sinuous. Aedeagus ( Fig. 158 View Figs ): “ Type B” (see description on p. 8). Median lobe with apical part delimited ventrally from basal part ( Fig. 158 View Figs , arrow). Apical part of median lobe broadly triangular, produced into broadly acute, sharp point. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae long ( Fig. 161 View Figs ). Paramere not exceeding apex of median lobe; in lateral view produced apically into lobe; with apical part perpendicular to median lobe; in dorsal view with outer side more or less straight; with distinct mesal tooth at middle (visible in ventral view; Figs. 158 View Figs , left arrow; 161, arrow); with 4 setae at apex.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and is taken from the only known region of occurrence in New Zealand, and is also meant to indicate that this species is the only one known from that vast region.

Distribution. ( Map 6 View Map 6 ). South Island: KA.

Remarks. Agnosthaetus kaikoura is a very attractively colored species with distinctly darker head and thorax and lighter abdomen, and can be immediately distinguished from A. vicinus , with which it is superficially similar, by the much shorter temples, approximately one quarter the eye length, and also by the combination of the posteriorly microsculptured head, the less distinct sublongitudinal ridge, the presence of distinct basal pronotal foveae, and the continuation of the medial sulcus with the basal fovea. Additionally, the male labrum is different from that of A. vicinus ( Fig. 162 View Figs ), with males having distinctly up-turned teeth medially with a transverse ridge near the apex of the epipharynx (visible only when mandibles spread).