Agnosthaetus orongo 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 : 51-52

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/B833A7C2-E761-4E29-866A-7E821039050A
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:B833A7C2-E761-4E29-866A-7E821039050A
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus orongo Clarke
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

(21) Agnosthaetus orongo Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 145 View Figs , 150 View Figs , 154 View Figs )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “ Orongorongo Valley | New Zealand WN| Mar. 76 AM & MJM [A. Moeed & M.J. Meads]| Broadleaf litter/ [duplicate typed version of original label]/ FMNH-INS 0000 048 428 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus orongo Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011”, in MONZ. Original label is deteriorated from years in alcohol vial, a duplicate label has been attached to specimen . Paratypes. 8 specimens (2♂ 6♀). NEW ZEALAND: North Island: WN: Orongorongo Valley , iii.1976, broadleaf litter, AM & MJM [A. Moeed & M.J. Meads] , 2♀, FMNH- INS 19792–793 , 4♀, FMNH-INS 48429–432, 1♂, FMNH-INS 66681 (in MONZ); Orongorongo Valley , broadleaf forest, iv.1976, pit trap, A. Moeed , 1♂, FMNH-INS 19787 (in MONZ) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus orongo can be distinguished from all other species of Agnosthaetus by the combination of the normal semi-circular eye (similar to Figs. 57–60 View Figs ), distinctly rounded, shallow dorsal tentorial sulcus, which contrasts significantly with the usual slit-like or narrowly ovate appearance of this groove (e.g., Figs. 10 View Figs , 60 View Figs , dt), distinct basal mental tooth (as in Fig. 66 View Figs ), metathoracic pleural ridge present ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mp), and lack of microsculpture on the head and thorax. The aedeagus may be distinguished from those of the similar species A. imitator and A, aorangi by the distinctly waisted apical part of the median lobe and the short apical lobe of the paramere, together with the pair of larger apical parameral setae ( Fig. 150 View Figs , cf. Figs. 148, 149 View Figs ).

Description. Color: More or less uniformly reddish brown. Head: Frontal ridge present (cf. Fig. 12 View Figs , fr). Dorsum sparsely punctate; with punctures distributed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly on disc, middle part impunctate. Punctures shallow, rather indistinct; diameter subequal to or less than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance approximately equal to or greater than puncture diameter, less posterolaterally. Dorsal microsculpture absent, or present only anterior to dorsal tentorial sulci; faintly reticulate. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) broadly ovate; width twice puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , sr) distinct; not confused by smaller carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle with distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) usually without, or else only indistinct, subsidiary carinae. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at about middle. Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) short, less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface more or less evenly microsculptured (cf. Fig. 65 View Figs ). Labrum not distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 145 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 19–21 teeth (19 in two, 21 in one), all teeth normal, projecting more or less anteriorly. Apical labral margin in females broadly convex, not emarginate medially; with 16–22 teeth (n =4), all teeth subequal in length. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without 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. Mentum with distinct basomedian tooth (cf. Figs. 65–66 View Figs ). Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from and terminating posterior to anterior punctures. Distance between medial sulci subequal along entire length. Pronotal basolateral carina absent (cf. Figs. 23 View Figs , 69 View Figs , 77 View Figs ), or present, but only weakly developed. Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , ap) indistinct; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , mu) distinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 View Figs , bu) indistinct. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci (cf. Figs. 75–76 View Figs ). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum with faintly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture; with two macrosetae, not set in punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mer) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , m) shiny, without 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 short, somewhat appressed, dorsally more or less evenly projecting posteriorly but with middle setae directed posteromedially. Abdominal sternite IV of male with surface very slightly impressed apicomedially; V with surface impressed apicomedially, flanked by coarse acuminate setae forming small tufts apically, apex of sternite slightly sinuous; VI with surface impressed and nearly glabrous apicomedially; VII with surface nearly glabrous apicomedially. Aedeagus ( Fig. 150 View Figs ): “ Type B” (see description on p. 8). Median lobe with apical part delimited ventrally from basal part ( Fig. 150 View Figs , arrow). Apical part of median lobe with sides distinctly narrowed at middle, forming rounded lateral lobes, gradually produced concavely to narrowly sharpened point. Apicolateral setae small; apicomedial setae up to 10X longer than apicolateral setae ( Fig. 154 View Figs ). Paramere extending to about level of median lobe apex; 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 2 small and 2 larger setae at apex.

Etymology. The specific epithet orongo is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality in the Orongorongo Valley, east of Wellington.

Distribution. North Island: WN.

Remarks. This species, along with A. aorangi and A. imitator , clearly form a closely-related, probably monophyletic species complex endemic to the lower North Island, and share similar aedeagal characters. The aedeagus is most similar to that of A. aorangi , but differs in having a broader and waisted median lobe, and the parameres have two large setae apicoventrally ( Fig. 150 View Figs ). Agnosthaetus orongo may also be distinguished from the other species by the male secondary sexual characters, particularly sternite V, and the male labrum without the dorsal, fin-like teeth of A. aorangi .