Agnosthaetus leviceps 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 : 47

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1649/0010-065X-65.mo4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0818A3A2-AB42-43D8-8F76-4F65F367C584
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4907155
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038787B5-FFB1-5369-44CD-BD4B808CFA6D
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus leviceps Clarke
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

(17) Agnosthaetus leviceps Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 137–139 View Figs , Map 4 View Map 4 )

Paratypes. 2 specimens (2♂). Same data as holotype GoogleMaps , 2♂, FMNH-INS 38380–381 (in NZAC) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus leviceps may be distinguished from all other known Agnosthaetus species by the combination of lack of punctures on the dorsum of the head (cf. A. nitidus , with indistinct punctures), medial pronotal sulcus separated from both anterior setal puncture and basal fovea ( Fig. 24 View Figs , ap, bf; similar to A. vicinus : Fig. 75 View Figs ), incomplete to largely effaced lateral pronotal carina (similar to Fig. 80 View Figs , pc), and absence of an elytral sutural stria. The aedeagus differs from all others with aedeagus “ Type A” in having copious, long apicomedial setae on the median lobe ( Fig. 139 View Figs ).

Description. Color: Attractive, pale brown, and shiny species. Head: Frontal ridge absent. Dorsum impunctate on disc; with distinct shallow punctures only posterolaterally. Dorsal microsculpture absent. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) broadly ovate. 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 antennoocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) with distinct subsidiary carina formed by confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye behind middle (cf. Fig. 59 View Figs ). Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) long, greater than 50% EYL. Subocular surface without microsculpture, completely smooth between punctures (cf. Figs. 63–64 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 16–18 teeth (n =3), all teeth normal, projecting more or less anteriorly ( Fig. 137 View Figs ). Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible more or less identical in both sexes; males with single, mesially directed tooth, without preapical spur (cf. Fig. 189 View Figs ); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from, and terminating posterior to anterior punctures; basally distant from remnant basal foveae (cf. Fig. 75 View Figs ). Distance between medial sulci slightly greater posteriorly. Lateral pronotal sulcus partly to completely interrupted at middle (cf. Figs. 77 View Figs , 80 View Figs , ls). Pronotal basolateral carina present, but only weakly developed. Base of pronotum without pair of median foveae (cf. Fig. 75 View Figs ); without lateral foveae, or with single distinct lateral fovea. Pronotal macrosetal punctures absent (cf. Fig. 77 View Figs ). Medial pronotal seta adjacent to lateral sulcus (cf. Fig. 77 View Figs ). Lateral pronotal carina, anteriorly complete, continuous with anterior pronotal margin and incomplete, usually more or less completely absent beyond middle of pronotum, if present anteriorly then difficult to discern even at high magnification (cf. Fig. 80 View Figs , pc). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum ( Fig. 24 View Figs , pro) impunctate; with distinctly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture; without sutural stria; without macrosetae; 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 absent (cf. Fig. 86 View Figs ); metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture short, somewhat appressed, dorsally more or less evenly projecting posteriorly. Abdominal sternite VI of male with setose apicomedial protuberance. Aedeagus ( Fig. 138 View Figs ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe with rounded lateral lobes and abruptly distinct, broadly acuminate, sharply pointed apicomedian lobe. Apicolateral setae small; apicomedial setae up to 10X longer than apicolateral setae ( Fig. 139 View Figs ). Paramere extending to about level of median lobe apex; in lateral view produced apically into lobe; in dorsal view with outer side gently convex; with 4 large setae at apex.

Etymology. The specific epithet leviceps is a noun in apposition from the Latin levis (smooth) combined with ceps (head) in reference to the unique lack of punctation on the dorsum of the head.

Distribution. ( Map 4 View Map 4 ). South Island: SL.

Remarks. The holotype and paratypes of this species share some unusual and otherwise unique pronotal characters with A. nitidus and A. vicinus . From both of these species, A. leviceps can be distinguished most easily by the lack of the elytral sutural stria. The male secondary sexual character on abdominal sternite VI is a unique structure within Agnosthaetus .