Agnosthaetus impressus 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 : 44-45

(15) Agnosthaetus impressus Clarke , new species

( Figs. 119 , 131 , 135 , Map 4 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with five labels: “New Zealand NN| Oparara R [river?]| Karamea| 11 Mar 1971 | J.I. Townsend / litter 71/47/ FMNH- INS 0000 038 392 / Duplicate| specimens| in alcohol/ HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus impressus Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011”, in NZAC . Paratypes. 19 specimens (9♂ 10♀). NEW ZEALAND: South Island: Nelson, Totaranui / Waihui Ridge , 7.v.1967, 67/198, litter, F. Alack , 1♀, FMNH-INS 48490 (in NZAC); Totaranui Saddle , 29.ix.1951, E.S. Gourlay , 1♂, FMNH-INS 48019 (in NZAC); 27.ix.1951, E.S. Gourlay , 2♂, FMNH-INS 48245–246 (in NZAC); NN: Aorere, Gouland Downs, Blue Duck Crk. , 762 m (as 2500 ft), 40°53′31″S, 172°17′23″E [coord.= Blue Duck Creek], 5.ii.1966, 66/65, moss on rocks, J.I. Townsend , 1♀, FMNH-INS 48492 (in NZAC); Canaan [as Cannan, Nelson], 28.ii.1964, 64/139, litter, G. Kuschel , 1♀, FMNH-INS 48204 (in NZAC); Heaphy Trk., Gouland Downs Hut , 40°53′S, 172°21′E, 10.xi.1999, RL 453, sifted leaf litter, R. Leschen & G. Hall , 1♀, FMNH-INS 38389 (in NZAC); Heaphy Trk., Mackay Hut , 40°53′S, 172°13′E, 8.xi.1999, RL 450, sifted leaf litter, R. Leschen & G. Hall , 1♂, FMNH-INS 38386 (in NZAC); Kahurangi N.P., Cobb Dam Rd., Asbestos Track [near ANMT 727], 450 m, ANMT 1160, 41°6.333′S, 172°43.174′E, mixed broadleaf (incl. Nothofagus fusca )-podocarp forest, 18.xii.2005, FMHD#2005-111, berl., leaf & log litter, A. Solodovnikov, D. Clarke, et al ., 1♂, 1♀ (in FMNH); Kaihoka Lakes, Pakawau (20 km NW) [“ 20 km SW” on label in error; should be NW], 40°33.222′S, 172°35.652′E [coord.=Kaihoka Lakes], palm forest, 20.v.1982, FMHD#82-590, litter, S. Peck , 1♂, FMNH-INS 48231 (in FMNH); Karamea Bluff , 41°31′S, 172°1′E, 9.ii.1999, RL 275, berl., sifting, R. Leschen & R. Hoare , 1♀, KUNHM-ENT SM0673519 (in KSEM); Karamea , Little Wanganui R., 41°21′9″S, 172°11′0″E [coord.= Little Wanganui River], 24.vi.1967, 67/209, litter, F. Alack , 1♂, FMNH-INS 38393 (in NZAC); Karamea, Oparara River (? as “R.”), 41°11′30″S, 172°11′47″E [coord.=Oparara River], 11.iii.1971, 71/47, litter, J.I. Townsend , 2♀, FMNH-INS 38390–391 (in NZAC); Mangarakau, Collingwood (13 km W), 40°38.526′S, 172°28.59′E [coord.= Mangarakau], mixed forest, 20.v.1982, FMHD#82- 589, litter, S. Peck , 2♂, FMNH-INS 48229–230 (in FMNH); Nelson, West Haven Inlet [variant of Whanganui Inlet], Knuckle Hill , 470 m, 40°38.28′S, 172°33.84′E [coord.=Knuckle Hill], 2.iii.1970, 70/144, swards, J.S. Dugdale , 1♀, FMNH-INS

48489 (in NZAC); Washbourn Res., Takaka (13 km NW), 10 m, 40°46′11″S, 172°42′19″E [coord.= Washbourne Scenic Reserve ], beech forest, 19.v.1982, FMHD#82-588, beech log litter, S. Peck, 1♀, FMNH-INS 48218 (in FMNH) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus impressus may be easily distinguished from all other species of Agnosthaetus lacking microsculpture on the head and thorax by the presence of a distinct impression at the basal margin of the mentum (similar to Fig. 68 ). Other external diagnostic characters are listed in the diagnosis of A. brouni (see Diagnosis for that species, p. 35). The paramere differs from all other species in the brouni species-group in being slender and nearly straight in both dorsal and lateral views ( Fig. 131 ), and the median lobe has distinctly stout setae apicolaterally ( Fig. 135 , arrow).

Description. Color: Variable, pale yellowish to reddish brown, with or without darker elytra and abdominal segment VI. Head: Frontal ridge present (cf. Fig. 12 , fr). Dorsum sparsely punctate; with punctures distributed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly on disc, middle part impunctate. Punctures variable, ranging from deep and more or less well-defined to shallow and indistinct; diameter greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance approximately 0.5–1.0X puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture absent. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 , dt) distinctly slit-like; width subequal to or less than puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 , 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 , arrow) usually without, or else only indistinct, subsidiary carinae. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or behind middle (cf. Fig. 13 , ao). Temple ( Fig. 11 , tm) short, less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface with narrow, well-demarcated band of microsculpture (cf. Fig. 63 , bm). Labrum distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 119 ). Apical labral margin in males strongly emarginate medially, evenly dentate but with medial teeth indistinct or reduced, with 18–28 teeth (n =8), all teeth normal, projecting more or less anteriorly. Apical labral margin in females broadly convex, not emarginate medially; with 29 teeth (n =1), medial tooth elongate, twice length of others. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible more or less identical in both sexes; males and females with single, mesially directed tooth, males with distinct preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 , arrow); females without spur. Mentum with distinct basomedian groove (cf. Fig. 68 ). Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from and terminating posterior to anterior punctures (cf. Fig. 78 ). Distance between medial sulci slightly greater posteriorly. Pronotal basolateral carina absent (cf. Fig. 78 ). Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , ap) absent; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , mu) absent, or present and variably distinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 , bu) absent. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci (cf. Fig. 78 ). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum without microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 , e) without microsculpture; with 2 macrosetae, not set in punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 24 , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 , mer) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 , m) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge absent, or at most with longitudinal portion indistinct; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture long, dorsally with indistinct radiating fans of setae either side of midline. Abdominal sternite V of male with small diffuse patch of modified setae near apex; VI with small diffuse patch of modified setae near apex. Aedeagus ( Fig. 131 ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe distinctly trilobate, with rounded lateral lobes, with abruptly distinct, broadly acuminate, sharply pointed apicomedian lobe. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 135 ); with additional patch of much stouter setae ( Fig. 135 , arrow). Paramere not exceeding apex of median lobe; slender in both dorsal and lateral view; in dorsal view with outer side irregularly curving; with 4 large setae at apex.

Etymology. The name impressus is an adjective from Latin meaning pressed into, and refers to the diagnostically important impressed basal margin of the mentum in this species.

Distribution. ( Map 4 ). South Island: NN.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: Nothofagus, Rhopalostylus , and mixed broadleaf forest. Specimens have been taken from leaf litter and moss. Phenology: year-round. Elevation: 10– 762 m.

Remarks. In order to consistently observe the mentum character, one must view the mentum at sometimes a low angle.

Figures

Map 4. Geographic distribution of all georeferenced specimens of South Island species in the Agnosthaetus brouni and Agnosthaetus ecarinatus species-groups. Triangles = A. impressus; star = A. ecarinatus; circles = A. zonatus; squares = A. bicolor; Xs = A. nitidus; triangle with dot = A. leviceps.

Figs. 113–120. Male (left) and female (right) labra of species in the Agnosthaetus brouni species-group, dorsal (anterior margin) view. 113) A. brouni; 114) A. tumidus; 115) A. aequalis; 116) A. akatarawa; 117) A. zonatus; 118) A. bicolor; 119) A. impressus; 120) A. nitidus. Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 129–132. Aedeagi of species in the Agnosthaetus brouni species-group, dorsal (left) and right lateral (right) views. 129) A. zonatus; 130) A. bicolor; 123) A. impressus; 124) A. nitidus. Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 133–136. Apex of median lobe of species in the Agnosthaetus brouni species-group, ventral view.

Figs. 63–68. Heads of Agnosthaetus spp., ventral view. 63) A. brouni; 64) A. stilbus, oblique view; 65) A. chiasma;

Figs. 10–13. Head capsules of Agnosthaetus spp. 10) A. stilbus; 11) A. rodmani; 12) A. brouni; 13) A. chiasma. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 189–194. Mandibles of Agnosthaetus spp., dorsal view (189–193, left; 194, right). 189) A. newtoni; 190) A. falx; 191) A. stenomastax; 192) A. heteromastax (Rakeahua Valley); 193) A. heteromastax (Big South Cape Island); 194) A. heteromastax (Twilight Bay). Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 75–78. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 75) A. vicinus; 76) A. stilbus; 77) A. nitidus; 78) A. brouni. Scale bar =

Figs. 69–74. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 69) A. chiasma; 70) A. rodmani; 71) A. heteromastax; 72) A. stenomastax;

Figs. 23–24. Agnosthaetus cariniceps, thorax. 23) Dorsal view; 24) Left lateral view. Scale bars = 100 mm.