Amaroxenus arnaudensis Larochelle and Larivière, 2022

Larochelle & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2022, Synopsis of the tribe Amarotypini in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Insecta Mundi 2022 (942), pp. 1-30 : 12

Amaroxenus arnaudensis Larochelle and Larivière , new species

Fig. 28 , 46

Amaroxenus arnaudensis Larochelle and Larivière , new species. Holotype: female (NZAC) labeled “ NEW ZEALAND MB Rainbow ski field, St Arnaud Ra [=Range] 26 Feb 2010 T.R. Buckley, R. Leschen, L. Dunning (typed) / TB334 -41.86 172.85’E 1675m under rocks (typed) / Sp. 30 (hand-written) / BOLD NZGBS047-18 DNA Sequenced (typed; blue label) / NZ Arthropod Collection Private Bag 92170 Auckland New Zealand NZAC04165581 (barcode label; typed) / HOLOTYPE ♀ Amaroxenus arnaudensis Larochelle & Larivière, 2022 (red label; typed).” Paratype: one female (NZAC) from the same locality as the holotype, bearing a blue paratype label.

Description. Body length 6.5–6.6 mm. Head, pronotum, and elytra rufopiceous; abdomen rufotestaceous; antennal segments 1–4 rufotestaceous, 5–11 rufopiceous; palpi, tibiae, and tarsi testaceous; femora rufotestaceous. Microsculpture weak, isodiametric on head (almost granulate), moderately transverse on pronotum and elytra. Iridescence present on pronotum and elytra. Shiny on head, pronotum, and elytra. Head. Labrum strongly transverse. Eyes slightly convex. Thorax. Pronotum strongly convex, obsoletely punctate across base, obsoletely wrinkled medially and across base, subcordate, widest before middle; apex subtruncate; anterolateral angles poorly developed, obtuse; anterior bead incomplete, obsolete medially; sides moderately rounded, slightly sinuate posteriorly; lateral beads narrow throughout; lateral depressions absent; posterolateral angles obtuse; laterobasal foveae rounded, moderately wide, shallow, separated from lateral depressions by a pronounced convexity; posterior bead incomplete, obsolete laterally. Legs. Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1–4 of females moderately dilated. Elytra. Strongly convex. Sides strongly rounded. Striae shallow, finely punctate; stria 3 with two or three poorly developed, fine setiferous punctures. Intervals slightly convex. Umbilicate series with 14 or 15 setiferous punctures. Apices angulate. Aedeagus. Male unknown.

Material examined. 2 specimens ( NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 46 ). South Island: MB –Saint Arnaud Range (Rainbow Skifield).

Ecology. Alpine. Epigean. Fellfields. Open ground. Nocturnal; hides during the day under stones.

Biology. Seasonality: February. Teneral: February. Predacious (based on mouthpart morphology).

Dispersal power. Subapterous (incapable of flight).

Collecting technique. Turning stones.

Remarks. This species is named after the Saint Arnaud Range (MB) where the type locality is situated and the Latin suffix – ensis, denoting a place, locality, or country. The species is known only from two females. However, there is no ambiguity regarding the identity of this taxon. Amaroxenus arnaudensis is morphologically close to A. glacialis from which it can be distinguished as follows: dorsal body shiny rufopiceous; microsculpture weak; eyes slightly convex; pronotum strongly convex, with posterolateral angles obtuse, laterobasal foveae moderately wide and shallow, separated from lateral depressions by a pronounced convexity; elytra strongly convex, striae shallow and finely punctate, intervals slightly convex. The two species are allopatric: A. arnaudensis is known only from the Marlborough region (MB) in the northeast of the South Island, while A. glacialis occurs in the Westland region (WD) of the South Island.

Figures

Figures 25–28. Dorsal habitus. 25) Amarotypus fiordlandensis new species. 26) Amarotypus murchisonorum new species. 27) Amaroxenus glacialis new species. 28) Amaroxenus arnaudensis new species (holotype). Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 42–47. Species distribution maps. 42) Amarotypus glasgowensis new species. 43) Amarotypus murchisonorum new species. 44) Amarotypus simoninensis new species. 45) Amarotypus takaheensis new species. 46) Amaroxenus arnaudensis new species. 47) Amaroxenus glacialis new species.