Proteinus hughesi Webster & Davies

Webster, Reginald P., Davies, Anthony E., Klimaszewski, Jan & Bourdon, Caroline, 2016, Further contributions to the staphylinid fauna of New Brunswick, Canada, and the USA, with descriptions of two new Proteinus species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 573, pp. 31-83 : 36-37

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Proteinus hughesi Webster & Davies sp. n. Figs 1-4

Holotype (male).

Canada, New Brunswick, Northumberland Co., ca. 2.5 km W of Sevogle, 47.0879°N, 65.8585°W, 1.X.2013, R.P. Webster // Old Pinus banksiana forest, in rotting gilled mushroom (CNC). Paratypes: New Brunswick, Madawaska Co., near Falls Brook Falls, 47.5877°N, 68.3687°W, 16.X.2013, R.P. Webster & M. Turgeon // Spruce & balsam fir forest, in decaying mushroom (1 ♂, RWC); 47.5877°N, 68.3687°W, 16.X.2013, R.P. Webster // Mature hardwood forest, in decaying Tricholoma sp. (3 ♂, RWC). Restigouche Co., 1.5 km S. of Quebec [border], 425 m elev., 47.9058°N, 68.1505°W, 22.VI.2010, R.P. Webster // Boreal forest, small cold-shaded brook, splashing gravel on gravel bar (1 ♂, RWC); Gounamitz Rd. near Gounamitz R., 47.6102°N, 67.7902°W, 15.X.2013, R.P. Webster // Old spruce & balsam fir forest in rotting Tricholoma sp. (1 ♀, 2 ♂, RWC). York Co., Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 18.X.2007, R.P. Webster // Mixed forest, in decaying (moldy) corncobs & cornhusks (2 ♂, RWC); same data as previous but 15.IV.2004 // mixed forest, in compost (decaying vegetable matter) (1 ♀, RWC). Newfoundland, Little Grand Lake, Bakeapple Brook, 15.VII-25.VIII.1992, old fir, pitfall (1 ♂, 2 ♀, CNC); Corner Brook, Cooks Pond - lower 40y fir, 23-30.VII.1992, pitfall (1 ♀, CNC). Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Highlands Nat. Park [CBHNP], Lone Shieling, 100 m, PG729861, 3-5.VI.1983, H. Goulet, pans, malaise (2 ♂, 2 ♀, CNC); same locality, 6-7.VI.1983, H. Goulet, forest malaise (1 ♂, CNC); same locality, 9-10.VI.1983, H. Goulet, forest malaise (1 ♂, CNC); same locality, 19.VI.1983, Y. Bousquet, interception (1 ♂, 2 ♀, CNC); same locality, 25.VI.1983, Y. Bousquet, pans (26 ♂, CNC); same locality, 28.VI.1983, R. Vockeroth, pans, malaise (2 ♂, CNC); same locality, 1.VII.1983, R. Vockeroth, malaise trough (1 ♂, CNC); CBHNP, MacKenzie Mtn., 300 m, PG648868, 11-13.VI.1983, H. Goulet, birch fern pans (1 ♂, CNC); same locality, 22.VI.1983, Y. Bousquet, pans (1 ♂, CNC). Quebec, Old Chelsea, 6.X.1956, J.R. Vockeroth, on Hygrophorus puniceus Fr. (1 ♂, 2 ♀, CNC); Co. Vaudreuil, Rigaud end Ch. de la Croix, 5.V.1988, 950, A. and Z. Smetana (1 ♂, CNC). USA: Kentucky, Edmonson Co., Mammoth Cave Nat. Park, Running Branch Cave, 5.V.1972, S. Peck, Ber 235 (1 ♂, CNC).

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of Cory Hughes (AFC), who worked with us on many of the projects that provided the new records for this paper and many previous publications. Without his assistance, many of these records would not have been possible.

Description.

Body length 2.0-2.2 mm, head black, pronotum dark piceous brown and lighter than head; elytra piceous brown, often slightly lighter than pronotum, first two antennal segments testaceous, second segment sometimes darker, remaining segments dark brown becoming slightly darker towards last segment; legs testaceous; forebody and elytra with pubescence sparse, recumbent, directed posteriad; head and pronotum with distinct isodiametric microsculpture throughout, stronger on head, punctures widely spaced, shallow; elytra with punctation coarse, sparse, with little microsculpture, thus appearing glossy; pronotum with lateral margin arcuate in anterior third, then nearly straight to hind margin, hind angle nearly rectangular, narrowly rounded, hind margin sinuate; mesosternum with disc transversely rugose, with anteromedial carinae long, divergent, well-separated; mesosternal process very narrow, spiniform between middle coxae, without carina or pubescence; metasternum distinctly finely scalloped along anterior marginal bead, process very broadly rounded between middle coxae, disc sparsely pubescent; body shape and proportions as in Fig. 1. Male. First segment of front tarsus expanded, remaining segments normal; posterior margin of middle trochanter almost straight, with row of 3-6 short peg setae; middle tibia distinctly arcuate with a series of peg-like setae along apical 2/3 of inner margin; hind trochanter with single peg seta at middle of posterior margin; metasternum with broad glabrous impunctate area in front of hind coxae. Tergite VII triangular in shape, posterior margin rounded at apex (Fig. 3); posterior margin of sternite VII broadly rounded with a deep semicircular emargination (Fig. 4). Median lobe of aedeagus without angular subapical part in lateral view, with dark internal structures as illustrated (Fig. 2). Female. Similar to male but first tarsal segment only slightly expanded; middle tibia nearly straight, inner margin lacking peg-like setae. Tergite VII similar in shape to that of male; sternite VII without emargination.

Comments.

We compared the genitalia of the types of all known North American species and available illustrations of the genitalia of all Palearctic species and found none matching this species which led to the conclusion that this species was undescribed.

Distribution.

This species is recorded in Canada from QC, NB, NF, and NS, and in the USA, from KY.

Natural history.

In NB, this species was found in spruce and balsam fir forests, an old jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forest, a mixed forest, and in a “Boreal” forest (spruce and fir). Most adults were found in rotting Tricholoma and other decaying gilled mushrooms. One individual was collected from gravel on a gravel bar along a small shaded brook, two were found among decaying (moldy) corncobs and cornhusks, and one from compost. Adults were collected in April, June, and October. Elsewhere, specimens were collected from malaise traps, pan traps, interception traps, and pitfall traps during May and June.