Nesamblyops brouni, Sokolov, 2023

Sokolov, Igor M., 2023, Eight new species of the genus Nesamblyops Jeannel (Anillini: Carabidae: Coleoptera) from New Zealand with notes about dispersal of the genus to the North Island, Zootaxa 5230 (2), pp. 179-201 : 182-183

Nesamblyops brouni , sp. nov.

Figs. 2A , 4A , 5A–C , 7A , 9

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, in NZAC, labeled: \ W. Lewis Pass, 2000’. 23.3. 65 N. A.Walker \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \. PARATYPES (47 specimens, in NZAC, dissected 10 exx.), 2 males and 5 females labeled same as holotype; 2 males and 2 females labeled: \ Lewis Pass 762m Canterbury \ 19 Mar 65 G.W. Ramsay J.I. Townsend \ moss 65/283 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ Lewis Pass Canterbury 23 Mar 65 Litter 65/108 \ Litter 65/108 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 2 males and 1 female labeled: \ Leafmould \ Lewis Pass 18–24.11.61 G.Kuschel \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 3 females labeled: \ Maruia Saddle 1900’ 2-6-65 moss J.I.Townsend \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ E.S.Brookes leaf mould Sept. 1948 \ Maruia Springs Lewis Pass Westland \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ Teneral \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 2 females labeled: \ Howard Val BR 7 Oct 68 S.Edridge \ moss 68/143 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 2 females labeled: \ Col. T. Hall 27-3-1915 \ Howard Nelson South Is. \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 3 females labeled: \ L. Rotoiti 2000’ 27.7.65 Grey Duck Bay moss under Mt. beech \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 2 females labeled: \ L.Rotoiti Nelson leaf litter 21-3 - 65 N. A.Walker \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ L. Rotoiti NN 23 Dec 64 J.I. Townsend \ Litter 64/49 \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 1 female labeled: \ Mt. Hope Nelson 3.3.1915 \ Tachys N.Sp. \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ Hope 10.12.16 \ not. 2677 \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ var.2677 \ Hope 10.12.16 \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ Glenhope 10-12-14 \ not.2677 \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 male and 1 female labeled: \ Glenhope 10-12-14 \ var.2677 \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ Coll. T. Hall 27.3.1915 \ Glenhope Nelson 10.12.1914 \ 2677 var. \ T. Broun Collection \ A.E.Brookes Collection \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ Lamb Val. 1400’ Glenhope 19.7.65 moss under open silver and black beech J.I.Townsend \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 5 females labeled: \ Kaka—Glenhope Rd. 28.7.64 J.I.Townsend \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ nr.ft. Hope Saddle 1800’ 19.7.65 mixed moss J.I.Townsend \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ New Zealand BR Nelson Lakes NP Speargrass Tck Mt Robert \ On mossy log 30-Nov-05 \.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in the genitive case, and is based on the surname of Captain Thomas Broun, a New Zealand entomologist of the 19 th century in recognition of his significant contributions to the study of New Zealand coleopterans, including publications of descriptions of New Zealand anilline beetles.

Type locality. New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Southern Alps, Lewis Pass .

Recognition. Adults of this species ( Fig. 2A ) are practically indistinguishable from the adults of many Nesamblyops species based on external characters (cf. with Figs. 2B–C ) and are distinguished from them by the structure of the male genitalia.

Description. Large for genus (SBL range 1.76–2.02 mm, mean 1.89± 0.078 mm, n=17).

Habitus. Body form ( Fig.2A )markedly convex,elongate ovoid, general proportions wide (WE/SBL 0.41±0.011), head narrow relative to pronotum (WH/WPm 0.68±0.016), proportions of pronotum in comparison to elytra average for genus (WPm/WE 0.75±0.017).

Color. Body color brunneorufous, appendages testaceous.

Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 4A ) moderately long in comparison to elytra (LP/LE 0.42±0.013) and moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.23±0.026), with lateral margins arcuately constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.30±0.025). Anterior angles indistinct, posterior angles obtuse (108–116°), rounded. Width between posterior angles greater than between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 0.87±0.024). Basal margin almost rectilinear, slightly convex at middle.

Elytra. Ovoid, narrowly depressed along suture, comparatively long (LE/SBL 0.59±0.008) and moderately wide (WE/LE 0.69±0.020). Humeri completely rounded. Lateral margins slightly divergent at basal half, subparallel at middle and evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 5C ) moderately arcuate and moderately twisted. Shaft subparallel basally, tapering in apical half. Apex moderately curved dorsally with narrowly rounded tip. Apical orifice long, occupies almost half of the shaft length. Ventral margin of median lobe straight. Walls of shaft without poriferous canals. Dorsal copulatory sclerites in form of characteristic “bird’s head” plate, surrounded by distinct scaled membraneous field. Spines of internal sac absent. Left paramere ( Fig. 5A ) comparatively wide, with shortly attenuate apex, bearing three long setae. Right paramere ( Fig. 5B ) of moderate length, bearing three long setae, which are slightly longer the length of paramere. Ring sclerite as in Fig. 7A .

Female internal genitalia. Not examined.

Geographical distribution. This species is distributed from the Lewis Pass of North Canterbury along the Spenser Mountains northward up to the Hope Range in the Nelson area ( Crosby et al. 1998) ( Fig. 9 , green circles). So, the range of this species includes both sides of the Buller River valley.

Habitat. Specimens were collected from leaf litter, leaf mould, moss in Nothofagus forests (labels mention silver N. menziesii , black N. solandri var. solandri , and mountain N. solandri var. cliffortioides beeches).

Relationships. The structure of the male genitalia of N. brouni suggests its relatedness to the other species having dorsal copulatory sclerite in a shape of “bird’s head”, such as N. tararua , N. distinctus , and N. townsendi . Based on the details of the sclerite configuration and the state of the scaled membraneous field it is postulated that N. brouni is a sister taxon to N. distinctus .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Digital images of habitus of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. brouni (Lewis Pass, North Canterbury, SO), B—N. carltoni (Dun Mountain, Nelson, SO), C—N. confusus (Mount Stokes, Marlborough Sounds, SO), D—N. distinctus (Fabians Valley, Marlborough, SO), E—N. lescheni (D’Urville Island, Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, SO), F—N. oreobius (Mount Pirongia, Waikato, NO). Scale bar 1.0mm.

FIGURE 4. Digital images of pronota of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. brouni (Lewis Pass, North Canterbury, SO), B—N. carltoni (Dun Mountain, Nelson, SO), C—N. confusus (Mount Stokes, Marlborough Sounds, SO), D—N. distinctus (Fabians Valley, Marlborough, SO), E—N. lescheni (D’Urville Island, Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, SO), F—N. oreobius (Mount Pirongia, Waikato, NO), G—N. parvulus (Mount Stokes, Marlborough Sounds, SO), H—N. tararua (Judd Ridge, Tararua Range, Wellington, NO), I—N. townsendi (Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sounds, SO). Scale bar 0.2mm.

FIGURE 5. Line drawings of male genitalia of New Zealand Nesamblyops species. N. brouni (Lewis Pass, North Canterbury, SO): A—left paramere, left lateral aspect, B—right paramere, right lateral aspect, C—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. carltoni (Dun Mountain, Nelson, SO): D—left paramere, left lateral aspect, E—right paramere, right lateral aspect, F—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. confusus (Mount Stokes, Marlborough Sounds, SO): G—left paramere, left lateral aspect, H—right paramere, right lateral aspect, I—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. distinctus (Fabians Valley, Marlborough, SO): J—left paramere, left lateral aspect, K—right paramere, right lateral aspect, L—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. lescheni (D’Urville Island, Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, SO): M—left paramere, left lateral aspect, N—right paramere, right lateral aspect, O—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. oreobius (Mount Pirongia, Waikato, NO): P—left paramere, left lateral aspect, Q—right paramere, right lateral aspect, R—median lobe, right lateral aspect. Scale bar 0.1mm.

FIGURE 7. Line drawings of ring sclerite of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, male genitalia, dorsal aspect. A—N. brouni (Lewis Pass, North Canterbury, SO), B—N. carltoni (Dun Mountain, Nelson, SO), C—N. distinctus (Fabians Valley, Marlborough, SO), D—N. oreobius (Mount Pirongia, Waikato, NO), E—N. lescheni (D’Urville Island, Cook Strait, Marlborough Sounds, SO), F—N. parvulus (Mount Stokes, Marlborough Sounds, SO), G—N. tararua (Judd Ridge, Tararua Range, Wellington, NO), H—N. townsendi (Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sounds, SO). Scale = 0.4mm.

FIGURE 9. Distributional records for the Nesamblyops species and images of male median lobe, obtained from specimens, collected in the line-connected with images localities. Black circles—N. tararua; yellow circles—N. townsendi; red circles—N. distinctus; green circles—N. brouni. Scale bar= 0.5mm.