Colusa smetanai Klimaszewski and Chandler, 2023

Klimaszewski, Jan, Chandler, Donald S., Davies, Anthony & Bourdon, Caroline, 2023, Aleocharine rove beetles of New Hampshire, USA: new taxa and new records (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 5364 (1), pp. 1-141 : 96-98

198. Colusa smetanai Klimaszewski and Chandler sp. n.

Figs. 11a – h , Table 1

Holotype (male). USA, New Hampshire, Carroll Co.: 1 mi N Wonalancet, E Fk. Spring Brk., 1900’, 21.VIII.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge ( CNC) . Paratypes: USA, New Hampshire, Belknap Co.: Lower Gilmanton, 23.IV.1982, D.S. Chandler, sift leaf litter, 1 sex? Carroll Co. : 1 mi N Wonalancet, E Fk. Spring Brk., 1900’, 15.V.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge, 1 male, 1 female, 2 sex? ; 14.VI.1985, sift litter on spring edge, D.S. Chandler, 3 males, 1 sex; 23.VII.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift leaf litter on spring edge, 1 female; 6.VIII.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge, 1 male, 1 female, 1 sex?; 21.VIII.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge, 1 male, 4 females; 1.IX.1984, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge, 2 males, 3 females; 5.IX.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift litter on spring edge, 1 male, 1 female. The Bowl, 2.5 mi NW Wonalancet , 29.V.1989, D.S. Chandler, moss on rocks in stream, 1 female ; 10.VII.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift leaf litter on spring edge, 1 male; Coos Co.: White Mts., Glen Boulder Trail , 2500’, 17.VIII.1976, J.M. and B.A. Campbell ( CNC) 2 males . Grafton Co.: 8 mi NW Bartlett, Nancy Cascades , 2500’, 9.IX.1987, J.M. Campbell and A. Davies, Sphagnum in mist zone of waterfall ( CNC), 3 males, 1 female, 1 sex? Strafford Co.: Spruce Hole , 3 mi SW Durham, 30.VIII.1982, D.S. Chandler, sift leaf litter along pond, 1 sex? North Carolina, Jackson Co.: Whiteside Mtn., near Highlands , 1370–1430m, 21.V.1986, A. Smetana ( CNC), 1 male, 4 females, 3 sex? ( CBG), 2 sex? Pennsylvania, McKean Co.: Allegheny N. For. Tionesta Scenic Area , 29.V.1985, D.S. Chandler, sift leaf litter by stream, 1 female, 3 sex? Westmoreland Co.: Linn Run St. Pk., Linn Run , 2260’, 12.VII.1984, D.S. Chandler, sift rotten wood, 2 females.

Etymology. Named after our friend and colleague Aleš Smetana, who collected some type specimens of this new species. Aleš inspired an entire new generation of rove beetle specialists in North America and contributed to rove beetle knowledge worldwide.

Diagnosis. Externally it is barely distinguishable from C. brendeli (Casey) , but with long series of specimens at hand it was observed to be consistently black, rather than dark brown as is C. brendeli , and slightly broader than the latter species with the abdomen more swollen ( Fig. 11a ). The shape of the aedeagus differs as follows: tubus of median lobe of aedeagus is unique with apical part narrow in lateral view and with two very elongate structures roughly sculptured on surface and extending from base of tubus to beyond apex of median lobe ( Fig. 11b ); female sternite VIII sharply convergent apically and its narrow apex is truncate or slightly emarginate (rounded apically and notched medially in C. brendeli ) ( Fig. 11f ), stem of spermatheca with multiple coils ( Fig. 11g ), and only broadly looped in C. brendeli . The narrow shape of apical part of tubus will distingish this species from all others described from northeastern North America.

Description. Body length 3.6–3.9 mm, colour dark brown to black with appendages partially or entirely reddish, body shape distinctive ( Fig. 11a ). Male. Tergite VIII with apical margin truncate, with small median emargination, antecostal suture distant from basal margin ( Fig. 11d ); sternite VIII triangularly produced apically ( Fig. 11e ); tubus of median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view with ventral margin broadly arcuate, with apex very narrow in lateral view ( Fig. 11a ); internal sac with two very elongate structures roughly sculptured on surface and extending from base of tubus beyond apex of median lobe, and two small subapical structures ( Figs. 11a,b ). Female. Tergite VIII with apical margin truncate, with minute median emargination, antecostal suture distant from basal margin ( Fig. 11f ); sternite VIII narrowly produced apically and its narrow apex is truncate or slightly emarginate ( Fig. 11g ); spermatheca with capsule small, spherical, stem with multiple irregular coils ( Fig. 11h ).

Distribution. Nearctic. USA: NC, NH, PA.

Collection and Habitat data. The type specimens were captured from May to August in litter on spring edges, leaf litter along pond, moss on rocks in stream, Sphagnum in mist zone of waterfall, and in rotten wood. Collected by sifting litter from April to September.

Comments. The tubus of median lobe of aedeagus is unique in its narrow shape in lateral view and the internal sac has two very long structures unlike any other Nearctic congeners known to us.

Figures

FIGURE 11a–h. Colusa smetanai Klimaszewski and Chandler, sp. n.: (a) habitus in dorsal view; (b) median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view; (c) male tergite VIII; (d) male sternite VIII; (e) female tergite VIII; (f) female sternite VIII; (g) spermatheca. Scale bar for habitus = 1mm; remaining scale bars = 0.2mm.