Pselaphogenius calantica Owens

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2022, --- Revision- -- of- -- the- -- New- -- Zealand- -- species- -- of- -- the- -- Genus- -- Pselaphogenius Reitter- -- (Staphylinidae: --- Pselaphinae: --- Pselaphitae: --- Pselaphini) ---, Zootaxa 5155 (2), pp. 187-220 : 195-196

Pselaphogenius calantica Owens ­­­&­­­Carlton,­­­sp.­­­nov.

(Figs. 5a; 7a–c)

Type­­­Material.­­­ Holotype: (1­­­male)­­­ NEW ZEALAND ND Te Paki Coastal Reserve Wirihi Swamp 19 Oct 1982 // C.F. Butcher Litter 82/98 ( NZAC) . Paratype: (1­­­male)­­­ NEW ZEALAND, ND Unuwhao, 270m 25 Nov 1982 G. Kuschel // sifted litter and decayed wood 82/125 ( NZAC) .

Etymology.­­­ This specific epithet of this species refers to the membranous “curtain” which occupies the apical margin of the aedeagus.

Diagnosis.­­­ Externally, the production of the lateral margins of the ovate depression on ventrite II into thickened ridges towards the apex is most similar to the thickened ridge present at the apex of the ovate depression in P. ventralis . The form of the aedeagus, with the entire apical portion modified into a beak-like, downturned process is also unique.

Description.­­­ MALE holotype. ­­­Integument: head, pronotum, elytra, abdomen, and appendages light brown, palpi lighter in color. Dorsal surface with scattered stiffened, elongate setae. Head:­­­ width between eyes equal to ½ length of head from base of vertex to apex of rostrum. Eyes small, composed of three facets. Frontal margin of rostrum rounded, with sparse suberect setae in dorsal view. Gular mound ovate, longer than wide, narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly; area of head posterior to gular mound flattened, slightly concave, bearing shining setae. Maxillary palpomere IV longer than head, narrow, widened at base and distal 1/5, v-shaped sensory patches present. Thorax:­­­ pronotum basal sulcus absent, lateral antebasal foveae and median antebasal fovea absent. Mesoventrite with median shield unmodified. Metaventrite afoveate, medially depressed, metacoxae separated by extension of ventrite I. Legs unmodified. Elytra with two basal foveae and sutural fovea present; discal stria absent, sutural striae present. Abdomen:­­­ tergites ­­­ of usual form for tribe. Ventrite I covered in dense, shining setae; ventrite II with basal sulcus occupying length of ventrite, sulcus densely setose, ovate median depression deep, occupying length of ventrite, towards apex margin produced into greatly thickened ridges. Genitalia: aedeagus symmetrical. Median lobe straight, short. Lateral processes fused with apical portion of aedeagus, entire distal end curved ventrad, appearing beak-like; entire distal end fused with membranous curtain. Ventral process absent. Parameres absent.

Females.­­­ Females of this species are unknown.

Distribution.­­­ This species is known from only the type and paratype localities in ND.