Arianops folkertsi, Carlton, 2008

Carlton, Christopher E., 2008, Eight New Species ofArianopsBrendel from the Southeastern United States with an Updated Key and Notes on Additional Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (2), pp. 297-323 : 297-323

Arianops folkertsi , new species

( Figs. 11–12 , 28–29 , 38 )

Holotype male ( Figs. 11–12 ). / USA: Al , Walker Co., Jasper , Devil’s Ladder , Sep 24. 1976 / Under rocks leg: T. King/9/24/76 R J/ Arianops folkertsi Carlton, 2007 Holotype male/. Type deposition, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL .

Paratype female. Same data as holotype.

Etymology. The species is named in memory of the late George W. Folkerts, longtime Alabama naturalist and Professor at Auburn University.

Description. Holotype male. Measurements (in mm): head 0.50 long, 0.50 wide; pronotum 0.55 long, 0.50 wide; elytra 0.65 long, 0.75 wide; median lengths of visible abdominal tergites 1–5, respectively 0.40, 0.10, 0.10, 0.35, 0.10. Antennomeres 1–11, respectively 0.15, 0.10, 0.08, 0.08, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.07, 0.08, 0.25. Aedeagus 0.35 long, 0.25 wide. Total length 2.60.

Head ( Fig. 28 ). Lateral vertexal carinae present and well-developed, extending from antennal tubercle to point lateral to vertexal foveae. Median occipital carina well-developed, reaching cervical constriction. Vertexal foveae weakly developed, nude and shallow, connected via u-shaped circumambient sulcus that is weak posteriorly, becoming broadly concave between antennal tubercles. Carinae to antennal tubercles extending to clypeus; clypeus weakly carinate medially. Posterior arms of inter-antennal ridge weakly developed, not carinate. Labral margin bearing four teeth. Lateral carinae from clypeus to ocular spines well-developed. Ocular spine small, slender, acute, oriented anterolaterally. Mentum not toothed.

Pronotum. Basomedian fovea absent, submedian spines and bumps absent, but low basomedian tumosity present. Three pairs of basolateral foveoid depressions present, two shallow ones near basolateral margin and one deeper one more anterior and lateral. Pronotum weakly transversely rugose along basolateral margin, including basomedian tumosity.

Elytra. Basal margin of each elytron weakly arcuate posteriorly across base of elytral disc. Basal depressions and foveae absent.

Legs unmodified.

Abdomen. Dorsally weakly rounded, evenly, gently declivous at tergite 4. Ventrite 4 with a small, blunt, median spine along margin ( Fig. 29 ). Ventrite 6 broadly concave.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 38 ). Parameres absent, basal bulb lacking internal processes, but bearing a pair of thick sinuate spines at right, lateral, external angle. Ventral shelf simple, broad and short, almost symmetrical, weakly, evenly emarginate across apical margin, bearing three short setae on left side of dorsal face.

Female. Abdomen broader at midpoint and tergite 5 more convex, giving an overall more rounded outline in dorsal view. Ventrite 4 lacking median spine. Ventrite six broadly flattened.

Material examined. Only the holotype and single paratype are known.

Distribution. The species is only known from the type locality in Walker County, Alabama.

Comments. External characters of A. folkertsi are consistent with Barr’s (1974) cavernensis species group. This species and A. ashei are the only two members of the group having a well-developed occipital carina. In addition to details of the aedeagus, the two species differ in the relative development of the Y-shaped interantennal ridge. The ridge is even and weakly developed in A. folkertsi , and unevenly developed in A. ashei , which has the posterior arms more prominent than the mid frontal carina. The thick, sinuate spines of the aedeagus of A. folkertsi are unique within the genus.

Figures

Figs. 9–12. Dorsal and lateral views, Arianops new species holotypes. 9–10) A. barri; 11–

Figs. 28–33. Arianops new species. 28) A. folkertsi, head; 29) A. folkertsi, ventrites 3–4; 30) A. gorei, head; 31) A. gorei, ventrites 3–4; 32) A. hiltenae, head; 33) A. hiltenae, ventrites 3–4.

Figs. 34–41. Arianops new species aedeagi, dorsal views. 34) A. carteri; 35) A. clintoni;