Euconnus cultellus, Caterino, 2022

Caterino, Michael S., 2022, First report of the Euconnus Thomson subgenus Cladoconnus Reitter in the New World, represented by thirteen new Appalachian species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae), ZooKeys 1137, pp. 133-175 : 133

Euconnus cultellus sp. nov.

Figs 15D , 16 , 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂, deposited in FMNH: "USA: GA: Rabun Co., 34.9658°N, 83.2997°W, ChattahoocheeNF, Rabun Bald, 4663', v.11.2021, sifted litter, M.Caterino & A.Haberski" / "[QR code] CLEMSON-ENT CUAC000146083" / "Caterino DNA Voucher Extraction MSC12039". Paratypes (8) - 5 ♀, 5 ♂: same data as type.

Other material.

(28) GA: Clay Co., Chattahoochee National Forest , Brasstown Bald, 4590ft, 19-Sep-2015 (3 ♂) ; NC: Cherokee Co., Nantahala National Forest , Hickory Branch trail, 3923ft., 26-Jul-2015 (1 ♂) ; Cherokee Co., London Bald Tr., 4108ft, 26-Jul-2015 (2 ♀) ; Graham Co., Nantahala National Forest , Teyahalee Bald, 4591ft., 12-Apr-2022 (1 ♂) ; Macon Co., Nantahala National Forest , Cowee Bald, 4942ft., 9-Jul-2019 (2 ♂) ; Macon Co., Nantahala National Forest , E. Highlands, Hwy 64, 3880ft., 1-Mar-2020 (1 ♀ 1 ♂) ; Macon Co., Nantahala National Forest , Copper Ridge Bald, 5032ft., 15-Sep-2020 (1 ♂) ; Swain Co., Nantahala National Forest , Miller Cove app trail, 2323ft., 20-Jul-2015 (2 ♀, 6 ♂) ; SC: Oconee Co., Buzzards Roost Heritage Preserve, 1250ft., 16-Jan-2015 (1 ♂) ; Oconee Co., Chau-Ram Country Park, 850ft., 15-Oct-2015 (1 ♀, 1 ♂) ; Oconee Co., Sumter National Forest , Yellow Branch Falls, 1560ft., 12-Oct-2017 (2 ♀, 1 ♂) ; Oconee Co., Sumter National Forest , Chattooga river, 1580ft., 2-Apr-2015 (1 ♂) ; Clay Co., Nantahala National Forest , Tusquitee Bald, 5015ft., 1-Sep-2020 (1 ♂) .

Diagnostic description.

This species exhibits few obvious external differences from the preceding ' falcatus complex’, and can best be distinguished by male genitalic characters; body color sometimes darker (Fig. 16A ); carina of male antennomere VIII (Fig. 16C ) more strongly inclined, produced further at the base, than in most of the previous (except E. adversus and E. astrus ), and carina of male antennomere IX slightly oblique, ~ 20 degrees off the long axis of the antenna; males at least sometimes winged, females apparently wingless; aedeagus (Fig. 15D ) with apex of median lobe knobbed, bluntly truncate; parameres short, curved, bearing 3 setae at their apices; compressor plate more or less symmetrical, narrow, parallel-sided from near base, sinuately tapering to subacute apex; endophallic armature with upper blade long, nearly straight, widened beyond middle, curving and tapered to bifid, acute apices (a second tooth projecting straight behind the uppermost); a second upper sclerite bends laterad strongly from the base, curving distad and tapering to long thin apex beneath ‘right’ edge of compressor plate; lower sclerite with two strong hooks, the basalmost broad and blunt, the apicalmost sinuately curving behind apex of upper endophallic sclerite.

Distribution.

Euconnus cultellus occurs across a relatively limited portion of western North Carolina, in the Cowee and Nantahala Mts, northeast Georgia, and upstate South Carolina. Its distribution seems to be limited on the east by the Little Tennessee River system, not (yet) found east of the Tuckasegee tributary, and not having been found in the Great Smoky Mountains, or on any of the spruce-fir peaks sampled. That limit aside, it has a broad elevational range, occurring from 850-5000ft.

Remarks.

The bifid apex of the upper endophallic sclerite is distinct from all other Cladoconnus species except E. cataloochee . The distinctive broad basal hook of the lower endophallic sclerite differentiates E. cultellus from all others, as does the deeply curved, apically slender, tapering right arm of the upper armature.

This species is named for the ‘cutting’ edge of the males finely serrate antennal carinae.

Figures

Figure 15. Aedeagus A Euconnus adversus (type locality - Celo Knob, NC) B Euconnus adversus (non-type locality - Chestnut Ridge, SC) C Euconnus astrus D Euconnus cultellus.

Figure 16. Habitus and character photos of Euconnus cultellus A male, dorsal view B female, dorsal view C SEM of male antenna.

Figure 17. Map of collecting records for Euconnus (Cladoconnus) cultellus.