Bembidion (Zecillenus) albescens (Bates, 1878)

Larochelle, André, Zeperyphodes, Broun & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2015, Synopsis of the genus Bembidion Latreille in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini), Insecta Mundi 2015 (415), pp. 1-78 : 11-12

Bembidion (Zecillenus) albescens (Bates, 1878)

Fig. 2 , 38 , 73 , 109

Cillenum [sic] albescens Bates, 1878a: 193 . Type locality: Tairua, CL.

Bembidion (Cillenus) albescens: Csiki 1928: 130 .

Zecillenus albescens: Lindroth 1980: 183 .

Bembidion (Zecillenus) albescens: Toledano 2005: 130 .

Description. Body length 3.9–4.7 mm. Pale testaceous; head mostly dark brown to black; disc of pronotum usually piceous; elytra with a black or dark brown (ND) triangular discal marking (reaching interval 7) and interval 2 infuscated behind middle; antennae pale testaceous with segments 5–11 infuscated basally; legs mostly pale testaceous, with apex of femora and base of tibiae infuscated; abdomen piceous. Microsculpture obsolete, with traces of transverse meshes (microlines) on disc of head and pronotum; strong on disc of elytra, moderately transverse (male) or isodiametric (female), granulate elsewhere. Head, pronotum, and disc of elytra shiny, remainder of elytra dull; metallic lustre present on disc of elytra (aeneous). Thorax. Pronotum widest before middle; sides moderately rounded anteriorly, not sinuate posteriorly; posterolateral angles moderately obtuse, with extreme tip rectangular; laterobasal foveae shallow, ill-defined (vaguely elongate), short, not reaching basal margin. Elytra. Subelliptical, widest before middle. Shoulders prominent. Sides strongly rounded anteriorly, oblique posteriorly. Striae incomplete, barely suggested and impunctate laterally and apically; striae 2–5 well impressed, very deep and finely punctate on disc; striae 6–7 obsolete. Intervals moderately convex on disc. Lateral margins moderately widened subapically; subapical tooth rounded. Subapical sinuations moderately strong. Sutural apices angularly rounded. Apex strongly rounded. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 38 ): very strongly arcuate, slightly widened in apical half; base slightly convex dorsally; middle slightly convex dorsally, almost straight ventrally; apex subtriangular, concave dorsally and ventrally, with extreme tip wide and long.

Material examined. 301 specimens ( AMNZ, JNNZ, LUNZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 73 ). North Island: AK–Long Bay. Pakiri Beach. Tawharanui Regional Park. BP–Oruaiti Beach. Waiotahi Beach. CL–Great Barrier Island (Awana Bay; Kaitoke Beach; Whangapoua Beach). Opoutere Beach. Otama Beach. Port Jackson. Tairua. GB–Anaura Bay. Te Araroa. ND–Mimiwhangata Coastal Park. Ocean Beach. Ruakaka.

Ecology. Coastal lowland. Fossorial. Banks of meandering estuarine streams (2–3 m wide) running through sand dunes ( Fig. 109 ), just above the highest tidal line, at a certain distance (2–3 m) from water. Open ground; wet, sandy (white, yellow), bare soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in the sand. Gregarious. Occurs in association with staphylinids ( Coleoptera ) and Bembidion (Zeperyphodes) nesophilum .

Biology. Seasonality: September–February, June. Tenerals: October–November, January–February, June. Occasionally infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Defence mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running.

Dispersal power. Brachypterous (incapable of flight). Moderate runner. Vagility limited by flight incapacity.

Collecting techniques. Pouring water over the ground; treading the soil with the feet.

References. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 86 (as Zecillenus albescens ; catalogue; biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution, references), 2007: 110 (as Bembidion (Zecillenus) albescens ; updated checklist).

Remarks. Lindroth (1980) recorded four localities for this species; it is now known from over 17 localities in the Northland (ND), Auckland (AK), Coromandel (CL), Bay of Plenty (BP), and Gisborne (GB) regions. Northland (ND) populations of this species are more lightly colored.

Figures

Figures 1–4. Dorsal habitus. 1) Bembidion karikari new species. 2) B. albescens. 3) B. alacre. 4) B. tepaki new species. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 37–44. Aedeagi, lateral. 37) Bembidion karikari new species. 38) B. albescens. 39) B. alacre. 40) B. tepaki new species. 41) B. waimarama new species. 42) B. puponga new species. 43) B. tillyardi. 44) B. chalmeri.

Figures 71–76. Species distribution maps. 71) Bembidion actuarium. 72) B. alacre. 73) B. albescens. 74) B. anchonoderus. 75) B. brullei. 76) B. bullerense new species.

Figures 109–110. Species habitats, Bembidion (Zecillenus). 109) Auckland (AK), Tawharanui Regional Park, B. albescens. 110) Auckland (AK), Whatipu, B. alacre.