Eupines (Byraxis) petila, Shen & Leschen, 2020

Shen, Jia-Wei & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2020, Revision of Eupines King of New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Goniaceritae), Zootaxa 4777 (1), pp. 1-84 : 65-66

Eupines (Byraxis) petila sp. nov.

Fig. 42 ; map Fig. 54

Diagnosis: Head with vertexal foveae small and asetose; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A9 elongate, about as long as A10, truncate at dorsal side, apical margin extended in lateral view, A10 conical and truncate at dorsal side. Abdominal ventrite 2 with pair of small discal protuberances, inserted with slightly curved small apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short median struts, about one-fifth of ventral length. Protrochanters with a long and acute ventral spine, about three-fourths of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified.

Description: Body length 1.30–1.40 mm; body colour reddish brown with lighter coloured elytra and legs. Head longer than wide; frons not narrowed at end, about three-fourths width of head at eye level; eyes moderately developed, with about 19 facets; vertexal foveae small and asetose; antennal tubercles conspicuously developed; postantennal notches broad and long; postantennal cavities large, slightly shorter than antennal tubercles in dorsal view; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A9 elongate, about as long as A10, truncate at dorsal side, apical margin extended in lateral view, A10 conical and truncate at dorsal side. Pronotum about as long as wide, wider than head at eye level; lacking lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra about as long as wide, widest at apical two-thirds; humeral calli weak, slightly prominent in dorsal view; sutural stria weak, visible near base and apex. Abdomen with tergite 1 about 1.3 × longer than tergite 2; ventrite 2 with pair of small discal protuberances, inserted with slightly curved small apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short median struts, about one-fifth of ventral length. Legs with protrochanters modified with a long and acute ventral spine, about three-fourths of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified. Aedeagus about 0.35 mm long, with strongly elongated parameres, slightly sinuate, curved inwards at apex, with three pairs of long subapical setae and two pairs of long apical setae; median lobe with two long and slender sclerites, curved towards each other at apex, widest near base, shorter than parameres.

Comments: This species can be distinguished from all other Eupines by A10 dorsally conical and truncate ( Figs. 42 B–D).

Distribution: North Island. ND, CL, BP.

Etymology: This specific epithet is derived from a Latin adjective meaning ‘slender’, referring to the slender parameres of aedeagus of this species.

Type material ( NZAC): Holotype. ♂, specimen entire, point-mounted: “ NEW ZEALAND, ND, Mangamuka Smt. 386 m, 13 Dec 1976, V.A. May, Litter 76/109”. Paratypes . 5 ex.: CL: 1, NEW ZEALAND, Mt. Maumaupaki , 22/Oct/1976, J.S. Dugdale // litter, 76/86; WO : 1, JNPC, Mahaukura Tck. , Mt. Pirongia, 18/ Nov /05 // J.T. Nunn Collection; TO: 1, LSAM , Mt. Ruapehu south slope, FIT site, Berlese, 25/Mar/2000 C. Carlton, A. Weir, #093; BP: 1, NEW ZEALAND, Tikitiki Stream, Horohoro SF., Mamaku Plateau, 24/Jul/1976 // J.S. Dugdale Liverworts, mosses, litter, 76/58; GB: 1, LSAM , Urewera N.P., Lake Ruapane Tr. Fungusy wood, #067, 20/Mar/2000, C. Carlton, A. Weir .

Figures

FIGURE 42. Diagnostic characters of E. (B.) petila sp. n. A) Habitus. B) Antenna, in dorsal view. C) Same, in lateral view. D) Same, in ventral view. E) Ventrite 2. F) Ventrite 6. G) Protrochanter. H) Aedeagus, in dorsal view. I) Same, in lateral view. J) Same, in ventral view. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B–E, G = 0.2 mm, F, H–J = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 54. Geographic distributions of E. (B.) pannicula sp. n., E. (B.) petila sp. n., E. (B.) platyarthra (Broun, 1893), E. (B.) protibialis sp. n., E. (B.) setifera (Broun, 1893), E. (B.) waikaremoana sp. n., E. (B.) whirinaki sp. n. and E. (B.) undecim sp. n. in New Zealand.