Eupines (Byraxis) monstrosa ( Reitter, 1880 )

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 : 53-54

Eupines (Byraxis) monstrosa ( Reitter, 1880)

Fig. 34 ; map Fig. 53

Byraxis monstrosa Reitter, 1880: 167 . Schaufuss 1888: 28.

Byraxis monstrosa : redescription by Broun 1912: 413. Hudson 1923: 367, 1934: 185.

Eupines (Byraxis) monstrosa : combination and subgeneric assignment by Raffray 1904: 207. Raffray 1911: 82, 1924: 156; Nomura and Leschen 2006: 255; Maddison 2010: 417; Shen and Leschen 2019: 269 .

Eupines rudicorne Broun, 1882: 288 . Eupines rudicorne : reprint from Broun 1882 by Broun 1886: 759. Eupines (Byraxis) rudicornis : subgeneric assignment by Raffray 1904: 207. Raffray 1911: 82, 1924: 156; Hudson 1923: 364, 1934: 182; Nomura and Leschen 2006: 255; Maddison 2010: 417; Shen and Leschen 2019: 273. Type locality: [WN] Wellington (implied locality). Type depository: BMNH HT ♂. NEW SYNONYMY.

Bryaxis costata Broun, 1893a: 1416 . Eupines (Byraxis) costata : combination and subgeneric assignment by Raffray, 1904: 207. Raffray 1911: 82, 1924: 156; Hudson 1923: 364, 1934: 183; Nomura and Leschen 2006: 254; Maddison 2010: 417; Shen and Leschen 2019: 261. Type locality: [MC] Riccarton Bush, Christchurch. Type depository: BMNH LT ♂, 3 PLT. NEW SYNONYMY.

Type locality: Not indicated in the paper ( Reitter 1880).

Type depository: MNHN LT ♂, 1 PLT .

Diagnosis: Head with vertexal foveae punctiform; antennae 10-segmented with 3-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A7 asymmetrical, about twice length of A8, A8 disc-shaped, A9 large, transverse and cupulate, with ventral impression and basolateral excavation, with hook-shaped spine at upper margin of excavation, A10 largest, forming claw-shaped structure with A9, base narrowed, with impression at ventral side and lateral side, gradually enlarge towards rounded apex. Abdominal ventrite 2 with pair of long discal protuberances, inserted with large and strongly curved apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short and acute median struts, about oneninth of ventral length. Protrochanters with long ventral spine, about two-thirds of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified.

Redescription: Body length 1.52–1.60 mm; body colour reddish brown to dark brown with lighter coloured elytra and legs. Head wider than long; frons slightly narrowed at end, slightly longer than half width of head at eye level; eyes well developed and prominent, with about 31 facets; vertexal foveae punctiform; antennal tubercles weak; postantennal notches distinct and rounded; postantennal cavities medium-sized and wide, about half length of antennal tubercles in dorsal view; antennae 10-segmented with 3-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A7 asymmetrical, about twice length of A8, A8 disc-shaped, A9 large, transverse and cupulate, with ventral impression and basolateral excavation, with hook-shaped spine at upper margin of excavation, A10 largest, forming claw-shaped structure with A9, base narrowed, with impression at ventral side and lateral side, gradually enlarge towards rounded apex. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, about as wide as head at eye level; lacking lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra about as long as wide, widest near middle; humeral calli barely visible; sutural stria weakly extending from base to apical four-fifths. Abdomen with tergite 1 slightly longer than twice length of tergite 2; ventrite 2 with pair of long discal protuberances, inserted with large and strongly curved apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short and acute median struts, about one-ninth of ventral length. Legs with protrochanters modified with long ventral spine, about two-thirds of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified. Aedeagus about 0.33 mm long, with long and stout parameres, slightly bent inwards, apex curved downwards in lateral view, bearing pair of short apical setae and pair of long subapical setae; median lobe with two asymmetrical sclerites narrower than parameres, both curved inwards, left one longer than right one in dorsal view.

Comments: The lectotype of E. (B.) costata , the holotype of E. (B.) rudicornis and the lectotype of E. (B.) monstrosa were found representing a single species by having identical forms of A9 and A10 ( Figs. 34 B–D), with the former two names treated as junior synonyms. This species is most similar to E. (B.) conspicua by having similar modifications of A9 and A10, and can be separated by A10 with a small internal hook at its apex.

Distribution: North Island. AK, TO, RI, WI, WA. South Island. SD, NN, BR, MC, WD, FD.

Additional material examined: 56 ♂♂, AK: 1, Hunua, Maketu, T. Broun, A.E. Brooks Collection; TO: 1, JNPC, Wairuhi Sd., 01/ Sep /193, litter, J.T. Nunn collection; RI: 1, Coll. T.R. Harris, 03/Apr/1924, Ohakune Main Trunk, A.E. Brooks Collection; 3, Taihape , Hautapu river , 17/Sep/1982, J.C. Watt litter; WI: 1, JNPC, Ashurst Domain , 10/Aug/1996, in earthy forest litter, J.T. Nunn collection; WA: 11, JNPC, Castlehill / Haunui area , SE Puketoi Ra., Mar /2010, J.T. Nunn collection; SD: 1, JNPC, Essens V. Picton, 01/Feb/1994, Nothofagus litter, J.T. Nunn collection; NN: 1, Kohaihai River Karamea , West Coast, 30/May/1963, G. Kuschel; 2, Upper Maitai , 13/Feb/1957, E.S. Gourlay; 1, Dun Mt. 2000 ft, 6–10/20, A. Philpott; 1, Nelson, The Brook , 03/Feb/1973, G.Kuschel; BR: 5, Barrytown , Croesus Tk., 10/Nov/2005, R. Leschen & S. Nomura, litter, 42°14'S 171°19'E; 1, JNPC, Pororari River mouth Punakaiki, 29/Dec/2010, in flood debris, J.T. Nunn collection; 3, LUNZ, Pahautane Bay , 05/Sep/1981, R.M. Emberson, litter; WD: 4, Jackson Bay , 23/Sep/1979, A.K. Walker, litter moss and dead wood; 2, Haast River , 100 m, Sunny flat, 25/Jan/1978, G. Kuschel; 2, Ross, Mikonui Tk., 09/Nov/2005, R. Leschen & S. Nomura, ants in wood, 43°00'S 170°51'E; 4, JNPC, Haast River , Pleasant Flat, 27/Mar/216, J.T. Nunn collection; 4, NMPC, Mount Aspiring NP., Pleasant Flat, 27.2 km, NNE of Makarora at Mur Creek , 44°08'S 169°22.9'E, 120 m, 11/xii/2012, Fikáček, Hájek & Leschen lgt., sifting of mosses on the ground and on fallen decaying logs in the Nothofagus forest and rich shrub; MC: 12, Mt. Algidus , 20/Sep/1913, T. Broun, A.E. Brooks Collection; 1, Riccarton Bush, Christchurch, 13/Oct/1951; FD: 5, Secretary I., Gut Bay , 23/Nov/1983, C.F. Butcher, sifted litter; 1, Dusky Sound Seal I., 07/Mar/1983, C.F. Butcher, sifted litter; 2, LUNZ, Grebe V., S Arm L. Manapouri, 170 m, 04/Feb/1982, J.W. Early, C.A. Muir, P.T. Syrett, Sweep ferns in the forest. Unknown locality: 11, 2465, T. Broun, A.E. Brooks Collection; 1, E.S. Gourlay, 30/Mar/1955, Ex leaf mould; Associated females (34 ♀♀): WA: 10, JNPC, Castlehill / Haunui area . SE Puketoi Ra., Mar /2010, J.T. Nunn collection; NN: 1, Dun Mt., 2000 ft, 6–10/20, A. Philpott; BR: 3, JNPC, Pororari River mouth Punakaiki, 29/Dec/2010, in flood debris, J.T. Nunn collection; WD: 14, JNPC, Haast River , Pleasant Flat, 27/ Mar /216, J.T. Nunn collection; MC: 4, Mt. Algidus , 20/Sep/1913, T. Broun, A.E. Brooks Collection. Unknown locality: 2, 2465, T. Broun, A.E. Brooks Collection .

Figures

FIGURE 34. Diagnostic characters of E. (B.) monstrosa (Reitter, 1880). A) Habitus. B) Antenna, in dorsal view. C) Same, in lateral view. D) Same, in ventral view. E) Protrochanter. F) Ventrite 2. G) Ventrite 6. H) Aedeagus, in dorsal view. I) Same, in lateral view. J) Same, in ventral view. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B–F = 0.2 mm, G–J = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 53. Geographic distributions of E. (B.) minuta sp. n., E. (B.) monstrosa (Reitter, 1880), E. (B.) mundula (Schaufuss, 1888), E. (B.) nemoralis (Broun, 1886), E. (B.) novem sp. n., E. (B.) obtusa sp. n., E. (B.) ovalis sp. n. and E. (B.) paganus (Broun, 1881) in New Zealand.