Lathrobium (Abletobium) smokiense Haberski & Caterino, 2024

Haberski, Adam & Caterino, Michael S., 2024, A review of Nearctic Lathrobium (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with revision and descriptions of new flightless species from the mountains of the southeastern U. S., ZooKeys 1198, pp. 193-277 : 193

Lathrobium (Abletobium) smokiense Haberski & Caterino sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (FMNH): "USA: TN: Sevier Co., 35.6308°N, 83.3904°W, Mt. Kephart, V.6.2018, M. Caterino, Sifted Litter." / Caterino DNA voucher, Extraction MSC-6218., Extraction Date: XXX/ "CLEMSON ENT [QR CODE] CUAC000169009". Paratypes (21, FMNH, CUAC, GSNP): 2: same data as holotype (CUAC000169008, CUAC000169010); 8: same locality as type, 35.6311°N, 83.3895°W, VI.5.2018 (CUAC000079121, CUAC000169007, CUAC000169011); 6: same locality as type, 35.6311°N, 83.3895°W, IX.14.2021 (CUAC000156757, CUAC000177157, CUAC000177158, CUAC000177159, CUAC000177160, CUAC000177161); 5: same locality as type, 35.6308°N, 83.3904°W, 6190ft, vi.05.2018 (CUAC000177152, CUAC000177153, CUAC000177154, CUAC000177155, CUAC000177156).

Other material.

North Carolina : Haywood, Co.: Balsam Mountain Trail , 5167', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6425, -83.2007), M.S. Caterino, 6 May 2020 (2, CUAC, GSNP); Haywood Co.: Big Cataloochee Mountain , 5725', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6425, -83.2007), M.S. Caterino, C. Harden, 14 Jul 2020 (3: CUAC, GSNP); Haywood Co. : Big Cataloochee Mountain , 6107', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6727, -83.1762), M.S. Caterino, 5 Nov 2020 (CUAC); Swain Co. : Clingmans Dome, 6364', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.5613, -83.5006), M.S. Caterino, 5 Jun 2018 (CUAC); Swain Co. : Mills Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6079, -83.4380), C. Harden, 29 Sep 2020 (CUAC); Haywood Co. : Mount Sterling Trail , 5586', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6675, -83.1805), M.S. Caterino, 14 Jul 2020 (CUAC). Tennessee: Sevier Co. : Newfound Gap Rd. , 4575', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6237, -83.4163), M.S. Caterino, F. Etzler, 12 Mar 2020 (2, CUAC); Sevier Co. : Mount LeConte , 6467', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6529, -83.4378), M.S. Caterino, 25 Jun 2019 (CUAC); Sevier Co. : Mount LeConte , 6571', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6542, -83.4363), M.S. Caterino, 25 Jun 2019 (2, CUAC); Sevier Co. : Indian Gap, 5500', Great Smoky Mountains National Park, H. & A. Howden, 26 Apr 1956 (CNC) .

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from its close relative, L. balsamense , only by their aedeagi. In L. smokiense , the entire aedeagus is well sclerotized, whereas those of L. balsamense are more typical for the genus with distinct ventral processes (Fig. 9E, F vs Fig. 10D, E ). Females can only be identified by geography, association with males, or DNA.

Lathrobium smokiense can be distinguished from L. shermani by the same characters given for L. balsamense .

Description.

External morphology is identical to L. balsamense but differs in the aedeagus. Aedeagus (Fig. 9E, F ) with median lobe entirely sclerotized, sides meeting at a seam on dorsal side to produce a tube; dorsal plate small and distal; internal sac without spines.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the Great Smoky Mountains where the species was first collected and is most abundant.

Distribution and ecology.

Lathrobium smokiense inhabits spruce-fir forests above 1500 m in the Great Smoky Mountains (Fig. 13 ). It is not found north of the French Broad River basin (Asheville depression), where its microhabitat is inhabited by L. lividum and L. islae . It can be collected from leaf litter but is most often beneath bryophyte mats on boulders. One specimen was collected from wildcat dung. Collected May-Sep.

Figures

Figure 9. Lathrobium smokiense A habitus B female terminalia C female sternite VIII D male sternite VIII E aedeagus in ventral view F aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 10. Lathrobium balsamense A female terminalia B female sternite VIII C male sternite VIII D aedeagus in ventral view E aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 13. Distribution of Lathrobium absconditum (triangle), L. Lathrobium balsamense (square), L. hardeni (star), L. smokiense (circle).