Sagola pittensis Park and Carlton

Park, J. - S. & Carlton, C. E., 2014, A revision of the New Zealand species of the genus Sagola Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 13) 68, pp. 1-156 : 68-69

Sagola pittensis Park and Carlton , new species

( Figs. 37d , 38d , 40 )

Type Material. Holotype. NEW ZEALAND: Chatham Islands: 1♂ ( NZAC), aedeagus dissected and mounted in balsam on a clear plastic card, “ Pitt Island , 16–26-I-44, E.S.Gourlay. ”, “ E.S.Gourlay Acc. 1970 Ent. Div.”, “ N.Z. Arthropod Collection, NZAC Private Bag 92710 AUCKLAND New Zealand”, “ HOLOTYPE Sagola pittensis Park and Carlton 2013 ” . Paratypes (n = 10: 4 males; 6 females). NEW ZEALAND: Chatham Islands : 1♂ ( NZAC), Taiko Camp , 10 XI 1991, J.S. Dugdale, sifted rotten wood ; 1♂ 3♀♀ ( NZAC), Awatotara , 182m, 21 II 1967, G.W. Ramsay, litter 67/139 ; 1♂ ( NZAC), North Coast, 2 III 1967, G.W. Ramsay ; 3♀♀ ( NZAC), Pitt Island , 16–26 I 1944, E.S. Gourlay .

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality, Pitt Island, Chatham Islands.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from the other species of the auripila speciesgroup by the following combination of characters: body smaller, length 1.8–2.0 mm; ventral surface of male head transversely depressed with rectangular setose process behind labium; eye small, approximately one-third length of temple; frontal sulcus deep and linear, almost reaching vertexal fovea; anterior frontal fovea round and covered by frontal rostrum; posterior frontal fovea elongate; shape of antennomeres and genitalia unique to species.

Description. Length 1.8–2.0 mm. Body brown, antennae, maxillary palpi, elytra, and legs paler ( Fig. 37d ). Head: Male head as long as wide, widest across eyes ( Fig. 37d ). Ventral surface of male head transversely depressed with rectangular setose process behind mouthparts. Antennomere 1 approximately 1.5 times longer than wide, 2 longer than wide, 3–7 subquadrate, 8–10 weakly transverse. Frontal sulcus deep and linear, almost reaching vertexal fovea. Anterior frontal fovea round and covered by frontal rostrum, posterior frontal fovea elongate. Eye small, approximately one-third length of temple. Thorax: Prosternum as long as wide, widest at one-third length. Elytra approximately triangular ( Fig. 37d ). Meso-and metathorax trapezoidal, longer than wide. Aedeagus: Median lobe rectangular ( Fig. 38d ). Phallobase of median lobe symmetrical and rectangular ( Fig. 38d ). Parameres symmetrical and weakly curved with 1 seta apically and 3 setae at middle ( Fig. 38d ).

Distribution. Chatham Islands ( Fig. 40 : black circle).

Habitat. Specimens of this species were collected by sifting forest litter.

Figures

Fig. 37. Habitus of Sagola species in the auripila species-group, dorsal views. a) S. auripila, b) S. spiniventris,

Fig. 38. Sagola species in the auripila species-group. Aedeagi, dorsal views: a) S. auripila, b) S. spiniventris, c) S. chathamensis, d) S. pittensis, e) S. chandleri, f) S. threekingsensis, g) S. gimmeli, h) S. sokolovi, lateral view, i) S. sokolovi. Dorsal surface of male head: j) S. spiniventris (arrow indicates wide frontal sulcus), k) S. chathamensis (arrow indicates narrow frontal sulcus). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 40. Known collection localities of New Zealand Sagola species. S. pittensis: black circle; S. chandleri: triangles; S. threekingsensis: black square; S. gimmeli: star; S. sokolovi: white circles.