Agnosthaetus rodmani Clarke, 2011

Clarke, Dave J., 2011, A Revision of the New Zealand Endemic Rove Beetle Genus Agnosthaetus Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 10) 2011, pp. 1-118 : 24-26

(4) Agnosthaetus rodmani Clarke , new species

( Figs. 11 , 66 , 70 , 81 , 92 , 97 , 101 , Map 1 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “ NEW ZEALAND [ South Island ], WD| Totara Valley | Weir Ck 122 m | 10 Jun 1983 | H.P. McColl / Litter| 11/83/ FMNH-INS 0000 048 042 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus rodmani Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011”, in NZAC . Paratypes. 39 specimens (21♂, 18♀). NEW ZEALAND: South Island: WD: Fox Glacier , 43°28.062′S, 170°1.188′E [coord.=town], 12.xi.1968, 68/171, litter, J.I. Townsend , 1♀, FMNH-INS 48043 (in NZAC) ; Fox Glacier, Minehaha Walk , 180 m, 43°28.56′S, 170°0.72′E, 12.ii.2007, moss & litter, J.T. Nunn , 1♂, FMNH-INS 19308 (in JTNC) ; Franz Josef Glacier, Head of Alex Knob (2.7 km S), 150 m, 43°25′S, 170°10′E, coastal forest, 15.i.1998, NZEA 1L C98 063, berl., leaf litter, R. Leschen & C. Carlton , 1♂, KUNHM-ENT SM0365078 (in KSEM) ; Lake Mahinapua , 20 m, 42°47.706′S, 170°55.002′E, punga-broadleaf forest, 17.i.1982, sweeping ferns/ ground cover, J.W. Early , 1♀, FMNH-INS 19084 (in LUNZ) ; Lake Mahinapua, Jum Michel Trk. , 42°47′S, 170°55′E, 12.v.1999, RL 305, Berl., leaf litter/fungusy logs, R. Leschen & R. Hoare , 1♂ [date as 12-II-1999, i.e., not May], KUNHM-ENT SM0673914 (in KSEM) ; 1♂, FMNH-INS 48041 (in NZAC) ; Mananui Bush, Ruatapu (3 km NNE), 10 m, ANMT 733, 42°47′S, 170°54′E, coastal hdwd- Dicksonia dune forest, 9.i.1985, FMHD#85-466, litter, forest, Berl., A. Newton & M. Thayer , 4♂ 1♂, FMNH-INS 48044 (in FMNH) ; Mt. Hercules Scen. Res., Harihari (12.6 km WSW), 75 m, ANMT 734, 43°11′S, 170°27′E, hardwood-podocarp forest, 9.i.1985, FMHD#85-467, litter, forest, Berl., A. Newton & M. Thayer , 1♀, FMNH-INS 48045 (in FMNH) ; Waiho R. Valley , 200 m, 6.ii.1984, leaf litter, P.M. Hammond , 11♂, 11♀ FMNH-INS 19044, FMNH- INS 38176–185, 187–197 (in BMNH) ; 6.ii.1984, Nothofagus forest litter, P.M. Hammond, 3♀, FMNH-INS 38186, 198–199 (in BMNH) ; Westland N.P., adj. Canavans Knob , 140 m, 43°22.968′S, 170°9.828′E, totara/matai forest, 4.ii.1982, leaf litter in totara/matai forest, A.B. Miller , 1♀, FMNH- INS 19082 (in LUNZ) ; Westland N.P., Fox Glacier (8.8 km NE), 315 m, ANMT 742, 43°26′S, 170°5′E, low hardwood forest, 18.i.1985, FMHD#85-475, litter, forest, Berl., A. Newton & M. Thayer , 1♂, FMNH-INS 48047 (in FMNH) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus rodmani can be distinguished from all other Agnosthaetus species by the combination of the distinct reticulate microsculpture on the dorsum of the head ( Fig. 11 ), the basal mental tooth ( Fig. 66 , arrow), the distinctive chromosome-shaped medial pronotal sulci with the apices deflected obliquely and separate from the anterior punctures ( Fig. 70 , ap), and the complete lateral pronotal carina (continuous with anterior pronotal margin: Fig. 81 , pc).

Description. Color: More or less uniformly yellowish to reddish brown, occasionally with darker elytra and terminal abdominal segments. Head ( Fig. 11 ): Frontal ridge present (cf. Fig. 12 , fr). Dorsum sparsely punctate; with punctures distributed over more or less entire surface except for small posterior impunctate region. Punctures deep, but indistinctly defined; diameter subequal to or slightly greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance mostly less than half puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture present on entire or most of surface; distinctly reticulate ( Fig. 11 ). Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 , dt) distinctly slit-like, straight, distinctly impressed between sublongitudinal ridge and medial part of vertex ( Fig. 11 , dt). Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 , sr) indistinct; confused by dorsolateral secondary carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle with distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 , arrow) with several secondary carinae formed by subconfluent to confluent punctures. Antennoocular carina (cf. Fig. 10 , ao) indistinct; confused by secondary carinae and sculpture; joining eye at or in front of middle ( Fig. 11 , ao). Eye distinctly bulged anteriorly ( Fig. 11 ). Temple ( Fig. 11 , tm) very short, much less than 50% EYL. Suboccular surface more or less evenly microsculptured (cf. Fig. 65 ). Labrum not distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 92 ). Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 20–21 teeth (n =7), and with medial tooth equal in length to, but approximately 3X width of, paramedial teeth. Apical labral margin in females very slightly concave medially; with 21–25 teeth (n =9), all teeth subequal in length. Medial oblique labral setae (cf. Fig. 20 ) absent or present. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible sexually dimorphic; males with single, dorsally directed tooth, with distinct preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 , arrow); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Mentum with distinct basomedian tooth ( Fig. 66 , arrow). Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci (cf. Fig. 23 ) distinctly chromosome-shaped, abruptly deflected obliquely in apical third; anteriorly separate from, and deflected obliquely to anterior punctures ( Fig. 70 , ap). Distance between medial sulci in front of middle about half that at base. Pronotal basolateral carina absent (cf. Figs. 23 , 69 , 77 ). Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , ap) distinct; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , mu) distinct ( Fig. 70 , mu); basal puncture ( Fig. 70 , bu) indistinct. Medial pronotal seta adjacent to lateral sulcus ( Fig. 70 , mu). Lateral pronotal carina, anteriorly complete, continuous with anterior pronotal margin but often less distinct anteriorly than posteriorly ( Fig. 81 , pc). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum with distinctly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 , e) without microsculpture; with large, scattered, punctiform, non-setiferous impressions, or with small, punctiform, non-setiferous impressions; with 2 or 3 three macrosetae set in distinct punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 85 , ek). Elytral epipleuron ( Fig. 24 , ef) very narrow, more or less evenly wide for most of length. Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 , mer) with at most faint microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 , m) with faint reticulate microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge absent; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture short, somewhat appressed; vestiture dorsally with radiating fans of setae either side of midline and laterally. Abdominal sternite IV of male with surface glabrous and slightly impressed apicomedially; V with surface glabrous and impressed apicomedially, flanked by diffuse coarser acuminate setae, apex slightly sinuate; VI with dense patch of coarse setae apicomedially, apex slightly convex; VII with surface nearly glabrous apicomedially. Aedeagus ( Fig. 97 ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe with small lateral denticles, abruptly produced into broadly triangular, sharply pointed apicomedian lobe. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 101 ). Paramere exceeding apex of median lobe; in lateral view produced apically into lobe; with apical part perpendicular to median lobe; in dorsal view with outer side irregularly curving; and with ventral excavation at about middle of mesal face ( Fig. 97 , arrow); with single seta at apex, 1 on mesial face, and 2 on ventral edge.

Etymology. The epithet rodmani is a noun in the genitive case, honoring Dr. James Rodman, formerly of the U.S. National Science Foundation, and principal architect and supporter of the National Science Foundation’ s Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) program. Support from that program made the present monograph possible.

Distribution. ( Map 1 ). South Island: WD.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: diverse forested vegetation types, including sand dune forest. Specimens have been collected from forest leaf and log litter, by sweeping ferns and ground plants, and from mossy litter. Phenology: Year-round; most specimens taken in April (but from a single collecting event). Elevation: 10–315 m.

Remarks. Agnosthaetus rodmani is morphologically closest to A. bisulciceps . Both species have distinct tooth-like apicolateral lobes of the median lobe ( Figs. 96–97 , 100–101 ), but these are much smaller in A. rodmani , and the parameres extend much further beyond the median lobe apex than in A. bisulciceps . See also Remarks under A. bisulciceps .

Figures

Map 1. Geographic distribution of all georeferenced specimens in the Agnosthaetus brounides species-group. Triangles = A. brounides; circles = A. bisulciceps; Xs = A. rodmani; squares = A. chiasma; stars = A. cariniceps.

Figs. 10–13. Head capsules of Agnosthaetus spp. 10) A. stilbus; 11) A. rodmani; 12) A. brouni; 13) A. chiasma. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 63–68. Heads of Agnosthaetus spp., ventral view. 63) A. brouni; 64) A. stilbus, oblique view; 65) A. chiasma;

Figs. 69–74. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 69) A. chiasma; 70) A. rodmani; 71) A. heteromastax; 72) A. stenomastax;

Figs. 79–82. Prothoraces of Agnosthaetus spp., right lateral view. 79) A. brouni; 80) A. nitidus; 81) A. rodmani;

Figs. 89–93. Male (left) and female (right) labra of species in the Agnosthaetus brounides species-group, dorsal (anterior margin) view. 89) A. brounides; 90) A. chiasma; 91) A. bisulciceps; 92) A. rodmani; 93) A. cariniceps. Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 94–97. Aedeagi of species in the Agnosthaetus brounides species-group, dorsal (left) and right lateral (right) views. 94) A. brounides; 95) A. chiasma; 96) A. bisulciceps; 97) A. rodmani. Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 98–101. Apex of median lobe of species in the Agnosthaetus brounides species-group, ventral view.

Figs. 14–20. Agnosthaetus brounides. 14) Head capsule, dorsal view; 15) Head capsule, ventral view; 16) Mandibles, dorsal view; 17) Right antenna, dorsal view; 18) Right maxilla, ventral view; 19) Labium, ventral view; 20) Labrum, dorsal view. Notes: A. brounides lacks the mo setae; circular dotted region between the mo setae indicates position of the adoral glandular pit, which from above is frequently visible as a darker region. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 189–194. Mandibles of Agnosthaetus spp., dorsal view (189–193, left; 194, right). 189) A. newtoni; 190) A. falx; 191) A. stenomastax; 192) A. heteromastax (Rakeahua Valley); 193) A. heteromastax (Big South Cape Island); 194) A. heteromastax (Twilight Bay). Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 23–24. Agnosthaetus cariniceps, thorax. 23) Dorsal view; 24) Left lateral view. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 75–78. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 75) A. vicinus; 76) A. stilbus; 77) A. nitidus; 78) A. brouni. Scale bar =

Figs. 83–88. Pterothoraces of Agnosthaetus spp., right lateral view. 83) A. lanceolatus; 84) A. stilbus; 85) A. chiasma;