Prosphodrus mangamuka Larochelle and Larivière, 2021

Larochelle & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2021, Synopsis of the tribe Platynini in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Insecta Mundi 2021 (864), pp. 1-96 : 13-14

Prosphodrus mangamuka Larochelle and Larivière , new species

Fig. 42 , 85 , 160

Prosphodrus mangamuka Larochelle and Larivière , new species. Holotype: male (NZAC) labeled “ NEW ZEALAND ND Mataraua For. [=Forest], Waoku Coach Rd Wlky =[Walkway], Wekaweka Rd Entry Point 400– 600m 9.II.1995 Larivière, Larochelle (typed) / Makamaka cloud forest; wet muddy: Under logs. (typed) / HOLOTYPE [male symbol] Prosphodrus mangamuka Larochelle & Larivière, 2021 (red label; typed).” Paratypes: one female (NZAC) from Mangamuka Gorge Walkway (ND) and one male (CMNZ) from Waipoua Forest (ND), bearing blue paratype labels.

Description. Body length 23.0– 26.2 mm. Head, pronotum, and elytra black; abdomen black or dark brown; antennal segments 1–4 reddish black, segments 5–11 reddish brown; palpi dark rufous; legs dark brown. Microsculpture obsolete on head and pronotum, isodiametric on elytra. Dull on head, pronotum, and elytra, without metallic luster. Head. Mandibles slightly curved anteriorly. Labrum strongly transverse, slightly to moderately emarginate anteriorly. Antennae moderately long (very long in other species). Eyes moderately large and convex. Tempora moderately inflated (about half as long as eyes). Mentum with four setae. Submentum with four setae. Palpi with terminal segment obtuse apically. Thorax. Pronotum moderately convex, impunctate, feebly wrinkled medially, wide, subquadrate, widest before middle; apex strongly emarginate; anterolateral angles well developed, rounded; anterior bead incomplete, obsolete medially; sides slightly rounded anteriorly, not sinuate posteriorly; lateral beads incomplete, obsolete around posterolateral angles; lateral depressions narrow anteriorly, widened posteriorly; posterolateral angles obtusely rounded; laterobasal foveae very deep and wide, rounded, not prolonged forward; posterior bead absent; base emarginate. Legs. Moderately long. Protibiae without dorsal longitudinal groove. Elytra. Slightly convex, not sloping down toward apex (sloping down in other species), oblong (subovate in other species), widest about middle. Basal margin incomplete, reaching about stria 3. Shoulders moderately rounded. Sides slightly rounded. Scutellar striole very long, impunctate. Striae shallow, finely punctate. Intervals moderately to strongly convex; interval 3 with two obsolete setiferous punctures. Umbilicate series with 23–24 setiferous punctures. Subapical sinuations moderately strong. Apices truncate-emarginate. Abdomen. Sternum VII (last visible sternum): male with two long apical ambulatory setae; female with four long apical ambulatory setae. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 85 ): moderately arcuate, stout; base strongly convex dorsally, with basal lobe moderately wide; middle subparallel, slightly convex dorsally, slightly concave ventrally, with dorsal membranous area short, moderately wide toward base dorsally; apex moderately concave dorsally, strongly concave ventrally, with extreme tip narrow, very long, and strongly curved downward. Dorsal view: moderately wide, symmetrical (ostium of membranous area dorsal).

Material examined. 26 specimens ( AMNZ, CMNZ, LUNZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 160 ). North Island: AK, CL, ND.

Ecology. Lowland. Fossorial, amphibious. Margins of rills (about 1–2 m wide) crossing dense wet forests (broadleaf, podocarp). Associated with gullies and ravines. Shaded ground; wet, stony, gravelly or muddy soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day under embedded stones.

Biology. Seasonality: December–July. Tenerals: February–March, June–July. Predacious (based on mouthpart morphology). Defense mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running and diving into the water.

Dispersal power. Subapterous (incapable of flight). Moderate runner. Excellent swimmer.

Collecting techniques. Turning embedded stones; pitfall trapping.

Remarks. The species is named after a geographic area (Mangamuka Gorge) where the beetle is especially abundant, and is applied as a noun in apposition. In addition to diagnostic characters of the male genitalia, Prosphodrus mangamuka has the following distinguishing features: large and robust, body length 23.0– 26.2 mm; antennae moderately long; eyes moderately large and convex; terminal segment of palpi obtuse; pronotum subquadrate; legs moderately long; elytra oblong, not sloping down toward apex, apices truncate-emarginate. Prosphodrus mangamuka occurs in northern areas of the North Island (ND, AK, CL).

Figures

Figures 41–44. Dorsal habitus. 41) Notagonum submetallicum. 42) Prosphodrus mangamuka new species. 43) P. waltoni. 44) P. sirvidi new species. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 80–86. Aedeagus, lateral. 80) Platynus macropterus. 81) Notagonum chathamense. 82) N. lawsoni. 83) N. feredayi. 84) N. submetallicum. 85) Prosphodrus mangamuka new species. 86) P. waltoni.

Figures 160–164. Species distribution maps. 160) Prosphodrus mangamuka new species. 161) P. occultus. 162) P. sirvidi new species. 163) P. waimana new species. 164) P. waltoni.