Sagola lescheni 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 : 60

Sagola lescheni Park and Carlton , new species

( Figs. 33 , 36 )

Type Material. Holotype. NEW ZEALAND: Northland: 1♂ ( NZAC), “ NEW ZEALAND: ND Waipoua State Forest , 0.9km e Forest Hqtrs. 120m, 26.xi-4.xii.1984 hdwd.-podocarp forest A. Newton / M. Thayer 686”, “flight intercept (window) trap”, “ HOLOTYPE Sagola lescheni Park and Carlton 2013 ” . Paratypes (2 males). NEW ZEALAND: Northland : 1♂ ( FMNH), same data as holotype ; 1♂ (slide-mounted; FMNH), Omahuta SF , Kauri Sanct., 18 III 1978, S. & J. Peck, 300m, Rangiahua , berl., forest litter .

Etymology. This species is named for one of the enthusiastic supporters of this study and world renowned beetle specialist and musician, Richard “Blind Beetle” Leschen.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other species by the following combination of characters: small body 1.7–1.9 mm; frontal rostrum prominent; ventral surface of head weakly convex; eye large and prominent, approximately one-half length of temple; shape of antennomeres and genitalia unique to species.

Description of Male. L e n g t h 1.7– 1.9 m m. Body brown, antennae and maxillary palpi paler, elytra and legs paler ( Fig. 33a ). Head: As long as wide, widest across eyes ( Fig. 33a ), ventral surface weakly convex with setose gular region. Antennomere 1 approximately 2 times longer than wide, 2–3 subquadrate, 4–5 longer than wide, 6–10 subquadrate. Frontal rostrum prominent. Frontal sulcus reaching midpoint of eye. Anterior frontal fovea oval, posterior frontal fovea round. Eye large and prominent, approximately one-half length of temple. Thorax: Prosternum as long as wide, widest at one-third length. Elytra rectangular ( Fig. 33a ). Meso- and metathorax trapezoidal, longer than wide. Abdomen: Tergite IV with pair of transverse patches of microtrichia reaching middle. Aedeagus: Median lobe broader and longer than paramere ( Fig. 33b ). Phallobase of median lobe symmetrical and rounded ( Fig. 33b ). Parameres symmetrical, elongate-triangular with setae apically ( Fig. 33b ).

Distribution. Northland ( Fig. 36 : black circles).

Habitat. Specimens of this species were collected using window and flight intercept traps or by sifting forest litter in hardwood and podocarp forests.

Figures

Fig. 33. Sagola lescheni (lescheni species-group). a) Habitus, dorsal view; scale bar = 1 mm, b) Aedeagus, dorsal view; scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 36. Known collection localities of New Zealand Sagola species. S. lescheni: black circles; S. gourlayi: triangles; S. sharpi: black squares.