Leptusa (Dysleptusa) gimmeli Park & Carlton

Park, Jong-Seok, Carlton, Christopher E. & Ferro, Michael L., 2010, Diversity and taxonomic review of Leptusa Kraatz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 2662, pp. 1-27 : 14-16

Leptusa (Dysleptusa) gimmeli Park & Carlton , new species

( Figs. 1 g, 7a – l, Map 1)

Holotype. U.S.A.: Tennessee: ɗ, “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 5 October 2006 W83°16.647’ SP3 Litter 3 of 3 –M Gimmel”, “ HOLOTYPE, Leptusa gimmeli Park and Carlton , des. 2010”. Paratypes (n=107). U.S.A.: Tennessee: 13ɗɗ (2ɗɗ slide mounted), 15ΨΨ with same data as holotype ( LSAM); 4ɗɗ, 10ΨΨ, “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 5 October 2006 W83°16.647’ SP3 Litter 1 of 3 –M Gimmel” ( LSAM); 11ɗɗ, 15ΨΨ (3ΨΨ slide mounted), “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 5 October 2006 W83°16.647’ SP3 Litter 2 of 3 –M Gimmel” ( GSMNP); 6ɗɗ, 7ΨΨ, “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 31 March 2007 W83°16.647’ SP3 Litter 2 of 3 –M Gimmel”; 8ɗɗ, 17ΨΨ (Ψ slide mounted), “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 31 March 2007 W83°16.647’ SP3 Litter 3 of 3 –M Gimmel” ( LSAM); Ψ, “ USA: TN: Cocke Co. GSMNP Albright Grove N 35°44.173’ 31 12 IV – 18 V W83°16.647’ SP34A –CWD Rear 1 –M Ferro” ( LSAM).

Diagnosis. Leptusa (Dysleptusa) gimmeli differs from L. (D.) carolinensis by its smaller body length, shape of the spermatheca ( Fig. 7 l), short elytra (apparently as long as wide, Fig. 1 f), and absence of hind wings. This species differs from L. (D.) smetanaiella by its shorter body length, color, subquadrate antennomere 4 ( Fig. 7 a), and short elytra (apparently as long as wide, Fig. 1 f). Leptusa (D.) gimmeli has a median lobe shaped similar to that of L. (D.) carolinensis and L. (D.) smetanaiella , but it can be distinguished from those species by the shape of the bulbus: the anterior parts of the median lobe ( Fig. 7 k).

Description. Length 1.9 – 2.3 mm. Body brown, glossy; head and abdominal tergites V – VI blackish brown; antennomeres 1 – 3, 11, mouthparts, legs, and abdominal tergite VIII yellowish brown ( Fig. 1 f). Head pubescent and with microsculpture. Antennomeres 1 – 3 elongate, 4 subquadrate, 5 – 10 transverse ( Fig. 7 a). Carina on each side of ventral surface of head incomplete, fading before attaining gular suture.

Mouthparts. Labrum transverse, bearing 3 pairs of short setae, and 7 pairs of long setae, a-seta, b-seta, and pores ( Fig. 7 b). Labium bearing two distal setae in a longitudinal row in median area; a pair of setal pores, 2 pairs of real pores and several pseudopores present in lateral area ( Fig. 7 c). Labial palpi bearing 12 setae (a – h, α – δ) ( Fig. 7 d). Mentum trapezoidal, bearing 4 pairs of main setae (b, u, v, w) and many pores ( Fig. 7 e).

Thorax. Pronotum wider than head, approximately 1.44 times wider than long, pubescent and with microsculpture. Mesoventrite with distinct reticulate microsculpture. Elytra as wide as pronotum, approximately 1.2 times longer than wide, approximately 1.06 times longer than pronotum, latero-posterior margin emarginate, and setigerous punctures present. Hind wings absent.

Abdomen. Abdomen wider than elytra, widest at abdominal tergites V – VI. Abdominal tergite VI approximately 1.88 times wider than long. Male abdominal tergites VII – VIII with single median elongate tubercle ( Fig. 7 f); tergite VIII bearing 4 pairs of main setae, and many additional short setae and pores; posterior margin with several tubercles, and shallowly emarginate ( Fig. 7 f). Male abdominal sternite VII with many pores in anterior one-third; sternite VIII with posterior margin weakly produced, bearing 7 pairs of main setae, and many additional short setae and pores ( Fig. 7 g). Female abdominal tergite VIII with posterior margin shallowly emarginate, bearing 4 pairs of main setae, and many additional short setae and pores ( Fig. 7 h). Female abdominal sternite VIII with posterior margin rounded, bearing 6 pairs of main setae, and many additional short setae and pores ( Fig. 7 i).

Genitalia. Paramere as in Fig. 7 j. Median lobe as in Fig. 7 k. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7 l.

Distribution. USA: Tennessee. Locations where L. (D.) gimmeli has been collected in GSMNP as in Map 1.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Matthew L. Gimmel (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge), collector of all but one specimen in the type series.

Habitat. This species is known only from Albright Grove, an area of old growth forest in GSMNP and is represented by more specimens than any other species in the park. Over 100 specimens were collected from sifted leaf litter from both the spring and fall. Despite an extensive survey only a single specimen was collected from CWD in Albright Grove (emergent from decay class II).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Leptusa. a: Leptusa (Adoxopisalia) opaca Casey; b: L. (A.) pseudosmokyiensis sp. nov.; c: L. (A.) smokyiensis Pace; d: L. (A.) stocksi sp. nov.; e: L. (Dysleptusa) carolinensis Pace; f: L. (D.) gimmeli sp. nov.; g: L. (D.) pusio (Casey); h: L. (Eucryptusa) brevicollis Casey; i: L. (E.) ferroi sp. nov.; j: L. (Ulitusa) cribratula (Casey). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Details of Leptusa (Dysleptusa) gimmeli sp. nov. a: antenna; b: labrum; c: labium; d: labial palpus; e: mentum; f: male abdominal tergite VIII; g: male abdominal sternite VIII; h: female abdominal tergite VIII; i: female abdominal sternite VIII; j: paramere; k: median lobe; l: spermatheca. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.