Bembidion (Zeactedium) orbiferum Bates, 1878

Larochelle, André, Zeperyphodes, Broun & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2015, Synopsis of the genus Bembidion Latreille in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini), Insecta Mundi 2015 (415), pp. 1-78 : 31-32

Bembidion (Zeactedium) orbiferum Bates, 1878

Fig. 21 , 54 , 92

Bembidium orbiferum Bates, 1878b: 24 . Type locality: West Coast, South Island.

Other synonymy as in Larochelle and Larivière (2001: 81).

Description. Body length 6.0– 7.3 mm. Black; apex of elytra with a yellowish oblique subapical marking; antennae and legs yellowish (antennal segments 4–11 infuscated). Microsculpture feeble, irregularly isodiametric on head, consisting of confluent transverse lines on pronotum, irregularly isodiametric to slightly transverse with a tendency to form transverse meshes on elytra; microsculpture stronger in female. Moderately shiny (elytra dull in female), with metallic lustre (aeneous, greenish, bluish). Head. Antennae very long (reaching about basal third of elytra). Thorax. Pronotum strongly convex; sides strongly rounded, strongly sinuate posteriorly; basal constriction very short; posterolateral angles acute, strongly projected laterally, rather sharp at tip; laterobasal foveae very deep, linear, short, not reaching basal margin. Elytra. Strongly convex. Sides slightly rounded about middle. Striae deep, becoming shallower apically, coarsely punctate; stria 7 strong, coarsely punctate. Apical striole deep, connected to stria 7. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 54 ): moderately arcuate, strongly widened in apical half; base strongly convex dorsally; middle strongly convex dorsally, slightly convex ventrally, with dorsal membranous area wide and moderately long; apex subtriangular, slightly convex dorsally, moderately concave ventrally, with extreme tip moderately wide and long.

Material examined. 31 specimens ( NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 92 ). South Island: BR, FD, MK, NN, OL, WD.

Ecology. Lowland, montane. Fossorial. River banks and beds, at a certain distance (2–7 m) from water. Open ground; moist, soft, sandy (yellow), bare or sparsely vegetated soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in the sand and under well embedded stones.

Gregarious.

Biology. Seasonality: September, December–March. Tenerals: December–March. One specimen infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Defence mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running.

Dispersal power. Macropterous, probably capable of flight. Fast runner. Vagility likely favoured by flight capacity.

Collecting techniques. Pouring water over the ground; treading the soil with the feet; turning stones.

References. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 81 (as Bembidion (Zeactedium) orbiferum ; catalogue; biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution, references); Toledano 2005: 123 (taxonomy).

Remark. Lindroth (1976) recorded this species from eight localities. Three new South Island localities are added from NN (Tadmor River Bridge) and WD (Junction Littleman River and Highway 6; Karangarua River, between Rough Creek and Highway 6).

Figures

Figures 21–24. Dorsal habitus. 21) Bembidion orbiferum. 22) B. giachinoi. 23) B. callipeplum. 24) B. nesophilum. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 53–60. Aedeagi, lateral. 53) Bembidion musae. 54) B. orbiferum. 55) B. giachinoi. 56) B. callipeplum. 57) B. nesophilum. 58) B. tekapoense. 59) B. anchonoderus. 60) B. stewartense.

Figures 89–94. Species distribution maps. 89) Bembidion maorinum maorinum. 90) B. musae. 91) B. nesophilum. 92) B. orbiferum. 93) B. parviceps. 94) B. puponga new species.