Bembidion (Zecillenus) tepaki, Larochelle & Zeperyphodes & Broun & Larivière, 2015

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 : 13-14

Bembidion (Zecillenus) tepaki new species

Fig. 4 , 40 , 100 , 107

Bembidion tepaki Larochelle and Larivière , new species. Holotype: male (NZAC) labeled: “NEW ZEA- LAND ND Te Paki (3km SW); Te Paki Stream) 30.XII.1992 A. Larochelle (typed)/ Sandy sterile edge of brook through dunes nr sea, water splashing (typed)/ HOLOTYPE [male symbol] Bembidion tepaki Larochelle & Larivière, 2015 (red label; typed).” Paratypes: one male (NZAC) and two females (AMNZ, NZAC) from the same locality as the holotype, bearing blue paratype labels.

Description. Body length 4.3–4.6 mm. Pale testaceous; head and pronotum slightly infuscated; elytra with a brown oblong discal marking (reaching interval 7) and interval 2 pale; antennae and legs entirely pale testaceous; abdomen pale testaceous, slightly infuscated. Microsculpture obsolete, with traces of transverse meshes (microlines) on disc of head and pronotum; strong on disc of elytra, moderately transverse (male) or isodiametric (female), granulate elsewhere. Head, pronotum, and disc of elytra shiny, remainder of elytra dull; metallic lustre absent. Thorax. Pronotum widest before middle; sides moderately rounded anteriorly, not sinuate posteriorly; posterolateral angles strongly obtuse, with extreme tip acute; laterobasal foveae shallow, ill-defined (vaguely elongate), short, not reaching basal margin. Elytra. Subelliptical, widest before middle. Shoulders effaced (obliquely rounded). Sides slightly rounded anteriorly, oblique posteriorly. Striae incomplete, barely suggested and impunctate laterally and apically; striae 2–5 well impressed, moderately deep and finely punctate on disc; striae 6–7 obsolete. Intervals slightly convex on disc. Lateral margins strongly widened subapically; subapical tooth sharp. Subapical sinuations very strong. Sutural apices angularly rounded. Apex slightly rounded. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 40 ): very strongly arcuate, strongly widened in apical half; base moderately convex dorsally; middle rather straight dorsally and ventrally; apex subtriangular, concave dorsally, rather straight ventrally, with extreme tip wide and short.

Material examined. 98 specimens ( AMNZ, CMNH, JNNZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 100 ). North Island: ND–Aranga Beach. Kaikai Beach. Karikari Peninsula: Karikari Bay (East end [=Wairahoraho Stream]); Puheke [=Puwheke] Beach stream; Wairahoraho Stream. Ruakaka. Aupouri Peninsula: Pandora. Tapotu [=Tapotupotu Bay]. Te Paki Stream. North Cape, Whareana [Bay].

Ecology. Coastal lowland. Fossorial. Banks of meandering estuarine streams (3–5 m wide) running through sand dunes ( Fig. 107 ), just above the highest tidal line, at a certain distance (1–3 m) from water. Open ground; wet, sandy (white), bare soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in the sand. Gregarious. Occurs in association with staphylinids ( Coleoptera ) and Bembidion (Zeperyphodes) nesophilum .

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

Dispersal power. Brachypterous (incapable of flight). Moderate runner. Vagility limited by flight incapacity.

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

Remarks. This species is named after its type locality, Te Paki. Bembidion tepaki is morphologically close to B. alacre . In addition to diagnostic characters of the male genitalia, B. tepaki has the following distinguishing features: body smaller (length 4.3–4.6 mm) and paler, with antennae and legs entirely pale testaceous, and abdomen pale testaceous, slightly infuscated; pronotum widest before middle; disc of elytra with striae 2–5 moderately deep and intervals slightly convex. Both species are allopatric: B. tepaki is restricted to the white sand beaches of northern Northland (ND) while B. alacre occurs on the black ironsand beaches of the Auckland (AK) and Waikato (WO) regions.

Figures

Figures 1–4. Dorsal habitus. 1) Bembidion karikari new species. 2) B. albescens. 3) B. alacre. 4) B. tepaki new species. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 37–44. Aedeagi, lateral. 37) Bembidion karikari new species. 38) B. albescens. 39) B. alacre. 40) B. tepaki new species. 41) B. waimarama new species. 42) B. puponga new species. 43) B. tillyardi. 44) B. chalmeri.

Figures 95–100. Species distribution maps. 95) Bembidion rotundicolle. 96) B. solitarium. 97) B. stewartense. 98) B. tairuense. 99) B. tekapoense. 100) B. tepaki new species.

Figures 107–108. Species habitats, Bembidion (Zecillenus). 107) Northland (ND), Te Paki Stream, B. tepaki new species. 108) Northland (ND), Puheke Beach stream, B. karikari new species.