Bembidion (Zecillenus) alacre ( Broun, 1921 )

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 : 12-13

Bembidion (Zecillenus) alacre ( Broun, 1921)

Fig. 3 , 39 , 72 , 110

Cillenum [sic] alacris Broun, 1921: 601 . Type locality: Karekare, AK.

Bembidion (Cillenus) alacre: Andrewes 1938: 195 .

Zecillenus alacris: Lindroth 1980: 184 .

Bembidion (Zecillenus) alacre: Toledano 2005: 130 .

Description. Body length 4.6–5.2 mm. Head, pronotum, and most of elytra black; shoulders and lateral margins of elytra pale testaceous; interval 2 entirely black; antennae bicolored, with segments 1–4 pale testaceous and segments 5–11 strongly infuscated (dark brown); legs testaceous, with apex of femora, base and apex of tibiae infuscated; abdomen dark brown. Microsculpture obsolete, with traces of transverse meshes (microlines) on disc of head and pronotum; strong and isodiametric on disc of elytra, granulate elsewhere. Head, pronotum, and disc of elytra shiny, remainder of elytra dull; metallic lustre absent. Thorax. Pronotum widest about 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, slightly rounded posteriorly. Striae incomplete, barely suggested and impunctate laterally and apically; striae 2–5 well impressed, very deep and finely punctate on disc; striae 6–7 obsolete. Intervals strongly 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. 39 ): very strongly arcuate, strongly widened in apical half; base moderately convex dorsally; middle rather straight dorsally and ventrally; apex subtriangular, slightly concave dorsally and ventrally, with extreme tip wide and short.

Material examined. 56 specimens ( JNNZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 72 ). North Island: AK–Waitakere Ranges (Bethells Beach; Karekare; Whatipu). WO –Kaawa Stream. Waimai Stream.

Ecology. Coastal lowland. Fossorial. Banks of meandering estuarine streams (2–3 m wide) running through sand dunes ( Fig. 110 ), just above the highest tidal line, at a certain distance (1–3 m) from water. Open ground; wet, sandy (black ironsand), bare or sparsely vegetated soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in the sand. Gregarious. Occurs in association with staphylinids ( Coleoptera ) and Bembidion (Zeperyphodes) nesophilum .

Biology. Seasonality: November, January–April. Tenerals: October, February–March. Occasionally infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Defence mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running or digging, or emits a strong smell.

Dispersal power. Brachypterous (incapable of flight). Fast runner. Vagility limited by flight incapacity. Collecting techniques. Pouring water over the ground; treading the soil with the feet.

References. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 81 (as Zecillenus alacris ; taxonomy, geographic distribution, ecology, biology, dispersal power), 2007: 110 (as Bembidion (Zecillenus) alacre ; updated checklist).

Remark. Lindroth (1980) recorded a single locality for this species (AK, Waitakere Ranges, Karekare); it is now known from five localities in 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 71–76. Species distribution maps. 71) Bembidion actuarium. 72) B. alacre. 73) B. albescens. 74) B. anchonoderus. 75) B. brullei. 76) B. bullerense new species.

Figures 109–110. Species habitats, Bembidion (Zecillenus). 109) Auckland (AK), Tawharanui Regional Park, B. albescens. 110) Auckland (AK), Whatipu, B. alacre.