Bembidion (Zeplataphus) charile Bates, 1867

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 : 27-28

Bembidion (Zeplataphus) charile Bates, 1867

Fig. 17 , 50 , 80

Bembidium (Peryphus) charile Bates, 1867: 79 . Type locality: Province of Canterbury, South Island ( Bates, 1867: 79); Christchurch, MC ( Bates, 1874: 274); Canterbury ( Lindroth 1976: 175, lectotype designated).

Other synonymy as in Larochelle and Larivière (2001: 84).

Description. Body length 6.5–9.3 mm. Black; antennae mostly pale yellowish (apex more or less infuscated); femora black (apex pale), tibiae and tarsi mostly pale yellowish. Microsculpture of elytra very strong, regularly isodiametric in male, almost granulate in female. Very shiny, with strong metallic lustre (aeneous, rarely bluish or greenish); tibiae sometimes with slight metallic lustre. Thorax. Pronotum moderately convex; thin raised lateral bead incomplete, obsolete near posterolateral angles; sides slightly rounded anteriorly, slightly sinuate posteriorly; posterolateral angles subrectangular, slightly projected laterally, somewhat obtuse at tip; laterobasal foveae very deep, oblong, short, not reaching basal margin. Elytra. Subdepressed, elongate. Scutellar striole consisting of a row of punctures. Striae 2–6 complete, shallow, finely punctate; stria 7 strong, complete, finely punctate. Intervals depressed; interval 3 with four or five discal setiferous punctures. Apical striole deep, connected to stria 5. Sutural apices rounded. Abdomen. Last visible sternum (sternum VII) of female with four long ambulatory setae only. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 50 ): moderately arcuate, gradually narrowed from base to apex; base rather straight dorsally; middle strongly convex dorsally with a concavity towards its apex, strongly concave ventrally; apex subtriangular, slightly convex dorsally, rather straight ventrally, with extreme tip narrow and short.

Material examined. 434 specimens ( JNNZ, LUNZ, MONZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 80 ). North Island: BP, GB, HB, RI, TK, TO, WA, WI, WN. South Island: BR, CO, DN, FD, KA, MB, MC, MK, NC, OL, SC, WD.

Ecology. Lowland, montane. Epigean. Banks and beds of rivers and brooks, close to the water. Open ground; wet, sandy bare soil with scattered stones. Nocturnal; hides during the day among gravel and under stones. Gregarious.

Biology. Seasonality: September–May. Tenerals: November–December, March. Occasionally infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Once observed with pseudoscorpion attached to body (TO). 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. Raking the soil; turning stones.

Reference. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 84 (catalogue; biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution, reference).

Remark. Bembidion charile and B. dehiscens are the largest members of the genus Bembidion in New Zealand; they are recognizable by their small pronotum, slender appendages, and rather flat elytra.

Figures

Figures 17–20. Dorsal habitus. 17) Bembidion charile. 18) B. dehiscens. 19) B. actuarium. 20) B. musae. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 45–52. Aedeagi, lateral. 45) Bembidion brullei. 46) B. rotundicolle. 47) B. tairuense. 48) B. granuliferum. 49) B. maorinum maorinum. 50) B. charile. 51) B. dehiscens. 52) B. actuarium.

Figures 77–82. Species distribution maps. 77) Bembidion callipeplum. 78) B. chalceipes. 79) B. chalmeri. 80) B. charile. 81) B. dehiscens. 82) B. embersoni.