Prespelea minima Caterino & Vasquez-Velez

Caterino, Michael S. & Vasquez-Velez, Laura M., 2017, A revision of Prespelea Park (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 685, pp. 105-130 : 113

Prespelea minima Caterino & Vasquez-Velez sp. n. Figs 14, 25, 37, Map 49

Type material.

Holotype male: TN: Sevier Co., Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Beech Gap on Clingman Dome Rd. at Appalachian Trail crossing [35.61°N, 83.45°W], 1750m, VI.28.2001, forest litter, C. Carlton, A.K. Tishechkin, & V. Moseley (LSAM0096333); deposited in FMNH. Paratypes (2): 1 male: same data as type; 1 male: GSMNP: Chimneys Picnic area (DNA extract MSC-2415); for full details see Suppl. material 1.

Diagnosis.

Distinguishable only by the following characters of the male: metaventral process rather small, narrowing to subtruncate or weakly emarginate apex (in posterior view), distinctly projecting anterad between mesocoxae; metatrochanters with hooks extending apically, laminate, moderately broad, with truncate apex. Antennae slightly elongate; neck flattened beneath, subcarinate ventrolaterally. Aedeagus broad, sides sinuate, apex emarginate, apicodorsal ridges curving inward at apex; apical foramen with lightly sclerotized plate across apex; internal sac with strong medial and lateral spines, ventrally with ~20 minute spines. TL 1.80-1.84mm; Max. width (EW) 0.67-0.69mm.

Distribution.

Known only from two localities in the central part of GSMNP.

Remarks.

Samples were noted to have been taken only from 'forest litter’. Despite an attempted DNA extraction from an older mounted specimen, we have not been successful in generating a DNA sequence for this species.

The species is named for its small metaventral process.