Sonoma cataloochee, Ferro, 2016

Ferro, Michael L., 2016, Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America, Insecta Mundi 2016 (472), pp. 1-57 : 10

4. Sonoma cataloochee new species

Fig. 4 , 55 ; Map 6.

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.26 long, 0.34 wide; pronotum 0.36 long, 0.42 wide; elytra 0.36 long, 0.28 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.84; total length 1.82. Body brown, maxillary palps and legs paler. Body covered in elongate setae (greater than half the length of the eye).

Head. Eyes prominent, maximum length in dorsal view 0.83x length of first antennal segment, with approximately 20 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 0.86x width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra sutural foveae obscured, sutural stria distinct; central row of approximately 3 foveae in basal 1/2. Brachypterous. Metatibia unmodified.

Abdomen. Tergite one without transverse patch of microtrichia. Abdominal foveae and basal pubescence obscured.

Aedeagus. Compact; apex of endophallus extending beyond parameres. Left paramere: robust; cluster of 5 thick setae 2/3 from base; distal 1/3 evenly acuminate, apex blunt. Endophallus: lateral digitate process long, base greater than 2x as wide as narrowest point, ventrad from right paramere; sides divergent in apical 2/5; apex rounded, with dorsal recurved process on left overlapping blunt anteriorly directed process. Right paramere: widened at base, dorsal lateral setose process short, with 4 apical setae; lateral constriction at level of digitate process of endophallus narrow, less than medial width of left paramere; apex blunt, directed posteriorly.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * Cataloochee Divide,N.C. / June 10 1940 Quirsfeld (1♂). Deposited in CNC.

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma cataloochee is known from a single specimen collected at Cataloochee Divide in North Carolina, presumably in Haywood County. Cataloochee Divide is a ridge that creates the southeastern border of the Cataloochee valley. The northwestern slope of Cataloochee Divide is within the borders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Sonoma cataloochee is likely to be found within the park.

Comments. Sonoma cataloochee was collected in June.

Aedeagal characters of Sonoma cataloochee are similar to those of S. nicholsae . The two can be separated based on the following characters, S. nicholsae in brackets []: left paramere with lateral margin straight from basal 1/3 until level of lateral setae [paramere with lateral margin narrowing then widening below lateral setae]; endophallus with apex rounded, with two left lateral processes [endophallus flat with lateral lobe on right and recurved process on right]; right paramere with dorsal lateral setose process short (approximately 1/2 length of apical setae), midpoint narrower than midpoint of left paramere [dorsolateral process short (more than 1/2 length of setae), midpoint wider than midpoint of left paramere].

Etymology. Sonoma cataloochee is named for the Cherokee term “Gadalutsi”, which means “fringe standing erect” used to described the tall trees on the ridges surrounding the valleys that define the region.

Figures

Figures 1–6. Sonoma spp. holotype habiti. 1) S. agitator. 2) S. cardiac. 3) S. carltoni. 4) S. cataloochee. 5) S. caterinoi. 6) S. chandleri.

Figures 53–55. Aedeagi of Sonoma spp. 53) S. dilopha Marsh and Schuster. 54) S. caterinoi new species. 55) S. cataloochee new species. Right side of figures is anatomical left.