Prespelea morsei Caterino & Vasquez-Velez

Caterino, Michael S. & Vasquez-Velez, Laura M., 2017, A revision of Prespelea Park (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 685, pp. 105-130 : 113-114

Prespelea morsei Caterino & Vasquez-Velez sp. n. Figs 3-4, 15, 26, 38, Map 49

Type material.

Holotype male: NC: Macon Co., Balsam Mountain Preserve, nr. Sugarloaf Creek, 35.3707°N, 83.1108°W, VI.20.2015, S. Myers, sifted acidic cove litter (CUAC000026234; DNA extract MSC-2406); deposited in FMNH. Paratypes (13): several localities within Balsam Mountain Preserve, from oak and mixed oak-hickory litters, all in June 2015; see Suppl. material 1 for details. We also assign two specimens from McDowell Co., NC to this species as nontypes, with some reservation (see remarks).

Diagnosis.

Distinguishable only by the following characters of the male: metaventral process weaker than in P. quirsfeldi , but similar; metatrochanteral hook forming moderately broad flange from apex of trochanter; antennomeres subquadrate, basal antennomeres about as long as wide; aedeagus with sides convergent to near apex, apical margin very weakly emarginate; apicodorsal ridges divergent to apical corners, apicodorsal foramen open. Female pygidium essentially unmodified, with very weak median elevation, almost imperceptible until apex; apical ventrite very weakly bilobed; neck convex beneath, with distinct median ridge (not carina) and cluster of postgular setae. TL 1.74-2.09mm; Max. width (EW) 0.65-0.69mm.

Distribution.

This species is known only from a relatively small area within the Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina.

Remarks.

This species is closely related to P. divergens and P. parki . The two specimens we attribute to this species from Courthouse Falls, in the Pisgah National Forest of McDowell Co., NC, are particularly vexing. These have identical male genitalia to P. divergens , but a more moderate metaventral process like P. morsei . The male metatrochanter is also more like that of P. morsei , lacking the extreme apical point of the P. divergens . Molecular data separate these slightly from either species, but place them considerably closer to P. morsei .

This species is named to honor Dr. John Morse, the senior author’s predecessor as director of the Clemson University Arthropod Collection. All specimens of this species were collected in the vicinity of a property owned by John and his wife Suzanne, and their hospitality and assistance were invaluable in carrying out the work.