Pselaphaulax nunni Owens & Carlton, 2022

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2022, Revision of the New Zealand species of the Genus Pselaphaulax Reitter (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae: Pselaphini), Zootaxa 5155 (2), pp. 221-244 : 240-241

Pselaphaulax nunni Owens & Carlton , new species

( Fig. 12a–c )

Type Material. Holotype: (male) New Zealand: MB Black Birch Ra summit 7 Feb-07// JTN collection ( NZAC) . Paratype: (1 female) holotype locality ( NZAC) .

Etymology. This species is named in honor of John T. Nunn, an avid supporter of Pselaphinae research in New Zealand, who collected the type series.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other in the genus by the form of the deep ovate depression on the male ventrite II. Additionally, the absence of a setose pit on the mesoventral shield places this species in “species group 2”, although the absence of setae on the gular area behind the hemispherical swelling sets it apart from others in this division. The aedeagus, with a reduced median lobe and asymmetrical production of the right lateral process and absence of a left lateral process is also unique within the genus.

Description. MALE. Integument: head, pronotum, elytra, abdomen, and appendages light brown, palpi lighter in color. Head: wide, width between eyes greater than ½ length of head from base of vertex to apex of rostrum. Eyes rounded, composed of 19 facets. Frontal margin of rostrum in dorsal view weakly emarginate with sparse suberect setae. Gular mound modified, hemispherical, as long as wide, glabrous; area of head posterior to gular mound flattened, slightly concave, nude. Maxillary palpomere IV as long as head, widened at base and distal 1/3, distal swollen area smooth, v-shaped sensory patches present, margined by carinae. Thorax: pronotum with basal sulcus faint, delimited by lateral antebasal foveae; median antebasal foveae margined by small longitudinal carinae, present in groove alongside basolateral pits. Mesoventrite with mesoventral shield unmodified. Metaventrite afoveate, flattened and bearing vestiture of sparse short setae; metacoxae separated by extension of ventrite I. Legs unmodified. Elytra with two basal foveae, single sutural fovea; discal stria and sutural striae present; sparse apical fringe of setae present. Abdomen: tergites of usual form for tribe. Ventrite II with deep ovate depression occupying length of ventrite. Genitalia: aedeagus asymmetrical. Median lobe reduced. Right lateral process developed, compressed laterally. Ventral process absent. Parameres present, well-developed (longer than length of basal bulb).

Females. Integument, Head, Thorax, Abdomen: similar to male except eyes slightly smaller and ventrite II lacking median ovate depression and thickened area at apex.

Distribution. Pselaphaulax nunni is only known from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Pselaphaulax nunni, sp. nov. a) localities where specimens have been collected; b) aedeagus, lateral; c) aedeagus, dorsal.