Sagola owensae Park and Carlton

Park, J. - S. & Carlton, C. E., 2014, A revision of the New Zealand species of the genus Sagola Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 13) 68, pp. 1-156 : 88-89

Sagola owensae Park and Carlton , new species

( Figs. 50–51 )

Type Material. Holotype. NEW ZEALAND: Wairarapa: 1♂ ( NZAC), aedeagus dissected and mounted in balsam on a clear plastic card, “ NEW ZEALAND MB Pongaroa 31 Dec 1980 J.C. Watt. Wood mould 80/158”, “ N.Z. Arthropod Collection, NZAC Private Bag 92170 AUCKLAND New Zealand”, “ HOLOTYPE Sagola owensae Park and Carlton 2013 ” .

Etymology. This species is named for LSAM alumna, pselaphine specialist, and an enthusiastic supporter of this study, Brittany Owens.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other species by the following combination of characters: body length 1.9 mm; head bluntly transverse; ventral surface of male head with a pair of cone-shaped temporal depressions and small triangular process medially; shape of antennomeres and genitalia unique to species.

Description of Male. Length 1.9 mm. Body yellowish brown, maxillary palpi, elytra, and legs paler ( Fig. 50a ). Head: Bluntly transverse, widest across eyes ( Fig. 50a ). Ventral surface with pair of cone-shaped temporal depressions and small triangular process in center ( Fig. 50c : long arrow). Antennomere 1 approximately 2 times longer than wide, 2–5 longer than wide, 6–10 subquadrate. Frontal rostrum prominent and covering anterior frontal fovea. Frontal sulcus reaching behind eye, posterior frontal sulcus deep and oval. Eye large and prominent, one-third length of temple. Thorax: Prosternum as long as wide, widest at midpoint. Elytra rectangular ( Fig. 50a ). Meso- and metathorax trapezoidal, longer than wide. Abdomen: Tergite IV with pair of transverse patches of microtrichia reaching middle. Aedeagus: Median lobe twisted with pointed apical lobe ( Fig. 50b ). Phallobase of median lobe symmetrical and rounded ( Fig. 50b ). Parameres symmetrical, apical lobe broad and round with long and dense setae ( Fig. 50b ).

Distribution. Wairarapa ( Fig. 51 : black square).

Habitat. The holotype was collected by sifting moldy wood.

Figures

Fig. 50. Sagola owensae (owensae species-group). a) Habitus, dorsal view, b) Aedeagus, dorsal view, c) Ventral surface of male head (central arrow indicates triangular process; right arrow indicates temporal depresssion). Scale bar a = 1 mm, b–c = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 51. Known collection localities of New Zealand Sagola species. S. gilae: black circle; S. tishechkini: triangle; S. owensae: black square.