Bembidion (Zecillenus) waimarama, Larochelle & Zeperyphodes & Broun & Larivière, 2015

Larochelle, André, Zeperyphodes, Broun & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2015, Synopsis of the genus Bembidion Latreille in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini), Insecta Mundi 2015 (415), pp. 1-78 : 14-15

Bembidion (Zecillenus) waimarama new species

Fig. 5 , 41 , 105 , 111

Bembidion waimarama Larochelle and Larivière , new species. Holotype: male (NZAC) labeled: “ NEW ZEALAND HB Waimarama (1.5km N along beach) 3948 S 17659 E 19.XII.2003 Larochelle & Larivière (typed)/ Bare, wet, yellow sand banks of estuary stream. Quick insect; emits smell when seized. (typed)/ HOLOTYPE [male symbol] Bembidion waimarama Larochelle & Larivière, 2015 (red label; typed).” Paratypes: one male (MONZ) and one female (NZAC) from the same locality as the holotype, bearing blue paratype labels.

Description. Body length 4.1–4.5 mm. Pale testaceous; head mostly dark brown; pronotum dark brown basally and apically; elytra with a light brown triangular discal marking (reaching interval 7) and interval 2 infuscated behind middle; antennae mostly pale testaceous, with segment 11 strongly infuscated in apical half; legs entirely pale testaceous; abdomen brownish. Microsculpture strong and moderately transverse on disc of head; obsolete, with traces of transverse meshes (microlines) on disc of pronotum; strong on disc of elytra, moderately transverse (male) or isodiametric (female), granulate elsewhere. Head, pronotum, and disc of elytra shiny, remainder of elytra dull; metallic lustre absent. Thorax. Pronotum widest before middle; sides moderately rounded anteriorly, not sinuate posteriorly; posterolateral angles rectangular; laterobasal foveae shallow, ill-defined (vaguely elongate), short, not reaching basal margin. Elytra. Elliptical, widest about middle. Shoulders somewhat effaced (obliquely rounded). Sides slightly rounded. Striae incomplete, barely suggested and impunctate laterally and apically; striae 2–5 well impressed, moderately deep and finely punctate on disc; striae 6–7 obsolete. Intervals slightly convex on disc. Lateral margins slightly widened subapically; subapical tooth obtuse. Subapical sinuations moderately strong. Sutural apices angularly rounded. Apex strongly rounded. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 41 ): very strongly arcuate, rather moderately widened in apical half; base slightly convex dorsally; middle slightly concave dorsally towards its base and apex, almost straight ventrally; apex subtriangular, moderately concave dorsally and ventrally, with extreme tip moderately wide and long.

Material examined. 84 specimens ( MONZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 105 ). North Island: HB–Napier (Taupo Road [probably Esk River mouth]). Porangahau. Waimarama. WA–Herbertville. Otahome, Otahome Stream mouth. Riversdale Estuary [=Riversdale Beach]. Tautane River [=Stream] mouth (North of Herbertville). Whakataki River mouth.

Ecology. Coastal lowland. Fossorial. Banks of meandering estuarine streams (2 m wide) running through sand dunes ( Fig. 111 ), just above the highest tidal line, at a certain distance (2 m) from water. Open ground; wet, sandy (yellow), bare soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in the sand. Gregarious. Occurs in association with staphylinids ( Coleoptera ).

Biology. Seasonality: October, December–January. Tenerals: December. Occasionally infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Defence mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running or emits a strong smell.

Dispersal power. Brachypterous (incapable of flight). Fast runner. Vagility limited by flight incapacity.

Collecting techniques. Pouring water over the ground; treading the soil with the feet.

Remarks. This species is named after its type locality, Waimarama. Bembidion waimarama may superficially look like B. tepaki from Northland (ND) but it is morphologically closest to the southern Zecillenus species ( puponga new species, tillyardi , chalmeri , and embersoni ) with elliptical elytra that are widest about middle and have lateral margins slightly widened subapically. In addition to diagnostic characters of the male genitalia, B. waimarama has the following distinguishing features: body pale, with antennae mostly pale testaceous (segment 11 infuscated in apical half), head dark brown posteriorly, pronotum light brown apically and basally, legs entirely pale testaceous, elytra bearing a light brown triangular discal marking, and abdomen pale brownish; disc of elytra with striae 2–5 moderately deep and intervals slightly convex. Bembidion waimarama is restricted to the southeastern North Island (HB, WA).

Figures

Figures 5–8. Dorsal habitus. 5) Bembidion waimarama new species. 6) B. puponga new species. 7) B. tillyardi. 8) B. chalmeri. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 37–44. Aedeagi, lateral. 37) Bembidion karikari new species. 38) B. albescens. 39) B. alacre. 40) B. tepaki new species. 41) B. waimarama new species. 42) B. puponga new species. 43) B. tillyardi. 44) B. chalmeri.

Figures 101–106. Species distribution maps. 101) Bembidion tillyardi. 102) B. townsendi. 103) B. urewerense. 104) B. waiho new species. 105) B. waimarama new species. 106) B. wanakense.

Figures 111–112. Species habitats, Bembidion (Zecillenus). 111) Hawkes Bay (HB), Waimarama, B. waimarama new species. 112) Nelson (NN), Puponga Farm Park, B. puponga new species.