Genus Brounea Park & Carlton gen. nov.

Type species. Sagola setiventris Broun, 1915: 282; here designated.

Gender. Feminine.

Diagnosis. Members of Brounea can be distinguished from other faronite genera by the following combination of characters: small body, length 1.2–2.4 mm; antennomeres 1–2 approximately 1.5 times longer than wide, 3 subquadrate; prosternum lacking lateral procoxal foveae (Fig. 3 n); mesoventrite lacking promesocoxal foveae (Fig. 3 o); abdominal tergites IV–VI with discal carinae; abdominal sternites IV–VI with basolateral foveae; head with frontal sulcus (Figs. 2 a–k); parameres of male genitalia symmetrical with at least 6 setae at apex (Figs. 3 a–k); known from North Island and Three Kings Islands (Figs. 4–5).

Description. Body length 1.2–2.4 mm. Body brown, antennae, legs, maxillary palpi and elytra paler (Fig. 1). Head. Antennae gradually clavate, reaching hind margin of prothorax. Head bluntly triangular with rostrum separated by frontal sulcus (Figs. 2 a–k). Frontal sulcus present, reaching from front margin to mid-point of eye (Figs. 2 a–k). Thorax. Prosternum bearing median procoxal fovea, lacking lateral procoxal foveae (Fig. 3 n). Scutellum inverted-triangular. Mesoventrite lacking promesocoxal foveae, bearing pairs of large lateral mesosternal and lateral mesocoxal foveae (Fig. 3 o). Metaventrite with a pair of lateral metasternal foveae (Fig. 3 o). Abdomen. Abdominal tergites IV–VI with discal carinae. Abdominal tergite and sternite VI largest, but only slightly larger than V (Figs. 1, 3 p–q). Aedeagus. Phallobase bulky and round (Figs. 3 a–k). Parameres symmetrical, punctate along mesial margins (Figs. 3 a–k). Each paramere with at least 6 apical setae (Figs. 3 a–k).

Remarks. Males of some species possess secondary sexual characters, including swollen ventral surface of head (Figs. 2 m, 2o, 2q, 2t), dense setae within gular depression (Figs. 2 q–s, 2u–v), and abdominal sternite VI or VII with setose depression (Figs. 3 p–q). Other species exhibit no apparent sexual dimorphism except abdominal sternite IX. Male abdominal sternite IX is usually fragile, and partially concealed by sternite VIII, rendering it simple and reduced in appearance. Females possess a more robust, triangular abdominal sternite IX bearing a pair of long setae that are usually visible in ventral view. Female genitalia, including spermathecae, apparently are membranous and were not observable after clearing specimens using 10% potassium hydroxide.

Etymology. This genus is named for the most influential pioneer of the study of New Zealand Coleoptera, including Faronitae, Thomas Broun.