Pseudofoenus caledonicus Jennings & Austin, 2005

Figs 10, 12E

Pseudofoenus caledonicus Jennings & Austin, 2005: 416 .

Material examined

NEW CALEDONIA • 1 ♀, 5 ♂♂; Grande Terre, Province Nord, Ponérihouen, Aoupinié; 21°10′38.67″ S, 165°17′8.37″ E; alt. 917 m; 10–26 Oct. 2017; E. Poirier leg.; Malaise trap n°AOU-MAL2; MNHN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 21°10′45.62″ S, 165°16′35.07″ E; alt. 881 m; 11–26 Oct. 2017; E. Poirier leg.; Malaise trap n°AOU-MAL4; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 21°11′42.9″ S, 165°17′58.41″ E; alt. 619 m; 24 Oct. 2017; C. Villemant leg.; sweep net; MNHN .

Distribution

Species known only from New Caledonia, Grande Terre (Fig. 12E). See additional details in Jennings & Austin (2005: 416).

Remarks

The eight specimens from Aoupinié differ from Pseudofoenus ritae (Cheesman, 1936) by the presence of a frontal carina and of two medial teeth on the mandibles, and agree with the description and measurements of P. caledonicus . However, they differ from P. caledonicus in their size and coloration, these specimens being smaller (females: 7.4–8.3 mm (vs 8.7–10.0 mm for caledonicus); males: 7.9–8.5 mm (vs 10.5 mm for caledonicus)) and brown with reddish parts (vs dark brown for caledonicus). The Aoupinié males have a smaller metasoma compared to the mesosoma (2.54–2.65 × as long as the mesosoma; vs 2.80 × for caledonicus), and the first flagellomere is 1.55–1.68 × as long as the second flagellomere in both males and females (vs 2.00–2.40 × for caledonicus). With the actual knowledge of the Pseudofoenus fauna of New Caledonia, we are reluctant to describe a new species based on these differences and consider they are intraspecific variations. Additional specimens and barcoding may solve this problem.