Pseudoscelolabes lesagei Sinclair & Barros sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/References/ 6941326E-C68E-4C60-BDA5-F2DFC97166ED

(Figs 5A–F, 6A–D, 8)

? Scelolabes fulvescens: Collin, 1928: 13 .

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “ NEW ZEALAND: South Island,/ Croyden [sic] Bush Scenic Res./ Dolamore Track [46°03′40.76″S 168°49′42.85″E], YPT [yellow pan trap] in/ Podocarp forest, 17–22.i.1999,/ L. LeSage, NZ-41, CNC381492 ” ; “ HOLOTYPE / Pseudoscelolabes / lesagei/ Sinclair & Barros [red label] (NZAC) . PARATYPES: NEW ZEALAND. FD: Te Anau, Fiordland NP, 45°27′39.60″S 167°41′20.40″E, 220 m, pan trap, 9–10.iii.2010, L. Masner (3 ♀, CNC) . KA: Blue Duck Scientific Reserve, 13.7 km SW Clarence, 238 m, 42°14′2.932″S 173°47′26.075″E, 12.xi.2019, A. Borkent (1 ♀, CNC) . MC: Banks Peninsula, Hinewai Reserve, 43°50′0.68″S 173°3′6.08″E, 24.xi.–1.xii.2019, Malaise, 18 m, A. Borkent (1 ♀, CNC) ; same data except, 43°49′26.22″S 173°3′31.63″E, 9.xi. 2019, 325 m (1 ♀, CNC) . SL: same data as holotype (2 ♀, CNC; 3 ♀, NZAC); Catlins State Forest Park [ca 46°32′02″S 169°17′13″E], Shaws Rd, Nothofagus forest, 9–14.i.1999, L. LeSage, NZ-18 (10 ♀, CNC) ; same data except, on flowers of Hebe, 12.i.1999, NZ-06 (1 ♂, 3 ♀, CNC) ; same data except, flowers of Cassinia, 12.i.1999, NZ-8 (1 ♂, CNC) ; same data except, sweeping Cassinia sp. along road, 13.i.1999, NZ-14 (12 ♀, CNC) ; same data except, sweep roadside herbs, 13.i.1999, NZ-15 (1 ♀, CNC); same data except, among sedges, creek edge, yellow pan trap, 9–14.i.1999, NZ-17 (1 ♀, CNC) . WD: Kelly’s Creek Campground, nr. Otira [42°48′11.37″S 171°34′25.09″E], 20–23.i.1974, G.E. Shewell (6 ♀, CNC) ; Whataroa River Valley [ca 43°17′10″S 170°24′28″E], 1.i.1984, L. Masner (1 ♀, CNC) .

Diagnosis. Scutum with broad, brown presutural supra-alar and postsutural supra-alar spots, separated or narrowly fused; abdominal tergites yellow, with anterior half broadly brown with medial extension posteriorly; eyes of female closely approximated, similar to male to slightly narrower than width of anterior ocellus.

Description. Male (Fig. 5A). Body length: 3.3–4.3 mm. Wing length: 3.1–3.5 mm. Similar to P. fulvescens, except as follows: Head (Fig. 5A). Arista-like stylus slightly longer than scape, pedicel and postpedicel combined. Upper row occipital setae thinner. Thorax (Fig. 5C). Antepronotum dark brown, shiny. Scutum shiny, mostly yellow with broad, brown presutural supra-alar and postsutural supra-alar spots, separated or narrowly fused (Fig. 5C). Scutellum shiny, yellow with anterior margin darker (Fig. 5C). Mesopleuron yellow (Fig. 5A), sometimes with brownish spot on anepisternum, katepisternum, meron and mediotergite. Scutellum with 1 pair of short, slender lateral setae. Wing. As in P. fulvescens . Legs. Chaetotaxy of legs: mid femur with 1 anterodorsal and 1 posterodorsal strong seta near apex; hind femur with 9–11 short, strong spine-like setae; mid tibia with 1 anterodorsal and 1 posterodorsal seta near base and at mid-length; erect row of posterior setae less pronounced; hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal seta near base, 1 anterodorsal seta near mid-length and 1 long, strong dorsal seta near apex. Abdomen (Figs 5A, C). Yellow with anterior half broadly brown with medial extension posteriorly. Terminalia (Fig. 6). Surstylus with basal width shorter than length in posterior view (Fig. 6D). Cercus with narrowed, nipple-like apex (Fig. 6A).

Female (Figs 5B, 5D–F). Similar to male, except eyes closely approximated to slightly narrower than width of anterior ocellus; scutum with presutural spot sometimes reduced or absent (Figs 5D–F); anterior margin of scutellum often brownish. Terminalia. As described for P. fulvescens .

Distribution (Fig. 8). This species is currently confirmed from South Island, New Zealand.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the collector of most of the type series of this new species. Laurant LeSage (1946–2015) was a Coleoptera curator at the Canadian National Collection of Insects.

Remarks. Collin (1928) based his redescription of P. fulvescens on specimens from the region of Ohakune (North Island), but based on our material examined these specimens most closely match P. lesagei sp. nov. The similarity of Collin’s material is obvious by the colour pattern of the illustrated female (Collin 1928, fig. 2). In addition, Collin (1928: 13) noted variations in the striping pattern: “This stripe may resolve itself into two unconnected, rounded spots, or into a stripe narrow in front and wide behind, or the narrow front part may disappear, leaving only a dark patch above base of wing”. Similar variation was also observed among our material examined.