Arsipoda evax Samuelson, 1973

Figs 1F, 8G, 11F, 14A

Arsipoda evax Samuelson, 1973: 128 .

Arsipoda species D – Samuelson 1989: 410.

Arsipoda sp. – Samuelson 1994: 181.

Type material examined

Holotype

NEW CALEDONIA: ♂, Thio, [-21,60682 166,21460], Mar. 1959, N.L.H. Krauss leg. (BPBM);

Paratypes

NEW CALEDONIA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as the holotype (BPBM); 1 ♀, Mokoue to Dothio, [-21,57642 166,13031], 150–200 m, 20–22 Mar. 1968, J.L. Gressitt leg. (BMNH)..

New material

NEW CALEDONIA: 1 specimen, Koghi Mts, -22.18015 166.51131, 600 m (La Roussette) sifting litter, 27 Oct. 2004, M. Wanat leg. (MNHW); 22 specimens, Chagrin (1 km N of), 20°28.6' S 164°15.6' E, 80 m, maquis, 9 Jan. 2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg. (MNHW); 1 specimen, Baie de Port Bouquet, 21°41.4' S 166°21.6' E, 5 m, seashore forest, 2 Jan. 2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg. (MNHW); 5 specimens, Pic d’Amoa, 20°56.1' S 165°17.7, 220–350 m, maquis, 15 Jan. 2007, M. Wanat and R. Dobosz leg. (MNHW); 1 specimen, ditto, 160–200 m, 14 Jan. 2007 (MNHW); 2 specimens, ditto, R. Dobosz and M. Wanat leg. (USMB); 1 specimen, ditto (Povila), -20.93580 165.29520, 220–300 m, maquis, 19 Nov. 2010, M. Wanat and R. Ruta leg. (MNHW); 13 specimens, 8 km SE Nakety, [-21.60889 166.01146], 400 m, on flowers of Mangifera indica L., 22 Sep. 1979, G.A. Samuelson leg. (BPBM); 1 specimen, Col d’Amieu, [-21.61667 165.80000], 500–600 m, 28 Dec. 1976 (BPBM); 3 specimens, Wara, [-21.26667 165.60000], 100 m, on Acacia, 6 Apr. 1981, J.L. Gressitt leg. (BPBM).

Taxonomic notes

Arsipoda evax shares a thickset, ovoid body with A. atra sp. nov., A. povilaensis sp. nov. and A. transversa sp. nov. (Figs 1B, F, 2D, I). It can be easily distinguished by the smaller size and the black, metallic integuments, ( A. atra sp. nov. is black, but not metallic; A. povilaensis sp. nov. is yellowish; A. transversa sp. nov. is reddish). Genitalia are also clearly distinguishable (Figs 8C, G, 9E, 10A, 11B, F, L, P).

Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 8G) in ventral view laterally parallel; apex subtriangular, slightly rounded, with generally elongate median tooth; ventral surface with a shallow median depression at apical third; in lateral view median lobe clearly and regularly curved in basal ¾s and straight in apical ¼; dorsal ligula short – from apical third to apical part of median lobe of aedeagus –, wide, apically thinner. Spermatheca (Fig. 11F) with pyriform basal part; collum moderately elongate, about twice as long as apical part; ductus elongate, thickset, apically inserted.

Biometry

Male (n = 10; mean and standard deviation; range): LE = 1.20 ± 0.09 mm (1.10 Ĺ LE Ĺ 1.35 mm); WE = 0.86 ± 0.07 mm (0.78 Ĺ WE Ĺ 0.98 mm); LP = 0.38 ± 0.03 mm (0.34 Ĺ LP Ĺ 0.44 mm); WP = 0.64 ± 0.06 mm (0.56 Ĺ WP Ĺ 0.73 mm); LAN = 0.88 ± 0.11 mm (0.75 Ĺ LAN Ĺ 1.08 mm); LAED = 0.65 ± 0.04 mm (0.60 Ĺ LAED Ĺ 0.71 mm); LB = 1.63 ± 0.15 mm (1.44 Ĺ LB Ĺ 1.91 mm); LE/LP = 3.19 ± 0.13 (3.00 Ĺ LE/LP Ĺ 3.38); WE/WP = 1.35 ± 0.03 (1.31 Ĺ WE/WP Ĺ 1.40); WP/LP = 1.69 ± 0.06 (1.61 Ĺ WP/ LP Ĺ 1.81); WE/LE = 0.72 ± 0.02 (0.70 Ĺ WE/LE Ĺ 0.75); LAN/LB = 0.54 ± 0.04 (0.49 Ĺ LAN/LB Ĺ 0.60); LE/LAED = 1.84 ± 0.05 (1.77 Ĺ LE/LAED Ĺ 1.94).

Female (n = 10; mean and standard deviation; range): LE = 1.28 ± 0.11 mm (1.13 Ĺ LE Ĺ 1.43 mm); WE = 0.90 ± 0.10 mm (0.75 Ĺ WE Ĺ 1.05 mm); LP = 0.37 ± 0.04 mm (0.33 Ĺ LP Ĺ 0.41 mm); WP = 0.65 ± 0.05 mm (0.56 Ĺ WP Ĺ 0.73 mm); LAN = 0.86 ± 0.09 mm (0.73 Ĺ LAN Ĺ 0.98 mm); LSPc = 0.14 ± 0.02 mm (0.10 Ĺ LSPc Ĺ 0.17 mm); LB = 1.70 ± 0.14 mm (1.53 Ĺ LB Ĺ 1.84 mm); LE/LP = 3.45 ± 0.08 (3.25 Ĺ LE/LP Ĺ 3.54); WE/WP = 1.38 ± 0.05 (1.25 Ĺ WE/WP Ĺ 1.45); WP/LP = 1.75 ± 0.06 (1.63 Ĺ WP/ LP Ĺ 1.86); WE/LE = 0.70 ± 0.02 (0.65 Ĺ WE/LE Ĺ 0.74); LAN/LB = 0.51 ± 0.02 (0.47 Ĺ LAN/LB Ĺ 0.53); LE/LSPc = 9.22 ± 0.86 (8.28 Ĺ LE/LSPc Ĺ 11.06).

Distribution

Widespread in Northern, Central and Southern Grande Terre (Fig. 14A).

Ecological notes

Collected in seashore forest and maquis from the coast to 600 m a.s.l. Found on flowers of Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Acacia sp. ( Fabaceae), Styphelia sp. ( Ericaceae), Grevillea gillivrayi Hook. (Proteaceae) . Pollen found in the gut of some specimens.