Kiwiplatynus bidens ( Chaudoir, 1878 ) Larochelle & Larivière, 2021

Larochelle & Larivière, Marie-Claude, 2021, Synopsis of the tribe Platynini in New Zealand (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Insecta Mundi 2021 (864), pp. 1-96 : 20-21

Kiwiplatynus bidens ( Chaudoir, 1878) , new combination

Fig. 48 , 91 , 149

Colpodes bidens Chaudoir, 1878: 303 . Holotype: female (MNHN) labeled “ExMusaeo Chaudoir (typed) / bidens Chaud. Nouv. Zélande (hand-written).”

Anchomenus batesi Broun, 1880: 21 . Synonymized by Watt (1961: 93).

Ctenognathus bidens: Broun 1893: 986 .

Ctenognathus batesi: Broun 1893: 986 .

Description. Body length 16.0– 19.3 mm. Head, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen black; antennal segments 1–3 rufopiceous, segments 4–11 reddish; palpi rufopiceous; legs dark rufous. Microsculpture isodiametric on head, very transverse (with microlines) on pronotum, and isodiametric on elytra. Iridescence present on pronotum. Very shiny on head and pronotum, moderately shiny on elytra. Head. Mandibles moderately curved anteriorly. Labrum moderately transverse, truncate anteriorly. Mentum: medial tooth moderately emarginate apically. Submentum with six setae. Thorax. Pronotum slightly convex, obsoletely punctate across base, obsoletely wrinkled on disc and across base, narrow, slightly cordate, widest before middle; apex slightly emarginate; anterolateral angles well developed, angulately rounded; anterior bead complete; sides moderately rounded, not sinuate posteriorly; lateral beads complete; lateral depressions wide, more so posteriorly; posterolateral angles obtuse; laterobasal foveae very deep and wide, prolonged forward; posterior bead complete, less impressed near posterolateral angles; base subtruncate. Legs. Metatarsomeres 5 setose ventrally (with long setae). Elytra. Slightly convex, not sloping down toward apex. Shoulders moderately rounded. Sides moderately rounded. Scutellar striole moderately long, impunctate. Striae deep, impunctate. Intervals moderately convex; interval 3 with two shallow, minute setiferous punctures (medially and subapically). Umbilicate series with 24–25 setiferous punctures. Subapical sinuations moderately strong. Apices mucronate internally, rounded externally. Abdomen. Sternum IV: both sexes with two or three long apical ambulatory setae. Sternum V: both sexes with three or four long apical ambulatory setae. Sternum VI: both sexes with four long apical ambulatory setae. Sternum VII (last visible sternum): male with two long apical ambulatory setae; female with six long apical ambulatory setae. Aedeagus. Lateral view ( Fig. 91 ): moderately arcuate; base moderately convex dorsally, with basal lobe rather narrow; middle subparallel, straight dorsally, moderately concave ventrally, with dorsal membranous area strongly widened from base to apex and very long; apex subtriangular, slightly convex dorsally, rather straight ventrally, with extreme tip narrow, short, and moderately curved downward; internal sac with a few scale-like sclerites. Dorsal view: moderately wide, asymmetrical (ostium of membranous area deflected to the left); basal bulb close to membranous area.

Material examined. 2245 specimens ( AMNZ, BMNH, CMNH, JNNZ, LUNZ, MNHN, MONZ, NZAC).

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 149 ). North Island: AK, BP, CL, GB, ND, TK, TO, WN, WO.

Ecology. Lowland, montane, subalpine. Epigean, arboreal. Mesic forests (podocarp, broadleaf), tree plantations (pine), and shrublands. Shaded ground; moderately moist soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day under logs, fallen trees and branches, or under stones. Gregarious.

Biology. Seasonality: Throughout the year. Mating observed in October (BP). Tenerals: December–March. Predacious (based on mouthpart morphology). Predators: Kiwi birds. Regularly infested with fungi (Laboulbeniales). Occasionally infested with mites.

Dispersal power. Subapterous (incapable of flight). Swift runner. Frequent climber (on trees).

Collecting techniques. Pitfall trapping; turning logs, fallen trees and branches, as well as stones.

References. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 133–134 (as Ctenognathus bidens ; catalogue; biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution, references), 2007: 111 (as C. bidens ; list), 2016: 36 (as C. bidens ; list).

Figures

Figures 45–48. Dorsal habitus. 45) Prosphodrus waimana new species. 46) P. occultus. 47) Maoriplatynus marrisi new species. 48) Kiwiplatynus bidens. Scale line = 1 mm.

Figures 87–93. Aedeagus, lateral. 87) Prosphodrus sirvidi new species.88) P.waimana new species.89) P. occultus. 90) Maoriplatynus marrisi new species. 91) Kiwiplatynus bidens. 92) K. taranaki new species. 93) Kupeplatynus sulcitarsis.

Figures 148–153. Species distribution maps. 148) Ctenognathus xanthomelus. 149) Kiwiplatynus bidens. 150) K. taranaki new species. 151) Kupeplatynus crenatus. 152) K. lucifugus. 153) K. sulcitarsis.