Sonoma nicholsae, Ferro & Carlton, 2010

Ferro, Michael L. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2010, Fifteen new species of Sonoma Casey from the eastern United States and a description of the male of Sonoma tolulae (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Insecta Mundi 2010 (137), pp. 1-44 : 12

5. Sonoma nicholsae new species

Fig. 5 , 22 ; Map 2

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.30 long, 0.38 wide; pronotum 0.42 long, 0.42 wide; elytra 0.50 long, 0.32 wide; antennomeres 1-11 total 0.90; total length 2.02.

Head. Eyes small, maximum length in dorsal view 2/3 length of first antennal segment, with approximately 25 facets. Antennomere 2 equal to width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with row of approximately 5 small sutural foveae in basal 1/3; central row of 3 foveae in basal 2/5. Presumed brachypterous.

Abdomen. Tergite one without transverse patch of microtrichia. No abdominal foveae. Basal pubescence present on all visible ventrites.

Aedeagus. Compact; apex of endophallus extending beyond parameres. Left paramere: robust; dorsolateral shelf 1/2 from apex with 6 thick setae; distal 1/3 evenly acuminate, apex hooked. Endophallus: lateral digitate process long, broad, ventrad from right paramere; sides divergent in apical 2/5; apex with large acute hook on left and rounded shelf on right. Right paramere: widened at base, dorsal lateral setose process elongate, with 5 apical setae; lateral constriction at level of digitate process of endophallus wide; apex abruptly curved mesally. Course, irregular tubercles present on mesal aspects of parameres.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * U.S.A., NC, Haywood Co. GSMNP, Chestnut Branch Trail 83 o 07’24” W, 35 o 45’34” N elv. 740m, leaf litter Berlese 1 August 2001, A. Tishechkin / LSAM0002378 (1M). Deposited in FMNH.

Paratype (n=1). UNITED STATES: NORTH CAROLINA: Swain Co.: * USA NC. Dirt Rd. from Heintooga Overlook to Cherokee / Lot #77-89 June 27, 1977 Berlesate 5100’-4900’ R.Chenowith & J.Heiss / LSAM 0002044 (1M).

Geographical Distribution. Specimens have been collected in GSMNP in Haywood and Swain counties, North Carolina between 740-1550 m elevation.

Comments. Specimens have been collected in June and August from leaf litter and extracted with a Berlese funnel.

Sonoma nicholsae has aedeagal characters unlike any other Sonoma , although it bears a superficial resemblance to S. gimmeli . The apical hooks on the parameres and endophallus of S. nicholsae , the lack of an apical hook on the left paramere, and the blunt subapical hook of the right paramere of S. gimmeli will serve to distinguish these two species.

Etymology. This species is named for Rebecca “Becky” Jo Nichols, Entomologist at GSMNP, and a supporter and promoter of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in GSMNP.

Figures

Figure 1-5. Habitus images. 1) Sonoma cygnus, holotype. 2) Sonoma parkorum, holotype. 3) Sonoma baylessae, holotype. 4) Sonoma brasstownensis, holotype. 5) Sonoma nicholsae, holotype. Scale lines equal 1.0 mm.

Figure 20-23. Aedeagus images. 20) Sonoma baylessae, aedeagus (dorsal view). 21) Sonoma brasstownensis, aedeagus (dorsal view). 22) Sonoma nicholsae, aedeagus (dorsal view). 23) Sonoma gilae, aedeagus (dorsal view). Scale lines equal 0.1 mm. Right side of figure is anatomical left.