Nesamblyops victoriae, Sokolov, 2023

Sokolov, Igor M., 2023, Fourteen new species of the genus Nesamblyops Jeannel (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Anillini) from the South Island of New Zealand with redescription of the genus and description of a new subtribe, Zootaxa 5375 (2), pp. 151-192 : 187-190

Nesamblyops victoriae , sp. nov.

Figures. 11C , 13F , 16G–I , 17L , 22

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, in NZAC, labeled: \ NEW ZEALAND, BR Capleston 8 Mar 1972 J.C. Watt \ moss 72/111 \ Beech Forest Utilization Project \ NZ PB \. PARATYPES (3 specimens, dissected 2 exx.), 2 males labeled: \ 24mi N.Springs Junction 10.2. 65 N. A. Walker \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ NEW ZEALAND, BR Central Val 4.5km SE of Cronadun \ 28 Jan 72 J.C. Watt Litter 72/74 \ Beech Forest Utilization Project \ NZ PB \.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in the genitive case and is based on the name of Victoria Range in which the new species was collected.

Type locality. New Zealand, South Island, West Coast, Victoria Range, Capleston area .

Recognition. Adults of this species ( Fig. 11C ) are practically indistinguishable from the adults of some Nesamblyops species based on external characters (e.g., Fig. 9B, E ) and are distinguished from them by the structures of the male genitalia.

Description. Large for genus (SBL range 1.96–2.11 mm, mean 2.06± 0.068 mm, n=4).

Habitus. Body form ( Fig. 11C ) markedly convex, elongate ovoid, general proportions wide (WE/SBL 0.41±0.008), head narrow relative to pronotum (WH/WPm 0.66±0.023), proportions of pronotum in comparison to elytra average for genus (WPm/WE 0.76±0.025).

Color. Body color piceobrunneous, appendages brunneous.

Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 13F ) moderately long in comparison to elytra (LP/LE 0.43±0.013) and moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.22±0.027), with lateral margins moderately and rectilinear constricted posteriorly (WPm/ WPp 1.29±0.027). Anterior angles indistinct, posterior angles obtuse (107–111°), rounded. Width between posterior angles greater than between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 0.84±0.015). Basal margin almost rectilinear, slightly convex at middle.

Elytra. Ovoid, narrowly depressed along suture, comparatively long (LE/SBL 0.59±0.006) and moderately wide (WE/LE 0.69±0.019). Humeri completely rounded. Lateral margins slightly divergent at basal third, subparallel at middle and evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 16I ) moderately arcuate and moderately twisted. Shaft subparallel basally, slightly tapering in apical half. Apex curved dorsally with narrowly rounded tip. Apical orifice of moderate length occupies one third of the shaft length. Ventral margin of median lobe straight in basal half and convex in apical half; after apical convexity ventral margin obliquely ascending toward upturned tip of apex. Walls of shaft with numerous poriferous canals scattered in apical and basal parts of shaft. Dorsal copulatory sclerites consist of rC-sclerite with long ventral branch, V-contour of moderate size, and also with small curved sclerite positioned mid-apically from rC-sclerite ( Fig. 16I ). Left paramere ( Fig. 16G ) comparatively wide, with attenuate apex, bearing three long setae. Right paramere ( Fig. 16H ) narrow, of moderate length, bearing three long setae, which are slightly shorter than the length of paramere. Ring sclerite as in Fig. 17L .

Female internal genitalia. Not examined.

Geographical distribution. The species was collected in three localities situated in the western and eastern foothills of Victoria Range at the northern part of the West Coast region, South Island ( Fig. 22 , yellow circles).

Habitat. Specimens were collected from moss and litter samples.

Relationships. The structure of the male genitalia of N. victoriae suggests its close relatedness to N. disjunctus . Both species form a small and distinctive group.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Digital images of habitus of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect.A—N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO), B—N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO), C—N. hobbit (9mi. N Karamea, Nelson, SO), D—N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, MountArthur, Nelson, SO), F—N. magnificus (Allison Reserve,Akatore, Dunedin, SO). Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 11. Digital images of habitus of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. subrufus (Dublin Terrace, Upper Buller Gorge, Nelson, SO), B—N. viator (Secretary Island, Grono Bay, Fiordland, SO), C—N. victoriae (Capleston, Victoria Range, Buller, SO). Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 13. Digital images of pronota of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. rotundicollis (Onekaka, Nelson, SO), B—N. solitarius (Italian Creek, Capleston, Buller, SO), C—N. subcaecus (Greymouth, Buller, SO), D—N. subrufus (Dublin Terrace, Upper Buller Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. viator (Secretary Island, Grono Bay, Fiordland, SO), F—N. victoriae (Capleston, Victoria Range, Buller, SO). Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Line drawings of male genitalia of New Zealand Nesamblyops species. N. subrufus (Dublin Terrace, Upper Buller Gorge, Nelson, SO): A—left paramere, left lateral aspect, B—right paramere, right lateral aspect, C—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. viator (Secretary Island, Grono Bay, Fjordland, SO): D—left paramere, left lateral aspect, E—right paramere, right lateral aspect, F—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. victoriae (Capleston, Victoria Range, Buller, SO): G—left paramere, left lateral aspect, H—right paramere, right lateral aspect, I—median lobe, right lateral aspect. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Line drawings of ring sclerite of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, male genitalia, dorsal aspect. A—N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO), B—N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO), C—N. hobbit (Mount Domett, Nelson, SO), D—N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), F—N. montanus (Relax Shelter, Mount Robert Ridge, Nelson, SO), G—N. moorei (Kangaroo Creek, Mawhera Forest, Buller, SO), H—N. ovipennis (Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), I—N. rotundicollis (Onekaka, Nelson, SO), J—N. subcaecus (Margarets Tarn Lake, Arthur’s Pass, Mid Canterbury, SO), K—N. viator (Secretary Island, Grono Bay, Fjordland, SO), L—N. victoriae (Capleston, Victoria Range, Buller, SO). Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 22. Distributional records for the Nesamblyops species and images of male median lobe, obtained from specimens, collected in the line-connected with images localities. Yellow circles—N. victoriae; black circles—N. moorei; red circles—N. disjunctus. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.