Saprinus (Saprinus) detritus (Fabricius, 1775)

Lackner, Tomas & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2017, A monograph of the Australopacific Saprininae (Coleoptera, Histeridae), ZooKeys 689, pp. 1-263 : 113-119

Saprinus (Saprinus) detritus (Fabricius, 1775) Figs 422, 423-431, 432-438, 758, 761

Hister detritus Fabricius, 1775: 53.

Saprinus antipodus Dahlgren, 1971: 48 - Synonymized by Mazur (1984): 50.

Type locality.

Australia (error). This New Zealand endemic was erroneously described from Australia. A complete explanation of its taxonomic history is given in Kuschel (1987).

Type material examined.

Hister detritus Fabricius, 1775: Lectotype, ♂, designated by J.C. Watt in 1985, pinned specimen with a lump of yellow glue on its venter covering both metatibiae, with the following labels: " Hister detritus / Fab. Entom. p. 53 p. 10" (black-margined, printed-written label); followed by: "LECTOTYPE ♂ / Hister / detritus F. / det. J.C.Watt / ( Saprinus ) 1985" (printed written); followed by a label with a QR code and “NHMUK010601207” (printed) (BMNH).

Saprinus antipodus Dahlgren, 1971: Holotype, ♂, originally pinned, glued to a rectangular mounting card, genitalia extracted, glued onto the same card as the specimen, with the following labels: “Neu-Seeland” (written); followed by: " pseudocyaneus / Bickhardt" (written); followed by: “MUSÉUM PARIS / 1933 / Coll. Desbordes" (printed); followed by: " Saprinus / antipodus / Dahlgren, 1971 / HOLOTYPE / det. T. Lackner ‘17” (red label, written) (MNHN). Dahlgren (1971) described the species based on a single male, describing its labels exactly. The specimen found at MNHN completely agrees with Dahlgren’s description and is thus the holotype by inference.

Additional material examined.

New Zealand. North Island. ND: 1 spec., Kawerua Beach, Northland, 5.ii.1975, R.A. Harrison (LUNZ); 1 spec., Puketi Forest, Waipapa R. Tk., 30.i.-3.ii.1995, J. Klimaszewski (pittrap with carrion, broadleaf forest) (NZAC). AK: 1 spec., Mangere, 2.i.1979, R.R. Scott (ex garden) (LUNZ); 8 specs., Auckland, without further data (BMNH); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ & 1 spec., Little Barrier, Mt. Hobson, H. Swale, 1913-117 (BMNH); AK: 2 specs., Whatipu Beach, Waitakere, 16.iii.1994 (under dead seagull) (NZAC); 1 spec., Lynfield, 8.x.1991, G. Kuschel (in swimming pool) (NZAC); 1 spec., Lynfield, 1.ii.1975, G. Kuschel (NZAC); 3 specs., Waitakere Ranges, Karekare, 81 Lone Kauri Rd., 220 m, 15.iv.2000, R.F. Gilbert (LUNZ); 1 spec., Upper Aorere, 24.iii.1938, A. Richardson (AMNZ); 8 specs., AK, Auckland Western Springs, 10.xi.2001, S.E. Thorpe (under dead rat) (AMNZ). CL: 2 specs., The Aldermen Is., Raumahuaiti I., 5 m, 5.-11.xii.1994, J.W. Early, R.F. Gilbert (coastal taupata/karo Hymenanthera/ngaio scrub, yellow pan trap) (LUNZ); 4 specs., Mercury Is., Green I., 23.xii.1987, G. Hall (under dead penguin) (NZAC); 3 specs., Middle I., Mercury I., i.1983, I. Southey (NZAC); 2 specs., Deep Stream, Taieri Rd., 24.x.1924, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ); 1 spec., The Aldermen Is., Hongora, 17.xi.2003, J.W. Early (under dead seabird on soil) (AMNZ). WO: 4 specs., Okoroire, 24.xii.1920, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ). BP: 1 spec., Kaituna, 23.xii.1981, A. Siddique (LUNZ). GB: 6 specs., Te Urewera NP, 22.-26.xi.2012, Lake Waikaremoana Motorcamp, 38°45.3'S, 177°09.4'E, 600 m, A. Becker, M. Fikáček & J. Hájek leg. (5 specs. in coll. NMPC; 1 spec. in coll. TLAN). TO: 1 spec., Rangipo Dam, 26.xii.1996, B.J. Gill (from corpse of hare) (LUNZ); WN: 1 spec., Wellington, x.1893, S.V.H. (AMNZ); 3 specs., Somes Island, Wellington, 18.i.1996 (in seagull’s nest) (CJN); 1 spec., Island Bay, x.1991 (in compost) (CJN); 1 spec., Karore; 27.xii.1920 (BMNH). South Island. NN: 1 spec., Nelson, 4.iii.1960, E.S. Gourlay (NZAC); ditto, but 10.ii.1959 (NZAC); ditto, but 22.iii.1960 (NZAC). SD: 1 spec., Stephens Island, Keepers Bush, 18.ii.1994, J.W.M. Marris (on tree at night) (LUNZ); 5 specs., Waikawa Beach, 2.iv.1995 (under dead seagull on beach) (CJN); 1 spec., Picton, 24.xii.1941, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ); 1 spec., North Brother Island, 9.ii.1993, J.W.M. Marris (ex petrel burrow litter) (LUNZ). MB: 2 specs, Awatere River, 25.xii.1943, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ). BR: 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Mt. Cook Nat. Park, Murchison 1000 m, F/S 30.iii.1976, W.J. Sweney (LUNZ); 1 spec., Pahautane Bay, 4.ix.1981, R.M. Emberson (under log) (LUNZ). KA: 3 specs., Molesworth, Awatere River, 28.xii.1943, C.E. Clarke (BMNH). NC: 2 specs., Plate Is., 28.iii.1932, R.A.F. (in addled birds egg) (AMNZ). MC: 1 spec., Lincoln, 2.iii.1962 (LUNZ); 1 spec., MC, Lincoln, i.1994, N.C. Schroeder (on dead hedgehog) (LUNZ); 14 specs., Lincoln College, 22.xii.1966, C.C. Boswell (LUNZ); 1 spec., L Georgina 544 m, 23.ii.1982, S.P. Warner (swept tussock) (LUNZ); ditto, but 8.iii.1983 (swept) (LUNZ); 1 spec., ditto, but 18.i.1967 (LUNZ); 2 specs., Kaitorete Spit, 0-5 m, 9.iv.1999, J.W. Early (dried dogfish carcass at top of beach (LUNZ); 1 spec., Christchurch, Kennedy’s Bush Road, 15.xii.1969, R.M. Emberson (inside house) (LUNZ); 1 spec., Heathcote, 5.x.1962, J. Olsson (on floor) (LUNZ); 2 specs., Pleasant Point, 5th Canterbury, 30.x.1961, N.G. Blakemore (LUNZ); 1 spec., Christchurch, 1917 (BMNH); 1 ♀, Lyttelton, x.1902, J.J. Walker (BMNH). MK: 1 spec., Mt. Cook National Park, Black Birch Stream, 1.xii.1999, J.W.M. Marris (under dead hare) (LUNZ); 1 spec., Mt. Gerald St., L. Tekapo, 12.iv.1985, B. Fraser (flying plots study) (LUNZ). OL: 2 specs., Paradise, 9.i.1945, C.E. Clarke (AMNH, BMNH); 1 ♂, Paradise, 9.i.1945 (BMNH); 1 ♂, ditto, but 1.i.1945 (BMNH); 3 specs., Arthurs Pr., near Queenstown, 24.ii.1925, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ). CO: 1 spec., Otago (BMNH); 4 specs., Bannockburn, 20.i.1945, C.E. Clarke (BMNH); 1 spec., Waitaki Co., Omaramu River Bed, 20.i.1962, W.B. Paterson (ex carrion) (AMNZ); 1 spec., Bannockburn, 20.ii.1945, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ); 1 ♀, Bannockburn, C.E. Clarke; 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, Paradise (BMNH). DN: 1 spec., Upper Wedderburn, 22.x.1923, C.E. Clarke (AMNZ); 1 spec., Lowar, Otago Peninsula, Tertatello, 14.ii.1940, C.E. Clarke (BMNH); 1 spec., Pilots Beach, Otago Harbour, iii.1999 (in dry seabird carcasses) (CJN); 1 spec., Taiaroa Head, 26.iii.1970, R. Jackson ( Puffinus griseus nest) (LUNZ). SD: 1 spec., South Trio Island, 15.ii.1995, R.M. Emberson (litter ex bird nest) (LUNZ). Unknown localities: 1 spec., 296, Canterbury (BMNH); 16 specs., New Zealand, without further data (BMNH). Chatham Islands: 1 spec., Rangatira 30 m, 29.xi.1992, J.W.M. Marris (litter ex Olearia Macropiper/ Meticytus forest) (LUNZ); 1 spec., South East Island, 7.xi.1970, J.I. Townsend (at night in bush) (NZAC); 6 specs., Mangere Island, 75 m, 2.xii.1992, J.W. Marris (in dead and dried up Puffinus griseus cadaver) (AMNZ); 6 specs., ditto, but LUNZ; 5 specs., South East I., 31.xii.1998, R.M. Emberson (under dead broad billed prions) (LUNZ); 1 spec., South East Island, Summit track, 20.i.1998, G. Taylor (LUNZ); 3 specs., South East Island, Woolshed Bush, 20.i.1998, R.M. Emberson (on ground at night) (LUNZ); 2 specs., Mangere, 26.xi.2004, R.M. Emberson & P. Syrett (above hut) (LUNZ); 3 specs., South East Island, Whalers Bay, 14.i.1997, J.W.M. Marris (under vegetation near bush edge) (LUNZ); 2 specs., South East Island, Whalers Bay Track,15.i.1997, collector unknown (on trees and logs at night) (LUNZ); 1 spec., Pitt Island, Glory Bay, 5.i.1999, R.M. Emberson (in dry cattle carcass) (LUNZ); 1 spec., ditto, but 2.i.1997 (in rubbish pit) (LUNZ; 6 exs. in coll. TLAN).

Distribution.

New Zealand mainland, Chatham Islands (Figs 758, 761).

Biology.

Found under vegetation, in dry carrion, on tree logs at night, on ground at night, in litter, in petrel burrows, under logs, in birds nests, swept from tussocks, or in compost.

Re-description.

Body length: PEL: 3.75-5.00 mm; EL: 2.35-3.25 mm; APW: 1.40-1.75 mm; PPW: 2.75-3.75 mm; EW: 3.15-4.30 mm.

Body (Fig. 422), rectangular oval, convex, elytral humeri not prominent, elytra light brown, shining, with slight metallic luster, pronotum black, shining; legs, mouthparts and antennal scape dark brown; antennal club black.

Antennal scape (Fig. 423) slightly thickened, punctate, lower margin carinate, with several setae; antennal club (Figs 424) covered with dense short sensilla intermingled with sparse longer erect setae; sensory structures of antennal club not examined.

Mandibles dorso-laterally densely punctate, rounded, outer margin carinate; sub-apical tooth on left mandible large, almost perpendicular to outer mandibular margin; labrum finely and sparsely punctate, convex, with slight median depression; labral pits present, each with two labral setae; mentum (Fig. 425) sub-quadrate, anterior and posterior angles slightly projected, anterior margin with deep median notch, surface around it with several longer setae, lateral margins with a single row of much shorter ramose setae, disc of mentum finely imbricate, with sparse short setae; other mouthparts not examined.

Clypeus rectangular, slightly depressed medially, coarsely and densely punctate; supraorbital stria complete, slightly carinate; frontal stria weakened and interrupted medially (occasionally complete); frontal disc (Fig. 423) with coarse and dense punctation, slightly finer than that of clypeus, interspaces imbricate; eyes convex, visible from above.

Pronotal sides (Fig. 422) gradually narrowing anteriorly, on apical third strongly narrowed, apical angles prominent, pronotal depressions weakly impressed, anterior incision for head rather deep; marginal pronotal stria well impressed, carinate laterally, weakened anteriorly, visible along its entire length from dorsal view; pronotal disc laterally with depressed, coarsely and densely punctate band originating approximately near pronotal depressions, not reaching apical angles; between it and lateral pronotal margin an impunctate band present. Along basal margin of pronotum a double to triple row of variously sized punctures present, weakened before ante-scutellar area; rest of pronotal disc glabrous or only with scattered microscopic punctation. Pronotal hypomeron with scattered microscopic setae; scutellum small, visible.

Elytral epipleura densely and coarsely punctate; marginal epipleural stria complete; marginal elytral stria well impressed, carinate, continued as weakened, but complete apical elytral stria. Humeral elytral stria finely impressed on basal third; inner subhumeral stria present as median fragment (occasionally almost connected basally with humeral elytral); four dorsal elytral striae 1-4 well impressed, in punctures; first and second dorsal elytral striae about the same length, reaching approximately half of elytral length apically; third elytral stria very shortened, present as short basal fragment; fourth dorsal elytral stria the longest, surpassing elytral half apically, curved towards sutural elytral stria and connected with it; sutural elytral stria deeply impressed, impunctate, apically connected with apical elytral stria. Elytral disc on apical fourth with very coarse and dense confluent punctures, laterally entering and filling first elytral interval, mesally punctures present only on apical fourth; several punctures present mesally also along bases of second and third dorsal elytral striae; punctures before elytral margin not creating a glabrous band; along marginal elytral stria a narrow band of punctation present; rest of elytral disc and elytral flanks only with scattered microscopic punctation.

Propygidium on basal half almost impunctate, on apical half with dense punctation, interspaces between punctures less than their diameter; pygidium with even coarser and denser punctation, interspaces imbricate.

Anterior margin of median portion of prosternum (Fig. 426) almost straight; marginal prosternal stria present only laterally; prosternal process between carinal prosternal striae coarsely punctate, slightly depressed; carinal prosternal striae carinate, sub-parallel, slightly divergent apically, united in front (Fig. 426), prosternal process in profile even; lateral prosternal striae carinate, rather short, apically attaining carinal prosternal striae at about two-thirds of their length.

Discal marginal mesoventral stria (Fig. 427) well impressed, carinate, complete, anteriorly slightly inwardly arcuate; disc medially with sparse fine punctation, laterally larger sparse punctures appear; meso-metaventral sutural stria complete, undulate; intercoxal disc of metaventrite flattened, in male with longitudinal median line but without median depression, medially with scattered microscopic punctation, along lateral and basal margins coarse but sparse punctures appear; lateral metaventral stria (Fig. 428) deeply impressed, carinate, almost straight, ending short of metacoxae; lateral disc of metaventrite (Fig. 428) slightly concave, with dense shallow large setigerous punctures; metepisternum (Fig. 428) similar, but in deeper and larger punctures, on fused metepimeron punctures becoming much sparser and not setigerous; metepisternal stria deep, present almost along entire metepimeron and metepisternum, interrupted.

Intercoxal disc of first abdominal ventrite completely striate laterally; disc with the exception of median area with dense punctures of various sizes; along basal margin of sternite much finer microscopic punctation.

Protibia (Fig. 429) slightly dilated, outer margin with five moderately large triangular teeth topped by large denticle, denticles diminishing in size proximally, followed by five minute denticles; setae of outer row regularly spaced, rather short; setae of median row much shorter and somewhat sparser than those of outer row; anterior protibial stria shortened apically; protarsal groove rather deep; protibial spur large, bent, growing out from apical margin of protibia; outer part of posterior surface punc tate, separated from glabrous and narrow median part of posterior surface by a ridge; median row of posterior surface with a row of rather long strongly sclerotized setae; posterior protibial stria recognizable dense row of strongly sclerotized setae becoming stiffer and longer apically; apical margin of protibia ventrally with three short denticles; inner row of setae double, setae short, diminishing in size basally.

Mesotibia (Fig. 430) and metatibia (Fig. 431) also similar to other congeners; denticles on outer, and apical margin not as long and stiff as in S. chathamensis , and denticles on metatibia sparse (only four present, growing in size apically).

Male genitalia. Eighth sternite (Figs 432-433) apically with several pseudo-pores, entirely fused; apex of eighth sternite laterally with two tufts of dense, moderately long setae; eighth tergite and eighth sternite fused laterally (Fig. 434). Ninth tergite (Figs 435-436) typical for the subfamily; anterior margin of tenth tergite slightly inwardly arcuate; spiculum gastrale (Fig. 435) gradually dilated on apical half; apical end strongly sclerotized; basal end abruptly dilated, outwardly arcuate. Aedeagus (Figs 437-438) slightly thickened medially, constricted before apex; apex dilated; parameres fused along their basal half (roughly), thence separated; basal piece of aedeagus short, ratio of its length: length of parameres 1: 6; aedeagus curved from lateral view (Fig. 438).