Prespelea enigma Caterino & Vasquez-Velez

Caterino, Michael S. & Vasquez-Velez, Laura M., 2017, A revision of Prespelea Park (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 685, pp. 105-130 : 119-120

Prespelea enigma Caterino & Vasquez-Velez sp. n. Figs 5, 6, 21, 32, 44, Map 50

Type material.

Holotype male: USA: NC: Macon Co., Jones Gap, 35.0785°N, 83.2923°W, S. Myers, vii.22.2015, sifted litter (CUAC000026531, DNA Extract MSC-2403). Other material: 4 males & 6 females, NC: Macon Co., 11 mi. SW Franklin, Back Country info center, VIII-17/21-1990, hardwood litter nr. dead logs, S. O’Keefe; UNHM, FMNH, CUAC. 1 female: NC: Macon Co. Highlands, vi.8.1973, Coker Rhododendron Trail, litter under rhododendron, W. Suter; FMNH.

Diagnosis.

This species is externally indistinguishable from P. copelandi except in the following male characters: metaventrite elevated anteromedially to form small but distinct median tubercle about one-fourth metaventral length behind mesocoxae (Fig. 21), metaventrite moderately flattened behind; posteroapical corner of male metatrochanter produced to form short, incurved flange (Fig. 32), the whole trochanter being somewhat parallelogram-shaped; aedeagus with sides weakly sinuate toward apex, apicodorsal ridges weakly divergent to apical corners; apical margin subtruncate to weakly emarginate; internal sac with broad band of about 18 short, sclerotized teeth. Female not definitely associated. TL 1.76-1.88mm; Max. width (EW) 0.61-0.71mm.

Distribution.

This species is known from the type locality, a few miles WNW of Highlands, NC, and from a second locality approximately 20 km due west.

Remarks.

This species is very similar to P. copelandi , but the male metaventral process is distinct, being located closer to the meso- than the metacoxae. The metatrochanteral processes of the two are very similar, but that of P. enigma is wider and situated at or distad the midpoint of the trochanter’s posterior margin. Finally the aedeagus of P. enigma is slightly broader and with a much squarer, only weakly emarginate apex, with a distinctly spinose internal sac, which P. copelandi lacks. Dissected specimens have the internal sac variably everted, so it is difficult to compare available specimens directly. However, one dissected male excluded from the type series appears to have somewhat better developed (longer) and more numerous spines on the internal sac than the type. The apex of the aedeagus of this specimen is also slightly more emarginate than that of the type. However, generalizations are impossible with such limited material. Our main basis for limiting the type series to the single male from Jones Gap is the availability of molecular data for that specimen. Interestingly, the molecular data suggest that this species may be closely related to P. myersae , and this is supported to some extent by the presence of internal sac armature. In external morphology, however, P. enigma and P. myersae differ greatly, given the males’ well-developed eyes and wings in P. enigma . Tentatively associated females have the pygidium broad and flat, the apical ventrite with strong transverse carina, concave behind, and the neck flattened beneath, but without median or lateral carinae.

One female specimen cited under 'other material’ was initially labeled by John Wagner under his manuscript species ' P. suteri '. We have not used his intended name, and cannot unequivocally associate the specimen with this species, but have left his label on the specimen.