Custotychus spinosus Chandler and Geromini, 1962

Chandler, Donald S. & Geromini, Sarah D., 1962, A Revision of the Eastern Nearctic GenusCustotychusPark and Wagner, 1962 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 1962 (2), pp. 217-242 : 217-242

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1649/0010-065X-70.2.217

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B34D1D49-4F21-AE70-6B0D-78912811FD71

treatment provided by

Diego

scientific name

Custotychus spinosus Chandler and Geromini
status

sp. nov.

6. Custotychus spinosus Chandler and Geromini View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 7 View Figs , 21a–b View Figs , 30 View Figs , 34 View Figs )

Specimens Examined. n = 2 1. H o l o t y p e male: // USA.AL. Blount Co. Nr. Highland Lake 33.88253°N 86.42185°W 285m. 28 May 2003. T. King Berlese / LSAM 0293949 View Materials / [red label] HOLOTYPE Custotychus spinosus Chandler & Geromini // ( FMNH) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: Alabama: Blount Co.: Nr. Highland Lake , 285m, V-28-2003, T. King, berlese (1M, DSCC; 8M, LSAM) . Colbert Co.: Cane Creek Canyon N[ature] P[reserve], III-24- 2014, J.A. MacGown & J.G. Lewis, berlese litter from upland hardwood forest (1M 2F, MEMC) . Jackson Co.: 10 mi. N Scottsboro , V-16-1972, S. & J. Peck (1M, CNCI) . Walker Co.: Jasper, Devil’ s Ladder , VI-4-1984, T. King, florest floor debris (1M, FMNH) . Arkansas: Garland Co.: Jessieville , XI-26-2011, B. Baldwin, Berlese funnel leaf litter (1M, BBC) . Georgia: Clarke Co.: 5 mi. W Athens , II-8/21-1978 (1M, DSCC) , III-15/22- 1978 (1M, UGAC), XII-1/7-1977 (1M, UGAC), XII-8/16-1977 (1M, UGAC), C.L. Smith, pitfall trap. Kentucky: Edmonson Co.: Mammoth Cave National Park , Bruce Hollow, VIII-24/27- 1967, S. Peck & A. Fiske, berlese, log stump litter (1M, FMNH) .

Description. Body: Brown; 1.56–1.62 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 35 facets; metasternal tubercle ( Figs. 21a, b View Figs ) at posterior margin of metasternum; in lateral view, curving anteriorly, apex narrowly rounded, posterior face flat; in posterior view, lateral margins to apex slightly broadening, apex rounded; tubercle height 0.069 mm, maximum apical width 0.032 mm, minimum stem width 0.026 mm [tubercle measurements based on specimen from near Highland Lake, AL; LSAM]. Mesotibiae with large, slightly curved spine at middle on posteromesal margin ( Fig. 30 View Figs ), probably modified preapical spur, otherwise preapical spur lacking, apical spur short, bluntly pointed. Ventrite 2 broadly rounded at middle, ventrite 6 with small, faint, circular impression at middle. Aedeagus ( Fig. 7 View Figs ) 0.32 long mm; in dorsal view, median lobe elongate, narrow, lateral margins slightly concave throughout length, lateral arms of dorsal plate elongate but short, extending to point just beyond middle of median lobe, appearing shortly bifurcate at apex; in lateral view, median lobe pointed at apex, slightly swollen in apical half; lateral arms of dorsal plate with spur curved strongly ventrally, second spur curved weakly dorsally; parameres swollen in apical half, extending to point even with apex of median lobe, membranous areas small. Female: Unknown.

Collection Data Synopsis. Individuals were collected from February to June, and in August and December. They were collected by processing forest floor debris/litter and stump litter with Berlese funnels, and several were taken by pitfall traps. Specimens are present in the following collections: BBC, CNCI, DSCC, FMNH, MEMC, and UGAC.

Distribution. This species occurs in the southeastern states from Georgia to Arkansas ( Fig. 34 View Figs ). Specimens were examined from the following states: AL, AR, GA, and KY.

Etymology. The name for this species was suggested by the prominent spine of the mesotibiae.

Comments. Custotychus spinosus is generally similar to C. rothorum by form and placement of the metasternal tubercle, and by the general form of the genitalia. The presence of a median spine on the mesotibiae leads to rapid recognition of this species, and the median lobe has the lateral margins gently concave in dorsal view, while C. rothorum lacks the median mesotibial spine and the lateral margins of the median lobe are straight.

FMNH

Field Museum of Natural History

LSAM

Louisiana State Arthropod Museum

CNCI

Canadian National Collection Insects

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Staphylinidae

Genus

Custotychus

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