Custotychus daggyi (Park, 1949)

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

2. Custotychus daggyi (Park, 1949) ( Figs. 3 , 17a–b , 32 , 33 )

Tychus daggyi Park, 1949: 327 , pl. V. Type locality: North Carolina, Cabarrus Co., Egg Rock Woods. Holotype female: // Egg Rock Wds., Cabarrus Co. N.C. II-11-49, leaf mold B Tom Daggy/ [female symbol]/ Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Orlando Park Pselaphidae Colln. / [orange label] Tychus daggyi Park n. sp. TYPE// (FMNH). Park 1956: 95, 97 (description of male).

Tychus (Custotychus) daggyi: Park and Wagner 1962: 23 .

Lucifotychus daggui (sic): Poole and Gentili 1996: 396.

Custotychus daggyi: Chandler 1988: 158, 1997: 79 .

Specimens Examined. n = 84. District of Columbia: D.C. Washing[ton], D.C., IV, Hubbard & Schwarz; same locality, X-22; [no date]. Maryland: Montgomery Co.: Cabin John, VI-7-1965, W. Suter, subcortical log. North Carolina: [state record only], II-12-1895, III-2-1895, IV-1-1895. Brunswick Co.: nr. Mako [Maco], X-15-1979, J.F. Cornell, hardwood litter along ravine. Buncombe Co.: 10 mi. W Asheville, XII-18-1834, A. Jacot, leaf mold. Burke Co.: Hickory Airport, V-1971, W. Move. Cabarrus Co.: Egg Rock Woods, I-16-1955, II-11- 1949, leaf mold B, IV-4-1955, IV-8-1955, IX-27- 1975, XI-15-1954, T. Daggy. Egg Rock Woods, 5 mi. W[E!] Davidson, VIII-2-1976, T. Daggy & J.F. Cornell. Caldwell Co.: Edge Mount Wilson Ridge Tr[ail] at NC90, 2415′, X-31-2009, J. & S. Cornell, berlese litter moss lichen in roadside ditch. Durham Co.: Duke Forest, IX-1992, K. Hedlund, leaf litter, Berlese funnel. Granville Co.: VIII-18-1964, J.F. Cornell. Mecklenburg Co.: Mint Hill, VIII-31/ IX-9-1993, J. Bryan & J. Cornell. Northampton Co.: 7 km S Jackson, V-21/ VII-1-1988, H. Goulet, FIT Camasia slope. Orange Co.: Chapel Hill, XI-21-1979, J.F. Cornell, hardwood litter under logs. Chapel Hill, Morgan Circle, IV-17-1994, J.F. Cornell, ex. soil. Rutherford Co.: Chimney Rock State Park, 620m, IX-20-2005, A.K. Tishechkin, deep litter/dead logs, berlese. Wake Co.: Raleigh, Reedy Creek State Park, II-28- 1965, J.F. Cornell, oak-pine woods litter, oak log litter, oak-pine woods litter. Wilkes Co.: 2 mi. E Moravian Falls, XI-23-1970, J.F. Cornell & R. Hawkins, hardwood litter. South Carolina: Florence Co./Darlington Co. line, Ridge Hope Pres[erve], WEI320, J. & S. Cornell, 24x09, berl. wash soil litter by rotten pine stumps. Tennessee: Blount Co.: VII-1-1953, T.P. Copeland, #91. Little Bottoms Trail, 520 m, VII-31-2004, J. Ciegler, forest litter. West Prong Campground, 520m, VII-30-2004, J. Ciegler, forest litter. Roane Co.: Oak Ridge, AEC controlled area, VI-8-1956, moss; X-14-1956, Rhododendron . Sevier Co.: G[reat] S[moky] M[ountains] N[ational] P[ark], Little Pigeon R[iver], 480m, VI-23-2006, I.M. Sokolov, mixed forest litter, hand sifting. Virginia: Augusta Co. : 5 mi. W Stokesville, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, VI-17-1989, Plam Survey. Cumberland Co.: 7mi. SW Columbia, Hardwood South Site, IV-20-1996, VMNH Survey. Bear Creek Lake St. Pk., XII-12-2007, L.E. Watrous, litter and soil. Fairfax Co.: IX-22-1940, A. Nicolay. Turkey Run, VIII-26-1976, A. Newton & M. Thayer, berlese forest litter, Liriodendron and other hardwoods. Franklin Co.: Grassy Fort Creek, 2 mi. E Snow Creek, Rt. 619, VI-4-2004, R.L. Hoffman, berlese. Henry Co.: S side Turkeycock Mountain, Rt. 619, 0.7 mi. N intersection with Rt. 651, W of Mountain Valley, III-12-2007, R.L. Hoffman, berleseate. Patrick Co.: Kibler Park, 6 mi. SW Vesta, III-30-1999, R.L. Hoffman. West Virginia: Pendleton Co.: 5 mi. NW Ruddle, VIII- 27-1992, J.D. Nacker, unbaited pitfall trap.

Description. Body: Brown; 1.66–1.68 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 40 facets (26 coarse facets fide Park 1956). Metasternal tubercle ( Fig. 17a, b ) at about 2/3 point of metasternal length, in lateral view erect, apex acutely pointed; in posterior view, moderately T-shaped, apex flat; posterior face concave, with stem width about 1/3 apical width, apex sometimes narrower; tubercle height 0.050 mm, apical width 0.054 mm, minimum stem width 0.019 mm [tubercle measurements based on specimen from Ridge Hope Preserve, SC; LSAM]. Mesotibiae with preapical aciculate spur, apical spur bifurcate at apex, preapical spur on posterior margin, apical spur on mesal margin. Abdomen with ventrite 2 broadly rounded at middle; ventrite 6 with shallow circular impression extending through length at middle. Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 ) 0.38 mm long; median lobe elongate, narrow, margins slightly convergent to truncate apex; lateral arms of dorsal plate elongate, about 2/3 length of basal bulb, in lateral view with large, ventral, darkly sclerotized tooth at about 1/3 point of length, tooth often visible projecting slightly laterally in dorsal view, apical half of lateral arms lighter, more membranous, with fine striations in apical portion; apex of basal bulb with large, apical, membranous area, anteroapical projections distinct; parameres elongate, thin, margins gradually convergent to rounded apices. Female: With about 10 eye facets (4–10 fide Park 1956); mesotibiae lacking apical/ preapical spurs.

Collection Data Synopsis. This species has been taken throughout the year. Collections have been primarily taken by berlesing hardwood leaf litters, with occasional specimens berlesed from rotten wood. One specimen was taken by a flight intercept trap. Specimens are present in the collections of CMNH, CNCI, DSCC, FMNH, LSAM, MCZC, NCSU, UNHC, USNM, and VMNH.

Distribution. Custotychus daggyi is found from Washington, DC to the Piedmont Region of North Carolina and west to eastern Tennessee ( Fig. 33 ). Records are from DC, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV.

Comments. Park (1949) noted that there was a lateral long “guard” seta originating at the one-third point of the tibial lengths, which was lacking in other North American species of the tribe (genera Tychus Leach and Cylindrarctus Schaufuss at that time). These setae can be only occasionally seen in specimens of C. daggyi and are typically stuck amongst the other tibial setae in dried specimens. They do not seem to be present in the other species of the genus.

This species has the narrowest apex of the metasternal tubercle, and the large, ventral tooth of the lateral arms is more basal. Most specimens were taken from sites east of the Appalachian crest, but a few were collected from areas just west of the crest in Tennessee.

Figures

Figs. 1–7. Custotychus species. 1) C. natchez, dorsal habitus; 2–7) Aedeagus, dorsal and left lateral views:

Figs. 16–27. Custotychus species, scanning electron micrographs right lateral (a) and posterior (b) views of metasternal tubercle. 16) C. chickasaw; 17) C. daggyi; 18) C. lobatus; 19) C. turnbowi; 20) C. rothorum; 21) C. spinosus; 22) C. verticalis; 23) C. watrousi; 24) C. carloritaorum; 25) C. leei; 26) C. minor; 27) C. natchez. Grid for measurements of 20 or 50m at bottom of micrographs.

Figs. 28–32. Custotychus species. 28) C. pocahontas, scanning electron micrographs of right lateral (a) and posterior (b) views of metasternal tubercle. Grid for measurements of 20 or 50m at bottom of micrographs; 29) C. carloritaorum, mesotibial spurs; 30) C. spinosus, mesotibial spurs; 31) C. watrousi, abdominal ventrites, ventrolateral view; 32) C. daggyi, right maxillary palpus, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 33. Distribution of Custotychus species in the daggyi species-group: C. chickasaw, C. daggyi, C. lobatus, and C. turnbowi.