Sonoma cobra, Ferro, 2016

Ferro, Michael L., 2016, Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America, Insecta Mundi 2016 (472), pp. 1-57 : 12-13

7. Sonoma cobra new species

Fig. 7 , 52 ; Map 10.

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.27 long, 0.36 wide; pronotum 0.41 long, 0.43 wide; elytra 0.40 long, 0.28 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.67; total length 1.80. Body brown, distal portion of antennae, maxillary palpi, and legs paler. Body covered in short setae (less than 1/2 length of the eye).

Head. Eyes reduced, maximum length in dorsal view 0.75x length of first antennal segment, with approximately 9–10 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 0.78x width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with indistinct sutural foveae; 2–3 foveae lateral to sutural fovea; single elongate central fovea in basal 1/3. Apparently brachypterous. Metatibia unmodified.

Abdomen. Tergite IV without microtrichia. Basal lateral foveae obscured, weak if present.

Basal pubescence present on all visible ventrites.

Aedeagus. Left paramere: longer than endophallus; blade-like apical projection with 4 setae arranged palmately directed posteriorly to mesad. Endophallus: wide as base, narrowing to apex; s-shaped; apical 1/5 perpendicular to aedeagus; subapical wart with two stout setae. Right paramere: elongate apical hook-like process approximately 2/3 length of paramere, directed mesad with 4–5 setae at base.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * CALIF: Shasta Co. Buckhorn Summit IV.15.1981 T. R.Haig, Coll. / Berlesed from Oak duff (1♂). Deposited in CSAC.

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma cobra is known from a single specimen collected in Shasta Co., California.

Comments. The specimen was collected during April from Berlesed oak duff. The reduced eyes, apparent brachyptery, and collection method indicate that the species may be associated with more subterranean habitats than its congeners.

Aedeagal characters of Sonoma cobra are unique. Lack of elongate latero-apical setae on the parameres separate it from S. spadica , S. repanda , and S. dolabra . The s-shaped endophallus and hook-like apical process on the right paramere will separate S. cobra from all other known species.

Etymology. Sonoma cobra is named for its unique serpentine endophallus complete with “fang-like” setae. “Cobra” is derived from cobra de capelo, a Portuguese term, and today is commonly used to refer to snakes in the family Elapidae .

Figures

Figures 7–11. Sonoma spp. holotype habiti. 7) S. cobra. 8) S. colberti. 9) S. maryae. 10) S. quellazaire. 11) S. rossellinae.

Figures 50–52. Aedeagi of Sonoma spp. 50) S. repanda Marsh and Schuster. 51) S. quercicola Chandler. Modified from Chandler (1986). 52) S. cobra new species. Right side of figures is anatomical left.