Sonoma agitator, 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 : 7-8

1. Sonoma agitator new species

Fig. 1 , 43 ; Map 2.

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.24 long, 0.30 wide; pronotum 0.29 long, 0.35 wide; elytra 0.60 long, 0.30 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.73; total length 2.01. Body uniformly pale brown. Body covered in elongate setae (greater than half the length of the eye).

Head. Eyes prominent, maximum length in dorsal view 1.06x length of first antennal segment, with approximately 50 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 0.73x width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with indistinct sutural foveae; 2–3 foveae lateral to sutural fovea; central row of 5–6 foveae in basal 1/3. Winged. Metatrochanter rounded; metatibia with process on inner margin approximately halfway from base.

Abdomen. Tergite IV with transverse patch of microtrichia narrowly interrupted at midline. Basal lateral foveae on ventrites V–VI only, reduced. Basal pubescence present on ventrites IV–VII.

Aedeagus. Asymmetical. Left paramere: apical process with three elongate setae; inner subapical process thin, hooked dorsally, with three basal setae. Endophallus: with large, blunt, lateral basal process on left; width at midpoint greater than 1/3 width of left paramere; blunt apical and subapical processes. Right paramere: globose; with three apical and three subapical setae; ventral digitate process approximately 1/4 width of paramere; with acute mesad subapical process and reflexed apical process.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * CA: Monterey Co. 36.0812°N, 121.5947°W UC Big Creek Reserve Big / Brunette Ck. confl. iii.28-iv.2.2004, FIT M.Caterino / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0018666 (1♂). Deposited in SBMNH.

Paratypes (n=6). UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA: Monterey Co.: * CA: Monterey Co. 36.0812°N, 121.5947°W UC Big Creek Reserve Big/Brunette Ck. confl. iii.28-iv.2.2004, FIT M.Caterino / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0018659 ( SBMNH) (1♂) SLIDE. *same data / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0018675 ( SBMNH) (1♂). San Luis Obispo Co.: * CA: San Luis Obispo Co. 35.5392°N, 121.0813°W UC Rancho Marino Res. iii.10-25.2009, FIT M.S. Caterino / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0089346 ( SBMNH) (1♂). *same data / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0089328 ( SBMNH) (1♂). * CA: San Luis Obispo Co. 35.5392°N, 121.0813°W UC Rancho Marino Res. ii.26-iii.10.2009, FIT M.S. Caterino / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0088452 ( SBMNH) (1♂). * CA: San Luis Obispo Co. 35.5392°N, 121.0813°W UC Rancho Marino Res. v.28-vi.24.2009, FIT M.S. Caterino / CA BEETLE PROJ CBP0094153 ( SBMNH) (1♂).

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma agitator is only known from two locations, one each in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, California.

Comments. Specimens were collected during March through June using flight intercept traps.

Aedeagal characters of Sonoma agitator are similar to those of S. rubida . The two can be separated based on the following characters, S. rubida in brackets []: endophallus with large lateral basal process on left [basal process wanting], width at midpoint greater than 1/3 width of left paramere [width less than 1/4 width of left paramere], apex blunt [apex narrowly pointed], with blunt subapical process [without subapical process]; right paramere ventral digitate process approximately 1/4 width of paramere [process approximately 1/6 width of paramere].

Etymology. The specific epithet celebrates the three separate times the author became deeply concerned that the species was S. rubida (on the grounds that the sketch in Marsh and Schuster 1962 was flawed), and the three separate times he discovered his own illustration of the aedeagus of S. rubida that not only vindicated Marsh and Schuster, but clearly showed S. agitator to be undescribed.

Figures

Figures 1–6. Sonoma spp. holotype habiti. 1) S. agitator. 2) S. cardiac. 3) S. carltoni. 4) S. cataloochee. 5) S. caterinoi. 6) S. chandleri.

Figures 43–46. Aedeagi of Sonoma spp. 43) S. agitator new species. 44) S. rubida Casey. 45) S. humilis Marsh and Schuster. 46) S. konkoworum Chandler. Right side of figures is anatomical left.