Arianops carteri, Carlton, 2008

Carlton, Christopher E., 2008, Eight New Species ofArianopsBrendel from the Southeastern United States with an Updated Key and Notes on Additional Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (2), pp. 297-323 : 297-323

Arianops carteri , new species

( Figs. 3–4 , 19–20 , 34 )

Holotype male ( Figs. 3–4 ). /SC Union Co K mi S Union 1 March 81 Ex Pine Stump hole JF Cornell 981 III-1-3/ Arianops carteri Carlton, 2007 Holotype male/. Type deposition, North Carolina State University Insect Collection , Durham, NC .

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, Nobel Peace laureate, and humanitarian.

Description. Holotype male. Measurements (in mm): head 0.60 long, 0.60 wide; pronotum 0.70 long, 0.55 wide; elytra 0.65 long, 0.65 wide; median lengths of visible abdominal tergites 1–5, respectively 0.30, 0.10, 0.10, 0.45, 0.10. Antennomeres 1–11, respectively 0.10, 0.11, 0.11, 0.10, 0.10, 0.10, 0.10, 0.08, 0.10, 0.10, 0.26. Aedeagus 0.45 long, 0.25 wide. Total length 3.10.

Head ( Fig. 19 ). Lateral vertexal carinae prominent at their origins above antennal tubercles, rapidly weakening posteriorly and obsolete at a point just anterior to vertexal foveae. Median occipital carina originating just anterior to vertexal foveae and extending to posterior margin of occiput. Vertexal foveae nude, connected via weak u-shaped depression that is expanded anteriorly and broadly concave and shining between antennal tubercles. Clypeus carinate laterally to antennal tubercles, weakly but distinctly carinate medially. Labrum with small median and lateral teeth. Lateral carinae from clypeus to ocular spines well-developed. Ocular spine acute, oriented slightly anteriorly. Mentum with median tooth.

Pronotum. Basomedian fovea deep and obvious, flanked post-laterally by weak knobs bearing convergent setae. Two pairs of basolateral foveae present, one pair on lateral aspect of pronotum, nearly vertical in position, another more posterior and medial. Basal area of pronotum transversely rugose posteriad to foveae.

Elytra. Basal margin of each elytron weakly, bisinuately carinate, more strongly so at humeral angle. Basal depressions and foveae absent.

Legs. Mesotrochanter bearing an extremely acute, slender spine at middle of ventral margin ( Fig. 20 ).

Abdomen. Dorsally abruptly and strongly declivous at tergite 4. Ventrites lacking spines. Ventrite 6 broadly concave.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 34 ). Apical shelf absent, parameres fixed but not fused. Left paramere elongate, with a broad, acute mesally oriented spine from mesial margin, curved dorsally at apex. Right paramere short, rounded, bearing one basolateral and two subapical slender spines. Right apical margin of phallobase bearing three slender spines. Elongate process extending from right margin of phallobase ventral to base of right paramere, reaching tip of left paramere, and bearing a row of approximately 20 densely spaced, slender uniform spines in distal one-half.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Only the holotype is known.

Distribution. The species is only known from the type locality in Union County, South Carolina and is the first member of the genus known from South Carolina.

Comments. External characters of A. carteri are consistent with Barr’s (1974) nantahala species group. Within the group, it is similar to A. digitata Barr in possessing non-carinate bumps adjacent to the median pronotal foveae, a character that sets these two species apart from the other two members of the group. However, the mesotrochanter is spined in A. carteri , ventrite 3 is unspined, and the aedeagus is completely different. The elongate, spined left aedeagal process is unlike that of any other species in the genus, but may be homologous to the biramous digitate process of A. digitata , judging from its position and apparent origin from the left wall of the internal sac. These and similar structures extending from the left wall of the internal sacs of many species within the genus may be derived from the left parameres.

The collector, James Cornell, provided the following supplementary information from his field notes: ‘‘JFC 981-III-1-3 S.C. Union Co.. 5 mi S. Union on Monarch-Union Road, across from a motel. Dug up a large sample, 20 lb from around a very rotted and eaten pine stump with only heartwood remaining, inhabited by yellow Lasius mixtus umbratus ants, with two genera of anillines [anilline carabids], many Mayetia , and the Arianops .’’

Henroti species group

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Dorsal and lateral views, Arianops new species holotypes. 1–2) A. obrieni; 3–

Figs. 17–27. Arianops new species. 17) A. obrieni, head; 18) A. obrieni, female ventrites 5–6; 19) A. carteri, head; 20) A. carteri, mesothoracic coxa-femur; 21) A. clintoni, head; 22) A. clintoni, mesothoracic coxa-femur; 23) A. clintoni, ventrites 3–4; 24) A. ashei, head; 25) A. ashei, ventrites 3–4; 26) A. barri, head; 27) A. barri, ventrites 3–4.

Figs. 34–41. Arianops new species aedeagi, dorsal views. 34) A. carteri; 35) A. clintoni;