Sonoma twaini, 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 : 17

13. Sonoma twaini new species

Fig. 13 , 17 ; Map 39.

Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.25 long, 0.31 wide; pronotum 0.30 long, 0.34 wide; elytra 0.59 long, 0.28 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.57; total length 1.92. Body brown, maxillary palpi and legs paler. Body with moderate length setae (approximately 1/2 or less width of eye).

Head. Eyes prominent, maximum length in dorsal view 0.47x length of first antennal segment, with approximately 30 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately 0.90x width of 1; 3 smallest.

Thorax. Elytra with indistinct sutural foveae; 2 foveae lateral to sutural fovea; central row of 3 foveae in basal 1/3. Winged. Metatibia unmodified.

Abdomen. Tergite IV with transverse patch of microtrichia narrowly interrupted at midline. Basal lateral foveae on ventrites V–VII. Basal pubescence present on all visible ventrites.

Aedeagus. Elongate. Left paramere: equal in length to endophallus; subequal in width from base to apex; with 4–5 stout apical setae and 3 ventral subapical setae. Endophallus: widest at basal 1/5; with two ventral processes arising 2/3 from base projecting perpendicular to aedeagus; apex bent 90° to the left. Right paramere: 2/3 length left paramere; subequal in width from base to apex; with 4–5 stout apical setae and 3 ventral subapical setae.

Type Material. Holotype, male: * T. R. Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. III.9.1973 (1♂). Deposited in CSCA.

Paratypes (n=4). UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA: Shasta Co.: * T. R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co.Cal. III.9.1973 ( CSCA) (2♂). * T. R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co.Cal. I.31.1973 ( CSCA) (1♂). Trinity Co.: * CALIF:Trinity Co. Junction City III-12-1981 T. R.Haig coll. ( FMNH) (1♂).

Geographical Distribution. Sonoma twaini is only known from two locations, one each in Shasta and Trinity counties, California.

Comments. Sonoma twaini was collected in January and March, collection method is unknown.

Aedeagal characters of S. twaini are superficially similar to S. wintuorum , S. stewarti , and S. colberti all of which share a similar gestalt comprised of narrow, elongate parameres and an elongate endophallus with elaborate apical hooks or processes. The flowing combination of characters will separate S. twaini from the others: endophallus with two ventral processes arising 2/3 from base projecting perpendicular to aedeagus [absent in S. wintuorum , S. stewarti , and S. colberti ]; without elongate thin posteriorly directed process arising 2/3 from base of endophallus [present in S. wintuorum and S. stewarti ]; endophallus with single apical process [two in S. wintuorum , three in S. colberti ].

Etymology. Sonoma twaini is named for the character Mark Twain, developed by Samuel Langhorne Clemens, an author, lecturer, philosopher, humanitarian, champion of science, and humorist. Clemens lived in California for awhile, but traveled nowhere near where this species occurs—the author forgives the oversight.

Figures

Figures 12–14. Sonoma spp. holotype habiti. 12) S. stewarti. 13) S. twaini. 14) S. virgo.

Figures 15–18. Aedeagi of Sonoma spp. 15) S. stewarti new species. 16) S. wintuorum Chandler. Modified from Chandler (2003). 17) S. twaini new species. 18) S. colberti new species. Right side of figures is anatomical left.