Crostis boreas Prena & Anderson new species

Diagnosis. Total length 2.2–3.0 mm; body form oblong-ovate, L/W elytra 1.19–1.43 (Figs. 1–6). Characteristic for this most northern species of Crostis are (i) transverse pronotum with disc longitudinally striate and posterior (only) portion of flanks striate or with elongate punctures (Figs. 11–12), (ii) length of first funicular article subequal to combined lengths of articles 2–4, (iii) punctures of ventrites I and II smaller, lateralmost areas of ventrite I with 3–4 punctures along length (Fig. 18), and (iv) penis with apex truncate, slightly expanded laterally towards base, endophallus distally with asymmetrical, elongate, fluted, gutter-like endophallite with one margin longer, much thicker and more heavily sclerotized than the other, duct attached to the latter, apodemes ca. 1.7× longer than length of penis body (Fig. 20).

Etymology. The name is derived from Ancient Greek βορέας, referring to the North.

Natural history. Most specimens have been sifted from leaf litter in various types of forests and one specimen was sifted from leaf litter in a cave. No host associations are known. In Mexico, specimens have been collected in forests from 1400–3100 m .

Material examined. Holotype male, USA: Texas, Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, Oak Canyon, 1463 m, 8 Sep 1988, R. Anderson, berlese hardwood litter (CMNC) . Paratypes (19 males, 23 females): USA: Arkansas, Newton County, 3.5 mi S Boxley, 22 Aug 1974, pitfall trap, R . Chenowith (1 male, JPPC) . Texas, Coryell County, Porter Cave, Foot Hood, 31 Mar 2004, C. Pekis and J. Reddell, leaf litter berlese (1 male, CMNC) . Texas, Hays County, Scott Ecolab, 8.6 km E. Payton, N 30.105, W98.216, 24 Jan–2 Apr 2007, J.C. Abbott (1 female, UTIC; images available at https://bugguide.net/node/view/1331970/bgimage) . MEXICO: Querétaro, Municipio Caderyta, 3 km E. Chavarrias, 2850 m, 20°49.459N, 99°35.191W, 27 Jul 2006, R .S. Anderson, oak forest litter, RSA 2006-19 (1 male, 3 females, CMNC, JPPC). Municipio Pinal de Amoles, 1.9 km N.E. Pinal de Amoles, 2250 m, 21.14974, - 99.61576 +/-26 m, 18 Aug 2009, M.G. Branstetter, oak-pine forest leaf litter, MGB1427 (1 male, CMNC) . 4.5 km S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21.11217, - 99.66315 +/-10 m, 2730 m, 22 Oct 2017, M.G. Branstetter, oak-pine forest, sifted litter, MGB3592 (1 male, 1 female, CMNC) . 5.1 km W.S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21.12228 - 99.67293, 2610 m, 18 Aug 2009, M.G. Branstetter, oak-pine forest leaf litter, MGB1418 (2 males, CMNC) . 5 km S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°07’22”N, 99°40’31”W, 11 Mar 2017, R. Jones, 2700m, bosque encinos (1 male, UNAM). 4.8 km W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°07’08”N, 99°40’09”W, 2 Nov 2017, R. Jones, 2600m, bosque encinos (1 female, CASC; 1 female, TAMU; 1 male, 1 female, UAQM). 2.8 km S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°08’05”N, 99°38’49”W, 6 Nov 2014, R. Jones, 2400m, hojarasca (1 male, CASC). 7 km N.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°08’55”N, 99°41’28”W, 29 May 2016, R. Jones, 3000m, leaf litter (1 male, BMNH). 7 km N.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°08’55”N, 99°41’28”W, 30 Mar 2014, R. Jones, 3000m, leaf litter (1 male, ASUCOB). 7 km N.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°08’55”N, 99°41’28”W, 8 Jul 2014, R. Jones, 3100m, leaf litter (2 females, BMNH; 2 females, ASUCOB). 7 km N.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°08’55”N, 99°41’28”W, 15 Dec 2014, R. Jones, 3000m, leaf litter (1 female, UNAM). 2.5 km S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°07’05”N, 99°38’49”W, 30 Dec 2014, R. Jones, 2400m, leaf litter (2 females, USNM). 2.8 km S.W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°07’23”N, 99°38’45”W, 4 Jan 2015, R. Jones, 2500m, leaf litter (1 female, UNAM). 6 km W. Pinal de Amoles, 21°07’22”N, 99°41’03”W, 21 Aug 2014, R. Jones, 2900m, hojarasca (1 female, UNAM). Cruz de Palo, 21°08.14’N, 99°38.11’W, 2 July 2009, Jones & Bizuet, 2470m, leaf litter (1 female, UNAM). Las Ranas, 1.4 km N. San Joachin, 2360 m, 20.92642, - 99.56193 +/-3 m, 16 Aug 2009, M.G. Branstetter, oak forest leaf litter, MGB1407 (2 males, CMNC) . Municipio San Joaquin, above Campo Alegre, 20°54.82’N, 99°34.80’W, 14 Aug 2004, R . Jones, leaf litter, 2500m (1 male, UNAM). above Campo Alegre, 20°54.82’N, 99°34.80’W, 2 Nov 2009, Jones & Bizuet, leaf litter, 2500m (1 male, UNAM). above Campo Alegre, 20°54.75’N, 99°34.81’W, 17 May 2004, R. Jones, leaf litter, 2485m (1 male, 1 female, UNAM). above Campo Alegre, 20°54.82’N, 99°34.80’W, 12 Dec 2003, R. Jones, leaf litter, 2500m (1 female, UNAM). Municipio Huimilpan, 2440m, Cerro Cristo Dormido, 20°23’46”N, 100°19’41”W 18 Nov 2017, hojarasca (1 male, UNAM). 1 km N.W. La Beata, 20°18.42’N, 100°14.49’W, 2 Dec 2003, R . Jones, leaf litter 2500m (1 female UNAM). Municipio Jalpan de Sierra, I km E. Est. Pilȯn, 21°29.77’N, 99°09.84’W, 1 Oct 2005, M. Pérez, 1229m (1 female, UNAM). 3.2 km S.W. San Juan de los Durán, 21°27’33”N, 99°08’58”W, 1691m, 13 Oct 2018, R. Jones, leaf litter (1 female, UNAM). Tamaulipas, El Cielo, Joya de Manantiales, 1430 m, 23.00835, - 99.28511 +/-20 m, 22 Aug 2009, M.G. Branstetter, mesophyll forest, sifted leaf litter. MGB1446 (1 male, CMNC) .

Notes. We have examined specimens from the U.S.A., Querétaro, and Tamaulipas (Fig. 23) and can find no differences that would warrant separate species status. Dissections of male genitalia reveal no differences among the specimens. This is the species reported by Jones et al. (2022).