Agnosthaetus akatarawa Clarke, 2011

Clarke, Dave J., 2011, A Revision of the New Zealand Endemic Rove Beetle Genus Agnosthaetus Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 10) 2011, pp. 1-118 : 39-40

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1649/0010-065X-65.mo4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0818A3A2-AB42-43D8-8F76-4F65F367C584
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5489B44C-8439-426B-95CA-D4A8E4C0B36F
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:5489B44C-8439-426B-95CA-D4A8E4C0B36F
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus akatarawa Clarke
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

(12) Agnosthaetus akatarawa Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 116 View Figs , 124 View Figs , 128 View Figs , Map 3 View Map 3 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with six labels: “New Zealand WN| Pakuratahi Forks [41°3′S 175°11′E, 100m]| 23-Aug-94/ In leaf| litter/ JT Nunn| collection/ FMNH-INS 0000 019 682 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus akatarawa Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011/ Permount”, in JTNC. Originally on card, remounted on point; aedeagus mounted on clear strip in Permount GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 11 specimens (6♂ 5♀). NEW ZEALAND: North Island: WN: Akatarawa Rd. Summit, 460 m, 40°56.929′S, 175°6.518′E, 18.iv.1992, J.T. Nunn GoogleMaps , 1♂, FMNH-INS 19750 (in JTNC) ; Tararua Forest Park, above Akatarawa Saddle , 455 m, ANMT 1151, 40°56.936′S, 175°6.529′E, broadleaf-podocarp forest on slope, 26.xi.2005, FMHD#2005-033, berl., leaf & log litter, A. Newton & M. Thayer GoogleMaps , 5♂, 2♀ (in FMNH) ; Tararua Forest Park, Akatarawa Saddle , 464 m, 40°56.9′S, 175°6.577′E, 22.i.2008, KM231, sifted leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, & T. Buckley GoogleMaps , 1♀ (in NZAC) ; Tararua Forest Park, Waitatapia Stream , 220 m, 40°51.563′S, 175°15.887′E, 19.ix.1993, in leaf litter, J.T. Nunn GoogleMaps , 1♀, FMNH-INS 19726 (in JTNC) ; Tararua S.F., Waiotauru Rd. , forest, 25.i.1997, in forest leaf litter , 1♀, FMNH-INS 19731 (in JTNC) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus akatarawa may be distinguished from all other known Agnosthaetus species by the combination of the coarsely punctured head without microsculpture, anteriorly bulging eyes (similar to Fig. 11 View Figs ), subocular band of microsculpture (as in Fig. 63 View Figs , bm), labra of both sexes emarginated and lacking enlarged medial tooth ( Fig. 116 View Figs ), smooth mentum (as in Fig. 67 View Figs ), and the presence of the metathoracic pleural ridge ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mp, but usually with oblique portion variously effaced). Paramere with unique large, mesal projection at middle ( Fig. 124 View Figs , arrow).

Description. Color: More or less uniformly reddish brown. Head: Frontal ridge absent. Dorsum moderately densely punctate; with punctures distributed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly on disc, middle part impunctate. Punctures deep, well-defined; diameter greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance mostly much less than half puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture absent or with only insignificant traces anterior to dorsal tentorial sulci. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) narrowly ovate; width subequal to or slightly greater than puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , sr) distinct; not confused by smaller carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle without distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) with distinct subsidiary carina formed by confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or in front of middle (cf. Fig. 13 View Figs , ao). Eye slightly bulged anteriorly (cf. Fig. 11 View Figs ). Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) short, much less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface with narrow well-demarcated band of microsculpture (cf. Fig. 63 View Figs , bm). Labrum not distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 116 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 18–22 teeth (n =5), all teeth normal, projecting more or less anteriorly. Apical labral margin in females broadly rounded, subtruncate to slightly concave medially; with 20–21 teeth (n =3), all teeth subequal in length. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible sexually dimorphic; males with single, dorsally directed tooth, with distinct preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 View Figs , arrow); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Mentum smooth, unmodified (cf. Fig. 67 View Figs ). Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from and terminating posterior to anterior punctures (cf. Fig. 78 View Figs ). Distance between medial sulci slightly greater posteriorly. Pronotal basolateral carina absent (cf. Figs. 23 View Figs , 69 View Figs , 77 View Figs ), or present but only weakly developed. Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , ap) absent; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , mu) indistinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 View Figs , bu) absent. Medial pronotal seta adjacent to lateral sulcus (cf. Fig. 69 View Figs ). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum without microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture; with 2 macrosetae, not set in punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mer) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , m) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge present (cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , mp), with longitudinal portion distinct but oblique portion more or less effaced; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture long, dorsally more or less evenly projecting posteriorly. Abdominal sternite IV of male with surface slightly impressed apicomedially, flanked by small diffuse patches of coarse acuminate setae; V with surface impressed apicomedially, flanked by coarse acuminate setae forming small tufts apically, apex of sternite not distinctly sinuous; VI with surface subglabrous apicomedially; VII with surface nearly glabrous apicomedially. Aedeagus ( Fig. 124 View Figs ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe distinctly trilobate, with rounded lateral lobes and abruptly distinct, broadly acuminate, and sharply pointed apicomedian lobe. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 128 View Figs ). Paramere extend- ing to about level of median lobe apex; slender in lateral view; in dorsal view with outer side more or less straight; and with broad mesal tooth at middle (visible in ventral view; Fig. 124 View Figs , arrow); with 2 distinct pairs of setae, 1 at apex, 1 somewhat displaced basally.

Etymology. The specific epithet akatarawa is a noun in apposition, in reference to the first locality from which specimens were known.

Distribution. ( Map 3 View Map 3 ). North Island: WN.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: podocarp-broadleaf forest. Specimens have been taken from forest leaf and log litter. Phenology: year-round. Elevation: 100– 464 m.

Remarks. This species is externally most similar to A. minutus and because of the similarly coarse punctation of the head and relatively long abdominal vestiture it is difficult to distinguish from that species. It is separable externally only by the bulging eyes, absence of microsculpture from the vertex, and the effaced oblique portion of the metathoracic pleural ridge. It is also similar to Agnosthaetus imitator Clarke , with which it is sympatric at least at Akatarawa, and from which it may be distinguished most reliably by the smooth mentum (as in Fig. 67 View Figs ). From all other superficially similar species it may be distinguished by the coarse punctation of the vertex, conspicuously bulging eyes, longer and shaggy abdominal vestiture, greater development of the postocular region (between head and neck), and the distinctly impressed nuchal groove. Although this species strongly resembles other species from WN and WA, characters of the aedeagus suggest it is in fact more closely related to other species in the brouni species-group.