Agnosthaetus aequalis 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 : 38-39

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/038787B5-FFBA-5361-44E4-BFBD8677F941
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

(11) Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 115 View Figs , 123 View Figs , 127 View Figs , Map 3 View Map 3 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “New Zealand WN| Keith George Res| Silverstream [41°9.276′S, 175°0.918′E]| 11.7.92/ FMNH- INS 0000 019 786 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011/ Permount”, in MONZ. Originally on card, remounted on point; aedeagus mounted on clear strip in Permount GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 18 specimens (10♂ 8♀). NEW ZEALAND: North Island: WA: Wellington, Eastbourne, Stella’ s Bush, Rona Bay , 20–29.iv.1937 , among dead leaves, 1♂, 1♀ (in MONZ; both specimens, and two others below, on same card, with label FMNH-INS 19800); WN: Brooklyn, Mitchell Street (#142), 200 m, 41°18.304′S, 174°45.415′E, 16.x.1995 GoogleMaps , under cut Macrocarpa branches, J.T. Nunn, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19685 (in JTNC); Karori Reservoir , 340 m, 41°18.639′S, 174°44.706′E, 15.iii.1997 GoogleMaps , beaten from Phormium colensoi, J.T. Nunn , 1♂, FMNH-INS 19864 (in JTNC); Karori Reservoir, Southern Boundary , 340 m, 41°18.639′S, 174°44.706′E, 1.x.1994 GoogleMaps , litter under Phormium tenax, J.T. Nunn , 1♀, FMNH- INS 19863 (in JTNC); Karori, Johnston Hill , 230 m, 41°16.697′S, 174°44.441′E, broadleaf forest, 29.iii.1945 GoogleMaps , among dead leaves, 1♂ (in MONZ; on same card as FMNH-INS 19800); Tararua Forest Park, Akatarawa Saddle , 464 m, 40°56.9′S, 175°6.577′E, 22.i.2008 GoogleMaps , KM231, sifted leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, & T. Buckley, 1♂ (in NZAC); Tinakori Hill , 41°16′5″S, 174°46′25″E, forest, 26.xi.1991 GoogleMaps , in forest soil sample, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19694, 2♀ FMNH-INS 19693, FMNH-INS 19695 (in JTNC); Tinakori Hill , 200 m, 41°16′5″S, 174°46′25″E, 12.vii.1992 GoogleMaps , 1♀, FMNH-INS 19790 (in OMNZ); 18.vii.1993 , in Phormium litter, J.T. Nunn, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19678 (in JTNC); 14.iii.1992 , leaf litter, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19788 (in MONZ); xi.1991 , stony soil sample, 1♀, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19789 (in MONZ in glycerine); Wellington, Wilton’ s Bush [=Wilton Bush, near suburb of Wilton], 41°15.96′S, 174°45.16′E, 11.iv.1938 GoogleMaps , 1♂, FMNH-INS 38387 (in BMNH); 22.iii.1944 , among dead leaves, 1♂ (in MONZ; on same card as FMNH- INS 19800); Wellington, Wilton’ s Bush , 110 m, ANMT 1150, 41°15.963′S, 174°45.159′E, mixed broadleafpodocarp forest, 24.xi.2005 GoogleMaps , FMHD#2005-030, berl., log & leaf litter, M. Thayer & A. Newton, 1♂, 1 larva (in FMNH) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus aequalis may be distinguished from all other species of Agnosthaetus by the combination of pronotal basolateral carina present (e.g., Figs. 72–74 View Figs , bp), metathoracic pleural ridge present (as in Fig. 24 View Figs , mp, but usually partly effaced), distinct spine at the middle of the labral apex in both sexes ( Fig. 115 View Figs ), and lack of microsculpture from the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head and thorax. The aedeagus is distinct from that of superficially similar species ( A. brouni , A. impressus , A. tumidus , A. bicolor , and A. zonatus ) most notably in lacking a distinction between the apicomedial and apicolateral lobes of the median lobe ( Fig. 123 View Figs , cf. Figs. 121–122 View Figs , 129–131 View Figs ).

Description. Color: Head and prothorax reddish brown, elytra usually much darker, nearly black in middle, abdomen lighter, but with segment VI nearly black. Head: Frontal ridge present (cf. Fig. 12 View Figs , fr). 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. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) distinctly slit-like; width subequal to or less 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) more or less smooth, without subsidiary carinae, or with single subsidiary carina formed by confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or behind middle (cf. Fig. 13 View Figs , ao). Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) very short, much less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface with narrow welldemarcated band of microsculpture (cf. Fig. 63 View Figs , bm). Labrum distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 115 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males broadly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 21–27 teeth (n =5), with medial anteriorly projecting tooth about twice length of paramedial teeth. Apical labral margin in females slightly concave medially; with 19–25 teeth (n =7), medial tooth elongate, twice length of others. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible more or less identical in both sexes; males and females with single, mesially directed tooth, males with weakly developed preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 View Figs , arrow); females without spur. 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 present, distinct (cf. Fig. 76 View Figs , bp). Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , ap) indistinct; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , mu) distinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 View Figs , bu) indistinct. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci (cf. Fig. 78 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), poorly developed and often partially effaced; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture long, dorsally with radiating fans of setae either side of midline and laterally. Aedeagus ( Fig. 123 View Figs ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe with rounded lateral lobes, produced into broadly acute, sharp point. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 127 View Figs ). Paramere extending to about level of median lobe apex; lamellate, in lateral view distinctly broad along most of length; with apical part curving ventrally; in dorsal view with outer side gently convex; with 4 large setae near inner edge of apex.

Etymology. The epithet aequalis is a Latin adjective meaning like or same, referring to the unusual presence of an enlarged, medial labral tooth in both sexes (usually only females of this species-group have such a tooth).

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

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: podocarp-broadleaf forest. Specimens have been taken from diverse leaf litter and in association with the megaherb Phormium tenax J. R. Forst. and G. Forst. (Agavaceae) . Phenology: year-round. Elevation: 110– 464 m.

Remarks. In addition to the diagnostic characters, most specimens examined also have the elytral disc incompletely darkly pigmented.