Agnosthaetus carnelius 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 : 68-69

(32) Agnosthaetus carnelius Clarke , new species

( Figs. 178 , 181 , 185 , Map 7 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “New Zealand CO| Kawarau Gorge| Roaring Meg, 500m | 12 Mar 1979 | J.C. Watt / Litter 79/ 41/ FMNH-INS 0000 048 023 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus carnelius Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011”, in NZAC . Paratypes. 4 specimens (2♂ 2♀) NEW ZEALAND: South Island: CO: Kawarau Gorge, Roaring Meg , 500 m, 45°1.2′S, 169°6′E [coord.=Kawarau Gorge], 12.iii.1979, 79/41, litter, J.C. Watt , 1♂, FMNH-INS 48023 (in NZAC); Kawarau Gorge, Roaring Meg, Upper Power House , 11.iii.1975, 75/100, moss, J.C. Watt , 1♂, FMNH- INS 48012 , 1♀, FMNH-INS 38427 (in NZAC); OL: Harris Mtns., Treble Cone , 1300 m, 44°37.89′S, 168°53.629′E, 16.ii.2007, tussock litter, J.T. Nunn , 1♂, FMNH-INS 48488 (in JTNC) .

Diagnosis. In addition to the characters given in the nunni species-group diagnosis, A. carnelius can be distinguished from all other known Agnosthaetus species by the combination of coarsely punctate head, temple ( Fig. 11 , tm) at least 50% EYL, and only faint elytral and hypomeral ( Fig. 24 , hy) microsculpture. Males may be easily distinguished from all other species by the distinct but small triangular medial tooth at the apex of the labrum ( Fig. 177 ; subequal in width to adjacent teeth). The aedeagus may be distinguished from others in this speciesgroup by the strongly outwardly curving parameres in dorsal view, and the straight apices in lateral view ( Fig. 181 , cf. Fig. 180 , arrow).

Description. Color: More or less uniformly yellowish brown. Head: Frontal ridge absent. Dorsum moderately densely punctate; with punctures distributed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly on disc, middle part impunctate. Punctures shallow, well-defined; diameter subequal to or slightly greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance approximately 0.5–1.0X puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture present on entire or most of surface; distinctly reticulate, fainter posteriorly. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 , dt) distinctly slit-like; width subequal to or less than puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 , sr) distinct; not confused by smaller carinae or punctures (cf. Fig. 10 , sr); crest at antennal tubercle with distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 , arrow) more or less smooth, without subsidiary carinae. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or behind middle (cf. Fig. 10 , ao). Temple ( Fig. 11 , tm) long, greater than 50% EYL. Subocular surface more or less evenly microsculptured (cf. Fig. 65 ). Labrum distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 178 ). Apical labral margin in males strongly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 19–21 teeth (n =2), with medial, dorsally projecting tooth, subequal in width to paramedial teeth. Apical labral margin in females broadly convex, not emarginate medially; with 22 teeth (n =1), all teeth subequal in length. Adoral labral surface in males with subapical transverse ridge ( Fig. 178 , arrow). Mandible sexually dimorphic; males with single, dorsally directed tooth, with weakly developed preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 , arrow); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly continuous with anterior punctures (cf. Fig. 76 ). Distance between medial sulci very slightly greater posteriorly. Pronotal basolateral carina distinct (cf. Fig. 76 , bp). Anterior pronotal puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , ap) distinct; medial puncture (cf. Fig. 70 , mu) distinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 , bu) indistinct. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci (cf. Fig. 73 , mu). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 , hy) shiny, at most with only faintly visible microsculpture. Prosternum with faintly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 , e) without microsculpture, or with at most faint microsculpture; with 2 macrosetae, set in distinct punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 84 , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 , mer) with at most faint microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 , m) with faint reticulate microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge fully developed; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 , gr) incomplete posteriorly, forming elongate oval punctiform impression. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture short, somewhat appressed, dorsally more or less evenly projecting posteriorly, but with middle setae directed posteromedially. Abdominal sternite VI of male with denser coarser setae posteromedially; VII with narrow, nearly glabrous region medially. Aedeagus ( Fig. 181 ): “ Type B” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe slightly narrower basally, not forming distinct lateral lobes; produced into elongate, acute, and sharp point. Apicolateral setae small; apicomedial setae up to 3X longer than apicolateral setae ( Fig. 185 ). Paramere not exceeding apex of median lobe; in lateral view produced apically into lobe; with apical part perpendicular to median lobe; in dorsal view with outer side sinuously curving; with 4 setae on vental edge of apex.

Etymology. The specific epithet carnelius is a Latinized adjective derived from the old Englishderived word carnelian, an attractive and (in New Zealand varieties) reddish brown form of chalcedony used in jewelry, and very similar in color to the reddish brown of Agnosthaetus species.

Distribution. ( Map 7 ). South Island: CO; OL.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: presumably forest and tussock grassland. Specimens have been taken in moss, litter, and tussock litter. Phenology: February; March. Elevation: 500–1,300 m.

Remarks. The medial tooth of the male is distinctly smaller and more pointed than that of A. nunni MS (cf. Figs. 177–178 ), but slightly larger than that of the holotype of A. enigmus . From that species, A. carnelius may only be distinguished by the aedeagal characters in the diagnosis (cf. Figs. 181–182 ).

Figures

Map 7. Geographic distribution of all georeferenced specimens in the Agnosthaetus nunni species-group. Circles = A. nunni; triangles = A. carnelius; star = A. affinis; X = A. enigmus.

Figs. 177–179. Male (left) and female (right) labra of species in the Agnosthaetus nunni species-group, dorsal

Figs. 180–183. Aedeagi of species in the Agnosthaetus nunni species-group, dorsal (left) and right lateral (right) views. 180) A. nunni; 181) A. carnelius; 182) A. enigmus; 183) A. affinis. Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 184–187. Apex of median lobe of species in the Agnosthaetus nunni species-group, ventral view.

Figs. 10–13. Head capsules of Agnosthaetus spp. 10) A. stilbus; 11) A. rodmani; 12) A. brouni; 13) A. chiasma. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 23–24. Agnosthaetus cariniceps, thorax. 23) Dorsal view; 24) Left lateral view. Scale bars = 100 mm.

Figs. 63–68. Heads of Agnosthaetus spp., ventral view. 63) A. brouni; 64) A. stilbus, oblique view; 65) A. chiasma;

Figs. 189–194. Mandibles of Agnosthaetus spp., dorsal view (189–193, left; 194, right). 189) A. newtoni; 190) A. falx; 191) A. stenomastax; 192) A. heteromastax (Rakeahua Valley); 193) A. heteromastax (Big South Cape Island); 194) A. heteromastax (Twilight Bay). Scale bar = 100 mm.

Figs. 75–78. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 75) A. vicinus; 76) A. stilbus; 77) A. nitidus; 78) A. brouni. Scale bar =

Figs. 69–74. Pronota of Agnosthaetus spp. 69) A. chiasma; 70) A. rodmani; 71) A. heteromastax; 72) A. stenomastax;

Figs. 83–88. Pterothoraces of Agnosthaetus spp., right lateral view. 83) A. lanceolatus; 84) A. stilbus; 85) A. chiasma;