Paratachys haleakalae, Liebherr, 2021

Liebherr, James K., 2021, Hawaiian Paratachys Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae): small beetles of sodden summits, stony streams, and stygian voids, ZooKeys 1044, pp. 229-268 : 229

Paratachys haleakalae sp. nov. Figures 3C , 4B , 7 , 8

Type material.

Holotype female (CUIC; undissected, point-mounted): HI:Maui Haleakala N.P. / Kipahulu Vy. Central / Pali Tr. 910 m el. / 30-IV-1991 under logs // J.K. Liebherr / A.C. Medeiros / Jr. collectors // HOLOTYPE ♀ / Paratachys / haleakalae / J. K. Liebherr 2020.

Paratypes. Three specimens with same collection data as holotype (CUIC, 3; dissected male allotypic paratype and two female paratypes, one lacking left elytron; Fig. 8E ).

Diagnosis.

Immediately diagnosable among Hawaiian Paratachys by the narrow, more quadrate pronotum that is little constricted basally (Fig. 8A ); MPW/PL = 1.29-1.36 and MPW/BPW = 1.21-1.26. The pronotal basal margin is shallowly sinuate just inside the hind angles, with the median basal margin extended posteriorly as a narrow collar. Elytral interneurs 1 and 2 are deep and broad on the disc, and interneur 3 is evident posterad dorsal seta Ed4. The eyes are somewhat variable, but always small and little convex; 4-7 ommatidia crossed by a horizontal diameter of the eye, and 6-9 ommatidia crossed by a vertical diameter (Fig. 8C, D ). The head, pronotum and elytra are a rich rufobrunneous, distinctly contrasted to the flavous antennae and legs. Standardized body length 2.3-2.4 mm.

Description.

Head narrow, ocular lobes little projected (Fig. 8A ), eyes small and little convex, OR = 1.14 for individuals with small eyes (Fig. 8D ) vs. OR = 1.20 for those with large eyes (Fig. 8C ); frontal grooves broadly depressed, slightly convergent from position of anterior supraorbital seta to frontoclypeal suture, not extended along suture, frons only slightly convex; antennae moderately elongate, antennomere 9 length twice diameter; mandibles elongate, distance from dorsal condyle to apex twice distance from condyle to anterolateral labral margin; labrum quadrate, anterior margin evenly emarginate across width, six-setose; penultimate maxillary palpomere broadened apically, apical palpomere a narrow spindle (Fig. 8A, B ). Prothorax narrow, quadrate, lateral margins subparallel anterad right to slightly acute hind angles; depressed pronotal median base narrow, juncture with disc smooth, surface with irregular longitudinal wrinkles, basal margin smooth medially, only a very narrow marginal bead laterally along sinuosity behind laterobasal depressions; laterobasal depression deepest, pit-like just laterad median base; pronotal median impression finely incised to obsolete on flattened disc; anterior transverse impression obsolete medially and laterally toward narrowly rounded, not projected front angles. Elytra subquadrate, narrow, humeri rounded, EL/MEW = 1.53; basal groove present laterad position of fourth interneur, groove convexly joined to lateral marginal depression; lateral marginal depression moderately reflexed, of equal breadth from seta Eo2 to subapical sinuation. Pterothorax elongate, mesepisternal depression smooth posterad juncture with mesosternum; metepisternum elongate, lateral length 1.9 × maximal width; metathoracic flight wings vestigial, the alae reduced to stenopterous flaps that extend to posterior margin of first abdominal tergite (Fig. 8E ), vestiges of radial and medial veins visible in the wing membrane. Abdomen with one seta each side of apical ventrite in male, two seta each side of ventrite in females. Microsculpture evident on all somites; frons covered with evident transverse mesh, sculpticells more isodiametric in broad frontal grooves; pronotum slightly iridescent due to elongate transverse sculpticells, median base with isodiametric sculpticells in wrinkles, elevated ridges glossy; elytra subiridescent due to a mix of elongate transverse-mesh and transverse-line microsculpture, the transverse lines denser laterally; abdominal ventrites iridescent, covered with swirling, elongate transverse sculpticells. Pelage present on head, prothorax, elytra, pterothorax, abdominal ventrites and legs; pelage on head and pronotal disc comprising microsetae separated by distances subequal to setal length (Fig. 8C, D ), as well as along ommatidial margins of the eyes (Fig. 8B ); microsetae spaced slightly farther apart on elytra, with intersetal distances up to twice microsetal length; prosternum and mesosternum covered with sparse pelage medially; pelage on abdomen present at middle of ventrite 2 between metalegs, and progressively more broadly on ventrites 3-6 (absent dorsad arc of metaleg movement); anterior surface of prothoracic femora sparsely covered with microsetae, anterior (ventral) surfaces of meso- and metathoracic legs more densely covered with elongate microsetae, the setal bases situated more closely than microsetal length, trochanters and coxae similarly covered with microsetae. Coloration moderately darkened; vertex and frons dark brunneous to piceous, clypeus flavo-brunneous, labrum flavous; antennomeres flavous, outer antennomeres 4-11 with slight smoky cast; maxillary and labial palps flavous; pronotal disc rufo-brunneous, median base paler, rufo-flavous; elytra dark brunneous, paler near scutellum and on humeri, sutural interval may be slightly paler, elytral lateral marginal depression rufo-flavous; elytral epipleuron rufo-flavous, concolorous with thoracic ventrites; abdominal ventrites dark brunneous medially, paler laterally; legs flavous from trochanters outward; pro- and mesocoxae concolorous with outer leg segments, metacoxae brunneous to match thoracic ventrites. Legs with basal male protarsomere alone bearing a blunt, antero-apical process.

Male genitalia.

Aedeagal median lobe convex dorsally, ventral margin straighter, apex a broadly rounded knob densely covered with sensilla (Fig. 3C ); flagellar complex broadly hemi-ovoid, apically covered with radiating cuticular ridges; right paramere narrow with three apical setae; left paramere moderately broadened, apically narrowed, the narrow apex with two setae.

Female reproductive tract.

Bursa copulatrix short, broad, with spermathecal duct basal terminus at juncture of bursa and common oviduct (as in Fig. 10 ); spermathecal duct elongate, at least 0.64 mm (duct broken in single attempted dissection); gonocoxa bipartite; basal gonocoxite 1 elongate, with a single apical fringe seta near apex of lateral apodeme (Fig. 4B ); apical gonocoxite 2 broadened basally, with lateral extension directed dorsad to ventral surface of coxite bearing the two lateral ensiform setae; one dorsal ensiform seta situated halfway between position of apical lateral seta and narrow, pointed apex; two apical nematiform setae situated in elongate fossa near apex of gonocoxite.

Etymology.

The species epithet Paratachys haleakalae represents the first declension genitive form indicating the species is distributed on Haleakalā Volcano, East Maui.

Distribution and habitat.

The type locality of P. haleakalae is Dogleg Camp, so named because the site is near a prominence of the upper shelf of Kipahulu Valley at 3000 ft. (910 m) elevation, 20°42.03'N, 156°04.93'W, that overlooks the lower part of the valley drained by Palikea Stream (Fig. 7 ). The forest at Dogleg Camp is montane wet forest dominated by large Acacia koa A. Gray ( Fabaceae ), with lower stature Cheirodendron trigynum (Gaud.) A. Heller, and woody herbaceous Broussasia arguta Gaud. ( Hydrangeaceae ), Clermontia Gaud. ( Campanulaceae ), Hedyotis L. ( Rubiaceae ), Pelea A. Gray ( Rutaceae ), and Scaevola L. ( Goodeniaceae ) also present. The climbing vine-like Freycinetia arborea Gaud. ( Pandanaceae ) is also quite common. That said, the type series of P. haleakalae was collected from under a Acacia koa log round serving as a step on the pathway to the camp privy. The beetles were in voids amongst plant roots under the log round. This is perhaps the author’s sole datum discounting the Darlington Rule: "Never roll rocks in the tropics (P.J. Darlington, Jr., pers. comm.)."

Figures

Figure 3. Paratachys spp., male aedeagus, i. e., median lobe and associated smaller right paramere and larger left paramere (right lateral view) A P. terryli; Kauai: Namolokama Mtn., 23 - v- 2005 (CUIC) B P. arcanicola lectotype slide; " Tachys arcanicola Blackburn Type ♂ E. C. Z. (permanent slide, Euparal?, left paramere missing; NHMUK). " C P. haleakalae; East Maui: Haleakala N. P., Kipahulu Vy., 30 - iv- 1991 (CUIC) D-F P. aaa; Hawai'i I D Puna, Mountain View, Kazumura Cave, 21 - xi- 2018, lot HI 00713 (CUIC) E Kau, Ocean View, Kipuka Kanohina System, 21 - xi- 2017, lot HI 00179 (CUIC) F South Hilo, Kaumana Cave, 19 - iii- 2019, lot HI 00942 (CUIC); disassociated left paramere below, ectal view.

Figure 4. Paratachys spp., left female gonocoxa, ventral view A P. terryli; Kauai: Namolokama Mtn., 23 - v- 2005 (CUIC) B P. haleakalae; East Maui: Haleakala N. P., Kipahulu Vy., 30 - iv- 1991 (CUIC) C P. aaa; Hawai'i I.; Mountain View, Kazumura Cave, 21 - xi- 2018, lot HI 00713 (CUIC). Abbreviations: afs, apical fringe seta; ans, apical nematiform setae; des, dorsal ensiform seta; gc 1, basal gonocoxite; gc 2, apical gonocoxite; les, lateral ensiform setae.

Figure 7. Distributional records for Paratachys spp.; P. perkinsi (type locality designated as Kawela Gulch at sea level (•) (see text); P. haleakalae (▪).

Figure 8. Paratachys haleakalae A dorsal habitus view B mentum and associated mouthparts, ventral view C larger compound eye of female, lateral view D smaller compound eye of male; lateral view E stenopterous left metathoracic flight wing of female (elytron removed), dorsal view.

Figure 10. Paratachys aaa female reproductive tract, ventral view; Mountain View, Kazumura Cave, 21 - xi- 2018, lot HI 00713 (CUIC). Abbreviations: bc, bursa copulatrix; co, common oviduct; sd, spermathecal duct; sg, spermathecal gland; sp, spermatheca. Schematic drawing breaks spermathecal duct at " A " to accommodate drawing to page size. Estimated length of spermathecal duct 1.7 mm.