Batrisodes (Excavodes) dorothae Ferro and Carlton

Ferro, Michael L. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2014, Two new species of Batrisodes Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from eastern North America, Insecta Mundi 2014 (380), pp. 1-21 : 4-6

1. Batrisodes (Excavodes) dorothae Ferro and Carlton

Figures 1–21 ; Map 1

Holotype, male: * Feliciana Preserve 6 mi. ESE of St. Francisville 30°47’N 91°15’W 25 August 1995 D.Pashley / LSAM 0096001 . Specimen deposited in FMNH.

Description: Holotype, male. Head 0.47 mm long (tip of clypeal horn to cervix); pronotum 0.40 mm long (dorsal, base to apex); elytra 0.66 mm long (base to apex, along suture); abdomen 0.72 mm long; total 2.25 mm. Holotype pale, teneral ( Fig. 1 ); mature paratypes reddish-brown with paler palpi and legs. Pubescence elongate, semiappressed, flavous.

Head ( Fig. 4–7 , 11–14 ) elongate with prominent subreniform eyes of about 42 facets; supraocular carina absent ( Fig. 7 ); lateral vertexal carina extending from temporal angles anteriorly, becoming obsolete just before reaching antennal incisures ( Fig. 7 ); median vertexal carina short, extending from apical pronotal margin to level of vertexal foveae, obsolete apically ( Fig. 7 ); vertexal foveae deep, nude ( Fig. 7 ); circumambient sulcus well developed, same depth throughout, extending anteriorly to line drawn between anterior margins of eyes ( Fig. 3–7 ); interfoveal integument shining and subimpunctate, clothed with a few long erect setae that converge apically to arch over interfoveal center ( Fig. 6 ); vertex-front long, shallowly declivous, lighter than rest of head; overhanging frontal margin with anterior concavity, anterolateral sides produced, pair of apical setal tufts one third distance from lateral edges with setae curved medially, nearly touching clypeal horn ( Fig. 4–6 ); face deeply excavate between antennal acetabulae ( Fig. 11 ); clypeus medially elongate as conspicuous frontal horn projecting anteriorly beyond mandibles and vertically to level of the vertex between antennae ( Fig. 4, 5 , 11–13 ).

Antennae ( Fig. 3, 4, 6 , 7 , 12–14 ) 11-segmented; segment I large, globose ventrally ( Fig. 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 ); segment II elongate ( Fig. 14 ); segment III obconical ( Fig. 14 ); segments IV–VIII similar, becoming transverse; segment IX abruptly wider than VIII ( Fig. 14 ); segment X wider than eleventh, globular from above, with ventral face concave, concavity bearing in mesobasal area a small fovea ( Fig. 14 ); segment XI with truncate base, pubescent, dorsal face slightly flattened, basal ridge of the segment without spines or teeth ( Fig. 14 ). Antennal segment lengths 0.09, 0.06, 0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0.06, 0.09, 0.18 mm.

Pronotum ( Fig. 3, 4 , 8 , 15 ) arcuate, greatest width at apical three fifths ( Fig. 3 ); medial antebasal fovea and lateral antebasal foveae well developed, pubescent ( Fig. 8 ); medial sulcus and lateral sulci becoming obsolete apically ( Fig. 8 ); longitudinal carinae short, poorly developed with distinct acuminate basal spine ( Fig. 8 ); median antebasal fovea connected to basal margin by longitudinal carina ( Fig. 8 ).

Elytra ( Figs 2, 3 , 9 ) with humeral angle produced, ending with an acute tooth ( Fig. 3 , 9 ), evenly covered in widely separated semi-appressed pubescence ( Fig. 2, 3 ); subhumeral fovea distinct, with subhumeral sulcus extending to elytral apex ( Fig. 9 ); three basal elytral foveae present, deep, nude ( Fig. 9 ); sutural stria entire ( Fig. 9 ).

Thorax ( Fig. 16 ). Metasternum medially flattened, the flattened area weakly longitudinally sulcate, the sulcus deepened apically into median preapical fovea. Metathoracic wings present. Thoracic foveation as for genus.

Abdomen ( Fig. 1–3 , 10 , 16 ) as for supertribe ( Chandler 2001), with five visible tergites (IV–VIII) and six ventrites (III–VIII), visible ventrites 1–2 (III–IV) fused; sixth ventrite (6, VIII) with posterolateral corners elevated into low tumuli, and with transverse arcuate subapical sulcus ( Fig. 10 ).

Legs ( Fig. 1, 2 ). Prothoracic legs simple, primary tarsal claw not bifid. Mesothoracic tibia with short apical spur of very approximate setae; mesotarsi simple. Metathoracic legs with the tibia bearing long apical setal spur.

Aedeagus ( Fig. 21 ) flat, parallel sided, with acuminate tip; 0.30 mm long.

Paratypes (n=10). UNITED STATES: LOUISIANA: East Feliciana Parish: *USA: LA:E. Felicia. Par., Clinton III-24-2000, exotic bark beetles survey (LSAM, 2M). West Feliciana Parish: *LOUISI- ANA: W Feliciana Par., Feliciana Preserve 30°47’N 91°15’W. Flight intercept. 2-17 Mar 2002 A.Cline & A.Tishechkin / LSAM0029394 (1M). * LOUISIANA: W Feliciana Par., Feliciana Preserve 30°47’N 91°15’W. Flight intercept, sample A. 7 Mar- 23 May 2004. A. Tishechkin / LSAM 0096078 / Batrisodes n. sp. Det. C. E. Carlton 2011 (1M, specimen destroyed, single leg remains). *USA: LA: W.Feliciana Par. Feliciana Preserve 6 mi. ESE of St. Francisville 30°47’N 91°15’W FIT 10-30March 1996 D.Pashley / LSAM 0096014 (1M). * LOUISIANA: W Feliciana Par., Feliciana Preserve 30°47’N 91°15’W. Flight intercept. 15 March – 14 April 2003. A.Tishechkin / LSAM 0235274 (1M). *USA: LA, W. Feliciana Par. Tunica Hills WMA Forest Litter. 6.IV.1995 D.Colby & D Landau leg. / LSAM 0096000 (1M). *USA: LA, W. Feliciana Par. Tunica Hills. WMA 1-10 May 1995. D. Pashley / LSAM0001528 (1F). *USA: LA: W.Feliciana Par. Feliciana Preserve 6 mi. ESE of St. Francisville 30°47’N 91°15’W 25 August 1995 D.Pashley / LSAM 0096001 (1M). SOUTH CAROLINA: Darlington / Florence Counties: *USAS- CFLORENCE/DARLINGTON CoLineRidge Hope Pres 34°12’15”N 79°42’24”WE1320’ J&SCornell24X09 Berl Wash Soil Litter by rotten Pine Stump / LSAM 0235465 (1M).

Geographical Distribution. The majority of specimens of Batrisodes dorothae were collected in Feliciana Preserve, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (N 30.795°, W 91.254°; elevation 40 m [130 ft]) and from nearby Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area (Map 1). Both localities encompass a portion of the Tunica Hills, an area with deep forested ravines, and a refugium for mixed mesophytic forest species during the Wisconsin glaciation ( Delcourt and Delcourt 1975). The preserve has been the site of previous entomological studies (see list in Ferro et al. 2009) and consists of a secondary mixed mesophytic forest dominated by magnolia ( Magnolia grandiflora L.), holly ( Ilex opaca Aiton ), beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrhart ), pine ( Pinus spp. ), and several species of oak ( Quercus spp. ). One specimen was collected from South Carolina (elevation 402 m [1320 ft]) indicating that the species is probably more widespread in southeastern United States than current data indicate.

Comments: Batrisodes dorothae adults have been collected during March – October. Specimens were collected from a rotten pine stump, from forest litter using a Berlese funnel, and with a flight intercept trap.

Batrisodes dorothae superficially resembles B. lineaticollis Aubé. The two species can be separated with the following characters ( B. lineaticollis in parentheses): head elongate (head subquadrate); median vertexal carina low (median vertexal carina pronounced, rising above level of rest of head); well-defined circumambient sulcus not extending beyond a line drawn between the front of the eyes (circumambient sulcus poorly defined, becoming obsolete apically); vertex-front long, truncate apically, subimpunctate (vertex-front short, rounded, roughly sculptured); antennal insertions exposed (antennal insertions concealed); aedeagus with acuminate tip (aedeagus with blunt tip).

Etymology. This species is named for Dorothy (Pashley) Prowell, collector of the holotype, principal developer of Feliciana Preserve, the type locality, and a tireless promoter of education and conservation. Diagnosis of subgenus Babnormodes Park 1951 (males)

Male members of the subgenus Babnormodes can be distinguished from other subgenera within Batrisodes by the following characters: protibiae are often flattened and twisted in the apical half ( Chandler et al. 2009); mesotarsi abnormal, tarsomere 2 excavate along ventral margin ( Park 1951, 1953).

Figures

Figure 11. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, frontal view. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 12. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, head in three-quarter view. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 13. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, lateral head. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 14. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, underside of head. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 15. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, head and pronotum. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 16. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, ventral view. Micro-CT capture.

Figures 1–6. Batrisodes dorothae. 1) Holotype, male habitus. 2) Paratype, male, SEM micrograph, habitus, lateral. 3) Paratype, male, SEM micrograph, habitus, dorsal. 4) Paratype, male, SEM micrograph, head and antennae, three quarter view. 5) Paratype, male, SEM micrograph, head, three quarter view. 6) Paratype, male, SEM micrograph, head, dorsal.

Figures 7–10. Batrisodes dorothae, micro-CT capture. 7) Male head: a = antennal incisures; b = cervical sulcus; c = cervicum; d = circumambient sulcus; e = lateral vertexal carina; f = median vertexal carina; g = vertexal fovea. 8) Pronotum: a = lateral antebasal fovea; b = lateral sulcus; c = longitudinal carina (weak); d = median basal carina; e = medial antebasal fovea; f = median sulcus; g = spine. 9) Elytra: a = basal elytral foveae; b = humeral spine; c = subhumeral fovea; d = subhumeral sulcus; e = sutural stria. 10) Sixth ventrite: a = posterolateral tumulus; b = subapical sulcus.

Figure 17. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, head, internal view. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 18. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, head and pronotum, internal view. Micro-CT capture.

Figure 19. Batrisodes dorothae male, stereo pair, head, internal view, lateral. Micro-CT capture.

Figures 20–21. Batrisodes dorothae. 20) Male head, internal view, lateral, micro-CT capture. 21) Aedeagus. Bar = 0.1 mm.