Oropodes bellorum Chandler & Caterino

Chandler, Donald S. & Caterino, Michael S., 2011, A taxonomic revision of the New World genus Oropodes Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 147, pp. 425-477 : 443-446

10. Oropodes bellorum Chandler & Caterino sp. n. Fig. 11Map 3

Specimens examined.

2: HOLOTYPE male, California, Calaveras County, 3 mi S Mokelumne Hill, II-3/V-7-1981, S. Kuba & R. Aalbu, antifreeze pit trap (CSCA). PARATYPE male, eutopotypical (DSC).

Description.

(only males known): Length 2.28. Body orange-brown. Eyes with about 70 facets. Antennomeres V and VII slightly larger than those adjacent, V-VIII obconical, IX nearly as large as X. Abdomen with carinae on first ventrite extending from posteromedial angles of metacoxal cavities to ventrite apex.

Males: Metasternum with median longitudinal sulcus distinct across most of disc. Legs (Fig. 11B): protrochanters with protruding broad ventral lamina; profemora with blunt tooth near base on mesal margin; protibiae with mesal angulation at point about two-thirds of length; mesotibiae with two small blunt close preapical tubercles on mesal margin; metatrochanters with posterior margin angulate, metatibiae with apical spur on mesal margin. Abdomen (Fig. 11C) with second ventrite semicircularly im pressed between apical teeth to middle of ventrite, impression about one-fourth of tergite width, apical teeth sharp, 0.11 apart; third ventrite 0.62 wide, slightly impressed anterior to recurved lamina, lamina 0.11 long, with long setae originating beneath, short setae clustered laterally within impression, lamina abruptly curved at middle with apical portion horizontal, apical margin straight, lamina originating at posterior margin; fourth-fifth ventrites flattened at medial third; sixth ventrite (Fig. 11D) convex, setose area slightly narrowing to middle where half lateral length. Aedeagus (Fig. 11A) 0.46 long, with parameres about same length; complex armature of internal sac obscuring details, but with at least one long recurved spine.

Females: unknown.

Collection notes.

Taken in late winter/early spring from pitfall traps in a dry scrub forest area of the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Geographical distribution.

(Map 3): The single record is from the west side of the middle portion of the Sierra Nevada.

Comparisons and diagnostic notes.

Placed as a member of the raffrayi-group, and shares with six other species the origin of the abdominal lamina at the posterior margin of the third ventrite. The lamina in the other species has a concave anterior margin and they are comparatively thin, while in Oropodes bellorum the lamina is trapezoidal with the anterior margin straight, and is comparatively robust at about half as long as wide. This males of this species share with Oropodes hardyi the lamina being horizontal in the apical portion, the modified ventral margin of the protrochanters, the angulate mesal margin of the protibiae, and two close preapical teeth on the mesotibiae. These two species may be separated by the trapezoidal lamina, broad truncate tubercle on the protrochanters, and the angulate posterior margin of the metatrochanters of Oropodes bellorum , while in Oropodes hardyi the lamina is narrow with the anterior margin concave, the protrochanters have a small apical lobe, and the posterior margin of the metatrochanters are smoothly convex.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a Latinized genitive plural noun, based on the surname of Ross T. and Joyce R. Bell, intended to honor them for their contributions to the study of Coleoptera .