Oropodes chumash 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 : 448-450

12. Oropodes chumash Chandler & Caterino sp. n. Fig. 11325Map 3

Specimens examined.

84: HOLOTYPE male:California, Santa Barbara Co., Arroyo Hondo Preserve, 25 mi W Santa Barbara, 34.4839°N, 120.1424°W, IV-16/28-2003, M. Caterino, FIT (SBMN; CBP0008565). PARATYPES: Santa Barbara Co.: Arroyo Hondo Preserve, 25 mi W Santa Barbara, IV-24/29-2002 (1M, 7F), IV-29/V-6-2002, FIT(1M, 5F), V-13/20-2002 (1M, 3F), V-20/27-2002 (1M), VI-3/12-2002 (1M), XI-11/27-2002 (1M), III-19/IV-2-2003 (1M), IV-2/16-2003 (1M), IV-16/28-2003 (1M, 1F), V-7/21-2003 (1F), V-21/28-2003 (1M), VI-11/VII-2-2003 (1F), M. Caterino, FIT; same data except, IV-29/V-6-2002, carrion pitfall (1) (topotypical paratypes in SBMN, LACM, CASC, UCDC, EMUS). UC Sedgwick Reserve, V-2/14-2005 (5M, 1F), V-14/29-2005 (2M), VI-12/26-2005 (2M), M. Caterino, FIT; same data except, V-13-2005 (5M, 3F), at light (all SBMN); Los Padres National Forest, Sunset Valley, V-1-2004, M. Caterino, at light (1F, SBMN). Los Angeles Co.: Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Rocky Oaks, IV-19-2009, M.S. Caterino & K.J. Hopp, at light (13M, 21F, DSC and SBMN). Pasadena, A. Fenyes Collection (1F, UCDC).

Description.

Length 1.84-2.08. Body orange-brown. Eyes with 50-60 facets, female eyes appearing slightly smaller than those of males. Antennomeres V and VII slightly larger than those adjacent, V-VIII obconical, IX smaller than X. Abdomen with carinae of first ventrite extending from posteromesal margin of metacoxal cavities posteriorly to ventrite apex.

Males: Metasternum with broad median longitudinal sulcus to near apex. Legs (Fig. 13B) profemora with low tubercle on mesal margin near base; protibiae with slight preapical angulation on mesal margin; mesotibiae with widely separated sharp preapical and blunt apical tubercles on mesal margin; metatibiae with long apical spur on mesal margin. Abdomen (Figs 13C, 25) with second ventrite bearing two broad teeth at apex, teeth 0.2 apart at centers, semicircular area anterior to teeth on ventrite 1 deeply impressed and glabrous; third ventrite 0.62 wide, broadly impressed in middle third anterior to wide transverse lamina near center of ventrite, lamina 0.24 wide, apex of lamina broadly concave, lamina curves at base to about 25°, transversely oval impression anterior to lamina with row of thickened setae across middle, lateral margins of impressed area carinate, area posterior to lamina with dense short setae; fourth ventrite shallowly concave at middle third; fifth ventrite obscurely flattened at middle third; sixth ventrite (Fig. 13D) briefly flattened at middle, setose area sharply constricted at middle. Aedeagus (Fig. 13A) 0.36 long; right paramere longest, broad apex sinuate, left paramere much smaller, bluntly rounded at apex; internal sac with single elongate blunt spine, spine sinuate in lateral view.

Females: Metasternum with thin and faint median longitudinal sulcus through most of length. Fifth tergite with setose area convex. Sixth ventrite (Fig. 13F) with setose area usually divided by projection from anterior margin, closure complete to slightly interrupted, projection protruding posteriorly. Genitalia (Fig. 13E) symmetrical or nearly so, with two irregular narrow sclerotized rods in large membranous subrectangular median lobe.

Collection notes.

Most of the specimens were taken in flight intercept traps set in coastal semiriparian woodland. Trapping localities were dominated by bay ( Umbellularia ) and live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ), with a nearby gallery forest of sycamore ( Platanus ), alder ( Alnus ), and willow ( Salix ). A few specimens were collected in drier, upland oak woodland and chaparral (xeric shrubland dominated by Ceanothus , Rhus , Rhamnus , and other Quercus spp.) and at ultraviolet light. Adults were active from March to July, with one record from November.

Geographical distribution.

(Map 3): Found in the western and central portions of the Transverse Ranges from the San Rafael Mountains north of Santa Barbara to the San Gabriel Mountain near Pasadena.

Comparisons and diagnostic notes.

Placed as a member of the raffrayi-group, and most similar to Oropodes aalbui and Oropodes casson in sharing the median position of the lamina of the third ventrite and the blunt or rounded apical projections of the second ventrite. The armature of all the tibiae is different from both of these species: the protibiae are not obviously medially angulate, the mesotibiae have widely separated apical and preapical tubercles, and the metatibiae have a long apical spur. The lamina of the third ventrite is similarly reflexed (at about 25°) as that of Oropodes aalbui but appearing much wider. The male sixth ventrite is constricted medially versus even in width for the other two species, and the armature of the internal sac lacks any apical spines. Of the three species discussed here, Oropodes chumash is the only one with associated females.

Etymology.

The specific epithet, treated as a Latin singular noun in apposition, nominative case, is based on the tribal name of the Chumash Indians, who originally lived in the area where the specimens of this species were taken.