Pselaphogenius lescheni ­­­Owens­­­&­­­Carlton, 2022

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2022, --- Revision- -- of- -- the- -- New- -- Zealand- -- species- -- of- -- the- -- Genus- -- Pselaphogenius Reitter- -- (Staphylinidae: --- Pselaphinae: --- Pselaphitae: --- Pselaphini) ---, Zootaxa 5155 (2), pp. 187-220 : 219-220

Pselaphogenius lescheni ­­­Owens­­­&­­­Carlton ,­­­sp.­­­nov.

(Figs. 5f, 24a–c)

Type­­­Material.­­­ Holotype:­­­(1­­­male)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch , 1800 m Litter, 16 Feb 1970 AC Eyles, 70/139 ( NZAC) . Paratypes:­­­(1­­­male,­­­1­­­female)­­­ holotype locality ( NZAC); (2­­­males,­­­1­­­female)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch Ra., Mt. Altimarloch 1700 m, litter, 16 Feb 1970 G Kuschel, 70/119 ( NZAC) .

Etymology.­­­ This species is named after Dr. Richard Leschen, a specialist of New Zealand Coleoptera , supporter of this project, and friend of the authors.

Diagnosis.­­­ Externally, P. lescheni is most similar to P. kalleri in possessing a tubercle at the apex of the medial oval depression on ventrite II. However, the form of the aedeagus, with the deeply scoop-shaped parameres and the presence of only a right lateral process is unique.

Redescription.­­­ MALE. ­­­Integument: head, pronotum, elytra, abdomen, and appendages light brown, palpi lighter in color. Head:­­­ width between eyes equal to ½ length of head from base of vertex to apex of rostrum. Eyes rounded, composed of 15 facets. Frontal margin of rostrum straight in dorsal view. Gular mound modified, as wide as long, broad anteriorly and rounded posteriorly; area of head posterior to gular mound flattened, slightly concave, nude, maxillary palpomere IV as long as head, narrow, widened at base and distal ½ to 1/3, v-shaped sensory patches present. Thorax:­­­ pronotum basal sulcus absent, lateral antebasal foveae present, median antebasal fovea reduced. Mesoventrite with median shield unmodified. Metaventrite afoveate, median area broadly flattened, bearing short, fine setae, metacoxae separated by extension of ventrite I. Legs unmodified. Elytra with two basal foveae and single sutural fovea present; discal stria absent, sutural striae present. Abdomen:­­­ tergites of usual form for tribe. Ventrite I covered in dense, shining setae; ventrite II with basal sulcus occupying length of ventrite, sulcus densely setose, deep oval median depression reaching apex, apex thickened into a tubercle bearing patch of fine, short setae. Genitalia: aedeagus asymmetrical. Median lobe short, simple. Lateral process only produced on right side of aedeagus, inner and outer process simple. Ventral process absent. Parameres large, deep and scoop shaped, almost completely encasing the terminal portion of the aedeagus in lateral view.

Females.­­­Integument,­­­Head,­­­Thorax,­­­Abdomen:­­­ Females are similar to males except eyes slightly smaller and ventrite II lacking median ovate depression.

Distribution.­­­ This species is only known from collection events in Marlborough (MB) near Black Birch Range and a single collection event from Buller (BR) near Mt. Robert.

Material­­­examined.­­­ (4­­­males,­­­2­­­females)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch Ra., Mt. Altimarlock 1700 m, litter, 16 Feb 1970 G Kuschel, 70/121 ( LSAM) ; (3­­­males,­­­7­­­females)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch Ra., Mt.Altimarlock 1700 m, litter, 16 Feb 1970 G Kuschel, 70/123 ; (2­­­males)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch Ra., Mt.Altimarlock 1700 m, mats, 16 Feb 1970 G Kuschel, 70/125 ( LSAM) ; (7­­­males,­­­5­­­females)­­­ New Zealand: MB: Black Birch Ra., Mt. Altimarlock 5550 m, mats, 16 Feb 1970 G Kuschel, 70/126 ( LSAM). (1­­­male)­­­ NEW ZEALAND: BR: Nelson Lakes N.P., Mt. Robert , Relax Shelter 1420m, 41 ∘ 50.2'S, 172 ∘ 48.6'E, 1.xii.2005, alpine tussock herbfields; FMHD#2005- 062, berl., debris at bases of tussocks, D. Clarke 95% ethanol FIELD MUSEUM NAT. HIST. ( FMNH, EtOH) .