Custotychus cavei Chandler and Geromini, 1962

Chandler, Donald S. & Geromini, Sarah D., 1962, A Revision of the Eastern Nearctic GenusCustotychusPark and Wagner, 1962 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 1962 (2), pp. 217-242 : 217-242

7. Custotychus cavei Chandler and Geromini , new species

( Figs. 8 , 34 )

Specimens Examined. n = 2. Holotype male: // AL: Macon Co. 1.5 mi. E CoRd 13 at Calabee Creek , 8 June 1985 RD Cave colr/ taken in rotten log and leaf litter/ [red label] HOLOTYPE Custotychus chelifer Chandler & Geromini // [genitalia dissected] ( FMNH) . Paratype: Alabama: Macon Co.: 1.5 mi. E Co. Rd. 13 at Calebee Creek , VI-8-1985, R.D. Cave (1M, DSCC) .

Description. Body: Brown; 1.76–1.82 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 34 facets; metasternal tubercle [not figured] at about 2/3 point of metasternal length; in lateral view, angled slightly posteriorly, apex obliquely truncate, anteriormost point highest, posterior face of apical portion shallowly concave; in posterior view, apex flat, stem 2/3 width of apex at narrowest point stem slightly widening to preapical angulations; tubercle 0.038 mm high, greatest width at preapex 0.030 mm, narrowest width of stem 0.022 mm [measurements taken from holotype; FMNH]. Mesotibiae with apical and preapical spurs, whether apical spur is bifurcate was not determined. Abdomen with ventrite 2 broadly concave in middle third; ventrite 6 with small impression in apical half. Aedeagus ( Fig. 8 ) 0.35 mm long; in dorsal view, median lobe elongate rectangular, lateral margins straight, slightly convergent, apex broadly truncate; in dorsal view, lateral arms of dorsal plate elongate, dorsal and ventral apices bluntly pointed, ventral apex directed more apically to present the appearance of pincerlike apices; in lateral view, lateral arms curving dorsally, longitudinally divided to present separate apices, median lobe curved ventrally in apical half; parameres as long as median lobe, slightly swollen in apical third. Female: Unknown.

Collection Data Synopsis. The holotype was extracted from a rotten log/leaf litter sample taken in June. Specimens are present in the collections of DSCC and FMNH .

Distribution. This species is known from a single site in southern Alabama ( Fig. 34 ).

Etymology. The name was chosen in recognition of the collector of the type-series, Ronald D. Cave, who has contributed to The Coleopterists Society in many ways.

Comments. This species is distinguished from the others in this group by the long, nearly straight lateral arms of the dorsal plate, which are relatively simple. It is also the only species of this group that is known from Alabama.

Figures

Figs. 8–15. Custotychus species, dorsal and left lateral view of aedeagus. 8) C. cavei; 9) C. verticalis; 10) C. watrousi;

Figs. 34–36. Distribution of Custotychus species. 34) Distribution of species in the spinosus and verticalis species-groups: C. rothorum and C. spinosus, and C. cavei, C. verticalis, and C. watrousi; 35) Distribution of C. minor; 36) Distribution of other species in the minor species-group: C. carloritaorum, C. leei, C. natchez, and C. pocahontas.