Oropodes tongva 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 : 458-459

18. Oropodes tongva Chandler & Caterino sp. n. Fig. 1926Map 3

Specimens examined.

16: HOLOTYPE male: California, Los Angeles Co., Angeles National Forest, SDEF [San Dimas Experimental Forest], Tanbark Flat, 34.2084°N, 117.7637°W, IV-15/29-2007, Caterino & Chatzimanolis, FIT (SBMN; CBP0064383). PARATYPES: same data except, IV-15/29-2007 (2M, 8F), V-13/28-2007 (4F), VI-23/VII-1-2007 (1M) (DSC, CASC, LACM, SBMN).

Description.

Length 2.04-2.16. Body orange-brown. Eyes with 50-65 facets. Antennomeres V and VII slightly larger than those adjacent, V-VIII obconical, IX narrower than X. Abdomen with carinae of first ventrite extending from posteromesal margins of metacoxal cavities to ventrite apex.

Males: Metasternum with median longitudinal sulcus. Legs (Fig. 19B): profemora with large oblique ventral tooth near base, protibiae with large subtruncate tubercle near base on mesal margin, margin excavate to smaller tubercle past midpoint, protibiae narrowing slightly to apex from that point; mesotibiae with large straight apical spur on mesal margin, metatibiae with large curved apical spur on mesal margin. Abdomen (Fig. 19C) with second ventrite gently concave in apical third to form semicircular impression, setae sparse in impression, lateral margins of impression arising just lateral to pair of apically rounded teeth, teeth 0.22 apart at their centers; third ventrite 0.6 wide, with prominent transverse recurved lamina arising at basal margin, lamina 0.18 wide, angled at about 40°, anterior margin broadly convex, transverse impression anterior to tubercle with lateral margins carinate, with dense thickened setae in impression; fourth ventrite gently concave in medial third; fifth ventrite gently concave in medial fourth; sixth ventrite (Fig. 19D) flat in medial fourth, setose area constricted at middle to about half of lateral length. Aedeagus (Fig. 19A) 0.40 long, left paramere subtruncate and longer, right paramere broadly rounded at apex, with two laterally curved spines at apex in internal sac.

Females: Metasternum with median longitudinal sulcus present as in male. Fifth tergite with setose area convex. Sixth ventrite (Fig. 19F) with setose area divided by narrow median bar, or nearly closed by median carina. Female genitalia (Fig. 19E) with membranous lobe symmetrical, but sclerites within lobe asymmetrical, with two broad subtruncate and lightly sclerotized plates in membranous lobe.

Collection notes.

All specimens originated from a single site, taken by flight intercept trap from April to July. The collection site was located in a small pocket of live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ) woodland surrounded by mid-elevation chaparral.

Geographical distribution.

(Map 3): The series was taken from the San Gabriel Mountains, on the northern margin of the Los Angeles Basin.

Comparisons and diagnostic notes.

Placed as a member of the raffrayi-group, together with six other species. This species is unique in the large, oblique, basal profemoral tooth, strong basal angulation of the protibiae, and the long apical spurs of the meso- and metatibiae of the males, while the females have the setose area of the fifth ventrite slightly interrupted at the middle. This is the only species that has the median longitudinal sulcus of the metasternum present in both sexes.

Etymology.

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