Tomogenius latipes (Broun, 1881)

Lackner, Tomas & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2017, A monograph of the Australopacific Saprininae (Coleoptera, Histeridae), ZooKeys 689, pp. 1-263 : 191-196

Tomogenius latipes (Broun, 1881) Figs 679, 680-688, 689-697, 766

Saprinus latipes Broun, 1881: 666.

Type locality.

New Zeland: Mount Arthur.

Type material examined.

Saprinus latipes Broun, 1881: holotype, ♂, with genitalia extracted and glued to the mounting card, four segments of mesotarsus missing, with following labels: "Mount Arthur" (printed); followed by: "New Zealand / Broun Coll. / Brit. Mus. / 1922-482" (printed); followed by: " Saprinus / latipes " (hand-written); followed by: “1163” (light-green label, printed); followed by: “Type” (round, red-margined printed label); followed by: " Saprinus latipes / Broun, 1881 / HOLOTYPE / Des. Lackner & Leschen 2014" (written) (BMNH). This species was described based on a single specimen (holotype), but there is another specimen in Broun’s collection, sex unidentified, with labels: “1163” (written); followed by: “Cohen” (written); followed by: "New Zealand / Broun Coll. / Brit. Mus. / 1922-482" (printed) (BMNH). This second specimen does not have a syntype status, as the species was described based on a single specimen (holotype by monotypy).

Additional material examined.

NEW ZEALAND. North Island: ND: 1 spec., Omahutu SF, Kauri Sanctuary, 8.v.1974, G. Kuschel (guano of Mystacina tuberculata ) (NZAC); 1 spec., ditto, but Kauri Summit, 8.v.1974, G. Kuschel (NZAC); ND: 1 ♂ & 2 ♀♀, Omahuta, S.F., 3.ii.1975, G. Kuschel ( Mystacina guano and ex bat) (NZAC); 1 spec., Poor Knights Island, Tawhiti Rahi, 9.xii.1980, G. Kuschel (sifted litter) (NZAC). AK: 1 spec., Great Barrier Island, 22.xi.1940, D. Spiller (ex Kingfisher’s nest) (NZAC); 2 specs., Little Barrier Island, 16.iii.1976, D. & M. Smith (from old short-tailed colony-tree) (NZAC). HB: 1 ♀, Motu-o-Kura (Bare Is.), 20-100 m, 10.xii.1991-18.ii.1992, G. Walls (pit traps) (NZAC); 1 ♀, Botanical Garden, Napier (NZAC). South Island. SI: 4 specs., Stewart Island, Codfish I., Valley Track, 26.xi.1981, B.A. Holloway (guano) (NZAC); 1 spec., Stewart Island, Codfish Island, Summit Tk 250 m, 20.xi.1981, B.A. Holloway (moss and lichens) (NZAC); 1 spec., ditto, but Northwest Track, iii.1982, M.J. Daniel (guano) (NZAC). CH: 1 ♂ & 1 ♀, South-East Island, 6.i.1984, C. Miskelly ( Pachyptila vittata linings of five nests) (NZAC); 1 ♂, South-East Island, 22.i.1975, E. Young (litter from Puffinus griseus ) (NZAC); 1 spec., South-East Island, Woolshed Bush, 21.i.1998, R.M. Emberson, J.W.M. Marris (ex sieved litter from Plagianthus / Myrsine forest and broad-billed prion burrow litter) (AMNZ). 5 specs., ditto, but LUNZ; 1 spec., South-East Island, 31.xii.1998, R.M. Emberson (on tree trunks at night) (LUNZ); 1 spec., Kauri Sanctuary, Omauta Forest, N.D., 8.v.1974, G. Kuschel leg. (MNHN, coll. Thérond).

Biology.

This species was found in nests and surrounding litter of pelagic birds (petrel burrows, nests of Broad-billed prion ( Pachyptila vittata (Forster, 1777)); Sooty shearwater ( Ardenna grisea (Gmelin, 1789)), in the nest of a kingfisher, and in bat guano ( Mystacina tuberculata ). Additional specimens have been collected from moss and lichens, on tree trunks at night and in pitfall traps.

Distribution.

New Zealand: North and South Islands, Chatham Islands (Fig. 766).

Remarks.

This species is most similar to T. kuscheli differing from it by smaller size, obtuse apical pronotal angles, and stronger punctation of clypeus and frons, presence of dorsal stria 1, coarser elytral punctation and wider tibiae. Male terminalia are very similar between the two species (compare Figs 689-697 with 670-678), differing chiefly in the shape of aedeagal apex. Because of the overall similarity between the two species, we provide T. latipes only with a diagnostic description outlining the differences between the two species. The figures, as well as male genitalia drawings are kept, for the sake of easier identification of the Australopacific taxa.

Diagnostic description.

Body length: PEL: 3.00-3.75 mm; EL: 1.90-2.50 mm; APW: 1.00-1.25 mm; PPW: 2.00-2.25 mm; EW: 2.25-2.85 mm. Body (Figs 679) ovoid, moderately convex, pronotum narrower than elytra; cuticle without metallic luster, dark brown to black; legs, antenna and mouthparts dark brown; antennal club yellow-reddish. Antennae (Figs 680-681) similar to those of T. kuscheli , sensory structures of antennal club not examined. Mandibles as with T. kuscheli ; mentum (Fig. 682) in general also similar between species, but disc of T. latipes with fewer setae, median part of mentum almost smooth (compare Figs 663 and 682); cardo of maxilla with few short setae on lateral margin; stipes triangular, with several short setae; terminal maxillary palpomere elongated, its width about one-fourth its length, about three times as long as penultimate palpomere; rest of mouthparts not examined. Clypeus and frons (Fig. 680) similar to those of T. kuscheli (Fig. 661), but with very dense confluent elongate punctures; on posterior fifth of frons punctures rounded and sparser; eyes flattened, visible from above. Pronotal sides (Fig. 679) feebly convergent anteriorly, apical angles rather obtuse (prominent in T. kuscheli ; compare Fig. 679 with 660), marginal pronotal stria complete, thin, slightly carinate; pronotal disc structurally otherwise almost identical to that of T. kuscheli but laterally punctures without isodiametric structures, and pre-scutellar depression much less impressed than in T. kuscheli , barely noticeable; pronotal hypomeron glabrous; scutellum small. Elytra almost identical to those of T. kuscheli (compare Figs 660 and 679), but first dorsal elytral stria in T. latipes well developed (not developed in T. kuscheli ), elytral striae in punctures and sutural elytral stria slightly longer apically than in T. kuscheli ; elytral punctation even denser and coarser, confluent. Punctures on apical elytral third distinctly aciculate in T. latipes whereas they are not aciculate in T. kuscheli . Propygidium and pygidium almost identical to that of T. kuscheli , but punctation in T. latipes even denser than that of T. kuscheli (compare Figs 664 and 683). Prosternum (Fig. 684) except for some minute details identical to that of T. kuscheli (compare Figs 665 and 684). Mesoventrite (Fig. 685) well impressed, somewhat carinate, anteriorly medially projected; disc flattened, laterally with deep large punctures separated several times their diameter, becoming finer and even sparser medially; meso-metaventral suture distinct, meso-metaventral sutural stria well impressed, undulate, slightly distanced from meso-metaventral suture. In general, mesoventrite almost identical to that of T. kuscheli , but punctures even larger and sparser and meso-metaventral sutural stria thinner. Intercoxal disc of metaventrite with regards to coarser punctation in T. latipes and some minute details absolutely identical to that of T. kuscheli (compare Figs 666 with 686). Intercoxal disc of first abdominal ventrite similar to that of T. kuscheli , but punctures laterally sparser and larger and medially almost smooth. Protibia (Fig. 687) flattened and dilated, outer margin with five very low teeth followed by 4 tiny denticles diminishing in size proximally; first two teeth approximate, separated from the second pair of teeth (which can also be approximate) by rather wide and deep gap. Fifth tooth separated likewise by wide, but by no means deep gap. Setae of outer row short, regular and sparse; setae of median row similar, but shorter and finer than those of outer row, growing in size distally; protarsal groove shallow; anterior protibial stria complete, costate; two thin, rather long tarsal denticles present apically; protibial spur short, straight, growing out from apical protibial margin; apical margin of protibia posteriorly with two or three apical denticles; outer part of posterior surface of protibia (Fig. 688) smooth, well divided from median part of posterior surface by ridge like stria; median part of posterior surface with two sparse rows of minuscule setae; posterior protibial stria complete with tightly-spaced short and stout denticles near apical margin; inner margin with double row of short setae (similar to that of T. australis , but more dilated and teeth on outer margin smaller; setae on outer row shorter). Mesotibia and metatibia basically similar to those of T. kuscheli or T. australis , but both more dilated and denticles on outer margin shifted onto the anterior surface of tibiae and therefore both rows of denticles growing out from there (furthermore claws of apical meso- and metatarsomeres shorter than those of afore-mentioned species). Male genitalia. Basically very similar to those of T. kuscheli (compare Figs 689-697 and 670-678), differing in more convergent eighth sternite and, especially, the shape of apical third of aedeagus, which is less dilated in T. latipes than in T. kuscheli .