Lathrobium (Apteralium) camplyacra Haberski & Caterino, 2024

Haberski, Adam & Caterino, Michael S., 2024, A review of Nearctic Lathrobium (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with revision and descriptions of new flightless species from the mountains of the southeastern U. S., ZooKeys 1198, pp. 193-277 : 193

Lathrobium (Apteralium) camplyacra Haberski & Caterino sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (FMNH): "USA: NC: McDowell Co., 35.2784°N, 82.8008°W, Horse Cove Gap Trail, vii.23.2015, S. Myers, sifted litter." / "Caterino DNA voucher, Ext. MSC-7059" / "CLEMSON ENT [QR CODE] CUAC000168998". Paratype (11, CUAC, FMNH): 8: same data as holotype (CUAC000168999, CUAC000177162, CUAC000177163, CUAC000177164, CUAC000177165, CUAC000177166, CUAC000177167, CUAC000177168). 3: same locality as type, 35.2782°N, 82.8018°W.

Other material.

North Carolina : Jackson Co.: Balsam Mountain Preserve , S. Myers, 15 Jun-7 Jul 2015 (20, CUAC, FMNH, CNC); Transylvania Co. : Courthouse Falls Trail , 3385' Nantahala National Forest (35.2716, -82.8964), S. Myers, 23 Jul 2015 (CUAC); Jackson Co. : Cowee Bald, 4926', Nantahala National Forest (35.3270, -83.3361), M.S. Caterino, 9 Jul 2019 (2, CUAC); Jackson Co. : Cowee Bald, 4931', Nantahala National Forest (35.3270, -83.3359), M.S. Caterino, 15 Sep 2020 (CUAC); Jackson Co. : Dark Ridge, 3467', Nantahala National Forest (35.3980, -83.1088), S. Myers, 19 Jun 2015 (CUAC); Jackson Co. : Sugarloaf Mountain , 4576', Nantahala National Forest (35.3699, -83.1212), S. Myers, 15 Jun 2015 (CUAC); Transylvania Co. : Toxaway Mountain , 4746', Nantahala National Forest (35.1321, -82.9842), M.S. Caterino, 13 Oct 2020 (CUAC); Jackson Co. : 6 km S Cashiers, 3198' Nantahala National Forest (35.085, -83.1015), A. Smetana, 20 Jun 1986 (3, CNC); Jackson Co. : Whiteside Mountains , 4494-4921', Nantahala National Forest (35.0817, -83.13846), A. Smetana, 21 May 1986 (5, CNC). South Carolina : Oconee Co. : East Fork Chattooga River , Sumter National Forest (34.9843, -83.0981), S. Myers, 4 May 2015 (2, CUAC); Oconee Co. : Indian Camp Creek , Sumter National Forest (34.9899, -83.0724), S. Myers, 4 May 2015 (5, CUAC). Tennessee: Sevier Co. : Newfound, 5000', Great Smoky Mountains National Park (35.6127, -83.4246), A. Smetana, 09 Jun 1982 (CNC) .

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from the closely related L. carolinae only by the genitalia. Aedeagi are similar, but those of L. camplyacra have bent ventral processes. The terminalia of female L. camplyacra have partially sclerotized subgenital plates and are longer and narrower than those of L. carolinae , with relatively shorter coxites. No intermediate forms are known.

Both L. camplyacra and L. carolinae share a similar gestalt with L. brevipenne . The latter is endemic to the Interior Highlands of the south-central United States. Lathrobium brevipenne can be distinguished from either species by genitalia. Its aedeagus is highly variable in shape but is never fully sclerotized (Figs 24-26 ). The females of L. brevipenne have larger, more sclerotized subgenital plates.

Description.

External morphology (Fig. 5A ) identical to L. carolinae . It differs only in the sexual characters.

♂: Aedeagus (Fig. 5E, F ) with median lobe well sclerotized; ventral process strongly curved, distal tip lying beyond median foreman in lateral view; dorsal plate long; internal sac with three patches of rugose flagella, visible as one structure when invaginated.

♀: Apical lobes of paraproct shorter than continuous basal portion in dorsal view; proctiger conical; sternum IX with coxites and valvifers fully divided, coxites less than ½ length of valvifers (Fig. 5B ); subgenital plate a lightly sclerotized chevron.

Etymology.

The specific name is from the Greek camplyo - meaning bent, and acra meaning tip, in reference to the bent ventral process of the aedeagus.

Distribution and ecology.

Lathrobium camplyacra inhabits mid-elevation (600-1600 m) hardwood forests in the Great Balsam, Plott Balsam, and Cowee Mountains of the southern Appalachians (Fig. 27 ). This area is bordered by the Cullasaja River and Little Tennessee River to the west, the Maggie Valley to the north, and the French Broad River Valley to the east. A single specimen from the CNC collection was reportedly collected from Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains, which is well outside of this range and needs to be verified.

Figures

Figure 5. Lathrobium camplyacra A habitus B female terminalia C female sternite VIII D male sternite VIII E aedeagus in ventral view F aedeagus in lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 27. Distribution of L. camplyacra (star), Lathrobium carolinae (circle).

Figures 24 - 26. Lathrobium terminalia A female terminalia B male sternite VIII C aedeagus in ventral view D aedeagus in lateral view. 24 L. brevipenne morphotype 1 25 L. brevipenne morphotype 2 26 L. brevipenne morphotype 3. Scale bars: 1 mm.