Euconnus tusquitee, Caterino, 2022

Caterino, Michael S., 2022, First report of the Euconnus Thomson subgenus Cladoconnus Reitter in the New World, represented by thirteen new Appalachian species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae), ZooKeys 1137, pp. 133-175 : 133

Euconnus tusquitee sp. nov.

Figs 11 , 12B

Type material.

Holotype ♂, deposited in FMNH: "USA:NC: Clay Co., 35.1419°N, 83.7269°W, NantahalaNF, Tusquitee Bald, vii.6.2021, 5270', Quercus / Tsuga litter M.Caterino & E.Recuero" / "[QR code] CLEMSON-ENT CUAC000171987" / "Caterino DNA Voucher Extraction MSC11727 Morphosp.TsqBld_171987". Paratypes (1) - DNA only, voucher lost in extraction: same data as type, DNA Extract 7816, MorphospeciesTsqB.A.223.

Diagnostic description.

This species exhibits no obvious external differences from the preceding species, and can best be distinguished by male genitalic characters; carina of male antennomere VIII slightly oblique, ~ 20 degrees off the long axis of the antenna; aedeagus (Fig. 12B ) with apex of median lobe narrowed to near truncate apex, not knobbed; parameres weakly curved, bearing three apical setae; compressor plate short, strongly asymmetrical, sinuate with blunt median and acute lateral lobes; endophallus with dominant upper asymmetrical sclerite long, broad to middle, with narrow, curving apical portion nearly reaching apex of median lobe, bearing an inner, medially directed secondary tooth just beyond middle; lower endophallic sclerite shorter, reaching just to middle of upper, curving strongly opposite.

Distribution.

Another single-site endemic, Euconnus tusquitee is only known from Tusquitee Bald in the western Nantahala Mts, at an elevation of 5270 ft.

Remarks.

The strongly asymmetrical and unevenly bilobed apex of the compressor plate is the best character for recognizing E. tusquitee . The strongly opposing hook on the lower endophallic sclerite is also distinctive. Its sickle-shaped upper endophallic sclerite is longer than, but otherwise similar to that of E. kilmeri .

DNA of two specimens of this species was extracted. The first one was lost in the extraction process, though its DNA and images on the Flickr site (morphospecies code TsqB.A.223) remain. Unfortunately, neither extract sequenced well, so the placement of this species among the others of the E. falcatus complex remains uncertain.

This species name refers to its type and only known locality, Tusquitee Bald.

Figures

Figure 11. Map of collecting records for Euconnus (Cladoconnus) falcatus complex. E. (C.) falcatus (circles), E. (C.) cataloochee (stars), E. (C.) tusquitee (triangules), E. (C.) draco (hexagons), E. (C.) kilmeri (plus sign), and E. (C.) attritus (x).

Figure 12. Aedeagus. A Euconnus draco B Euconnus tusquitee C Euconnus attritus.