Agnosthaetus bisulciceps ( Broun, 1917 )

Clarke, Dave J., 2011, A Revision of the New Zealand Endemic Rove Beetle Genus Agnosthaetus Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 10) 2011, pp. 1-118 : 23-24

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1649/0010-065X-65.mo4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0818A3A2-AB42-43D8-8F76-4F65F367C584
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038787B5-FF89-5350-44BE-B8AE80B0FB8F
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Agnosthaetus bisulciceps ( Broun, 1917 )
status

Treatment

(3) Agnosthaetus bisulciceps ( Broun, 1917) View in CoL

( Figs. 62 View Figs , 82 View Figs , 91 View Figs , 96 View Figs , 100 View Figs , Map 1 View Map 1 )

Dimerus bisulciceps Broun, 1917: 374 View in CoL . (Type locality: Moa Basin, Canterbury); Broun 1921: 484.

Stenaesthetus bisulciceps ; Scheerpeltz 1933: 1202.

Agnosthaetus bisulciceps View in CoL ; Bernhauer 1939: 214; Herman 2001: 1875 (type locality incorrectly recorded as “Mos Basin, Canterbury ”).

Type Material. Holotype (by monotypy). ♂, with eight labels: [ BMNH red bordered circular holotype label] “Holo-| type/ [Broun’ s handwriting] 3823/ [Broun’ s handwriting] Moa Basin.| 20.10.1913 / [ BMNH label] New Zealand.| Broun Coll.| Brit. Mus.| 1922-482/ [Broun’ s handwriting] Dimerus | bisulciceps./ Dimerus | bisulciceps Broun | M.E. Bacchus 1978| HOLOTYPE / FMNH-INS 0000 048 421/ HOLOTYPE Dimerus bisulciceps Broun, 1917 , ♂, teste D. Clarke 2011”, in BMNH. Card mounted, dissected, aedeagus on clear plate (head missing).

Additional Material Examined. 21 specimens (7♂, 13♀, 1 unsexed). NEW ZEALAND: South Island: MC: Arthur’ s Pass, 42°54.462′S, 171°32.958′E, 21.i.1999, in moss, 1 sex unknown, FMNH-INS 19720 (in JTNC); MC/WD: Arthur’ s Pass, 910 m, 42°56.72′S, 171°34.02′E, 1.v.1985, LCNZ 85/5, subalpine scrub litter, J.W. Early, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19087 (in LUNZ); NC: Arthur’ s Pass, 830 m, 42°56.72′S, 171°34.02′E, 15.xi.1981, LCNZ 81/22, streamside moss, J.W. Early, 1♂, FMNH-INS 38168, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19086 (in LUNZ); Arthur’ s Pass, 750–850 m, 800 m, 42°56.72′S, 171°34.02′E, Nothofagus forest, 9– 10.ii.1984, frass under bark, P.M. Hammond, 2♀, FMNH-INS 48058–059 (in BMNH); 9–10. ii.1984, Nothofagus forest litter, P.M. Hammond, 2♂, FMNH-INS 48052–053, 4♀, FMNH-INS 48054–057 (in BMNH); Arthur’ s Pass, Avalanche Basin, 1493 m, 13.xi.1966, 66/391, litter/ moss around rocks on tussock, A Walker, 1♀, FMNH-INS 48060 (in NZAC); Arthur’ s Pass, Dobson Nature Walk, 920 m, 42°54.54′S, 171°33.42′E, 8.ii.1982, 82/26, sifted litter, C.F. Butcher, 1♀, FMNH-INS 48061 (in NZAC); Arthur’ s Pass, Dobson’ s Trk., 1007 m, 42°54.48′S, 171°33.3′E, 11.xi.1966, 66/381, litter, A.K. Walker, 1♂ (in NZAC); Arthur’ s Pass, Mt. Aicken, 950 m, 42°55.98′S, 171°35.916′E, 9.ii.1984, 84/24, sifted litter, J.C. Watt, 1♂, FMNH- INS 48048, 3♀, FMNH-INS 48049–051 (in NZAC); WD: Arthur’ s Pass (12.6 km N), 460 m, 42°55′S, 171°33′E, 12.i.1998, RL 047, Fuschia excorticata & Pseudopanax leaf litter, R. Leschen & C. Carlton, 1♂, KUNHM-ENT SM0649029 (in KSEM); Deception River, 20.xi.1978, mixed podocarp litter, S.P. Worner, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19085 (in LUNZ).

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus bisulciceps may be easily distinguished from all other known Agnosthaetus species by the combination of the basal mental tooth ( Figs. 65–66 View Figs , arrows), the distinctive chromosome-shaped medial pronotal sulci with the apices deflected obliquely, but not continuous with the anterior punctures ( Fig. 70 View Figs ), and the anteriorly obsolete lateral pronotal carina ( Fig. 82 View Figs , pc).

Redescription. Color: More or less uniformly yellowish to reddish brown. Head ( Fig. 62 View Figs ): Frontal ridge present (cf. Fig. 12 View Figs , fr). Dorsum sparsely punctate; with punctures distributed over more or less entire surface except for small posterior impunctate region. Punctures deep, but indistinctly defined; diameter subequal to or slightly greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance mostly less than half puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture present only anterior to dorsal tentorial sulci; very faintly reticulate. Dorsal tentorial sulcus (cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) distinctly slit-like, straight, distinctly impressed between sublongitudinal ridge and medial part of vertex. Sublongitudinal ridge (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , sr) indistinct; confused by dorsolateral secondary carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle with distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antennoocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) with several secondary carinae formed by subconfluent to confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina (cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , ao) indistinct; confused by secondary carinae; joining eye at or in front of middle. Eye distinctly bulged anteriorly. Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) short, much less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface more or less evenly microsculptured (cf. Fig. 65 View Figs ). Labrum not distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 91 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males moderately broadly and shallowly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 19–21 teeth (n =3), all teeth normal, projecting more or less anteriorly. Apical labral margin in females very slightly concave medially; with 20–23 teeth (n =4), all teeth subequal in length. Medial oblique labral setae (cf. Fig. 20 View Figs ) present. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible sexually dimorphic; males with single, dorsally directed tooth, with distinct preapical spur (cf. Fig. 190 View Figs , arrow); females with single, mesially projecting tooth, without spur. Mentum with distinct basomedian tooth (cf. Figs. 65–66 View Figs , arrows). Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci (cf. Fig. 23 View Figs ) distinctly chromosome-shaped, abruptly deflected obliquely in apical third; anteriorly separate from and deflected obliquely to anterior punctures (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs ). Distance between medial sulci in front of middle about half that at base. Pronotal basolateral carina absent (cf. Figs. 23 View Figs , 69 View Figs , 77 View Figs ). Pronotal macrosetal punctures distinct (cf. Fig. 73 View Figs ). Medial pronotal seta adjacent to lateral sulcus (cf. Fig. 70 View Figs ). Lateral pronotal carina anteriorly incomplete, effaced before apex of pronotum ( Fig. 82 View Figs , pc). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum with faintly reticulate microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture; without punctiform non-setiferous impressions, or with small punctiform non-setiferous impressions; with three or more macrosetae, set in distinct punctures; laterally with single ridge (cf. Fig. 85 View Figs , ek). Elytral epipleuron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , ef) very narrow, more or less even width for most of length. Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mer) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , m) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge absent; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture short, somewhat appressed, dorsally with radiating fans of setae either side of midline and laterally. Abdominal sternite IV of male with surface nearly glabrous apicomedially, apex slightly convex apicomedially; V with surface glabrous and impressed apicomedially, flanked by coarse acuminate setae; VI with coarser setae medially; VII with surface nearly glabrous apicomedially. Aedeagus ( Fig. 96 View Figs ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe with large, tooth-like lateral lobes, abruptly produced into broadly, slightly convexly triangular apicomedian lobe with sharpened point. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 100 View Figs ). Paramere exceeding apex of median lobe; in lateral view produced apically into lobe; with apical part perpendicular to median lobe; in dorsal view with outer side gently convex; with ventral excavation at about middle of mesal face ( Fig. 96 View Figs , arrow); with single seta at apex, 1 on mesial face, and 2 on ventral edge.

Distribution. ( Map 1 View Map 1 ). South Island:MC; NC; WD.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: Nothofagus forest; subalpine scrub. Specimens have been taken from diverse forest leaf litter, in moss, from moss near stream sides and around rocks on tussock, and from litter under bark. Phenology: year-round; most records taken from December–February.

Remarks. Although most similar to A. rodmani in the configuration of the medial pronotal sulci and structure of the aedeagus ( Figs. 96–97 View Figs ), A. bisulciceps can be easily distinguished from that and all other species by the diagnostic characters. The parameres of both species share the rounded ventral excavations at the middle ( Figs. 96–97 View Figs , arrows), and have one of the four setae on the mesal face of the paramere, one at the apex, and two others along the ventral edge.