Kenocoelus mikonuiensis Nomura and Leschen, 2015

Nomura, Shûhei & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2015, Myrmecophilous Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from New Zealand, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (1), pp. 121-152 : 121-152

Kenocoelus mikonuiensis Nomura and Leschen , new species

( Figs. 1B, E , 2B, E, H, K , 3B, E, H, K )

Description. Male. Body length 1.61–1.62 mm, width 0.51–0.53 mm. Very similar to K. dimorphus but differs in the following characters: body smaller than K. dimorphus ; relative length (width) of each antennomere from base to apex to width of antennomere I: 0.8 (1.0): 1.0 (1.0): 0.9 (0.9): 0.9 (0.9): 1.0 (1.0): 1.0 (1.0): 1.1 (1.1): 1.1 (1.1): 1.2 (1.2): 1.3 (1.2): 1.3 (2.7): abdominal sternite IV with pair of small semicircular concavities, each concavity slightly deeper than in K. dimorphus ; sternite V with pair of large, transverse, indistinctly margined concavities just behind concavity of IV, with pair of small projections at center of concavities; male genitalia narrow and weakly sclerotized, indistinct in apical half; basal half similar to that of K. dimorphus ( Fig. 3K ).

Female. Body length 1.44 mm, width 0.47 mm, similar to male but distinguished by the following points: eyes reduced, each composed of about 4 facets; antennal length 0.50–0.53 mm; elytra shorter, narrower than in male; abdomen longer than elytra; sternites IV–V without concavity or projection.

Remarks. This species was collected with ants, but ant vouchers were not taken. It is separable from K. dimorphus by the median apodeme within each concavity on male abdominal sternite V. It differs from K. johni by a pair of semicircular concavities on male sternite IV, each with two small projections at the center.

Distribution. South Island. Westland (WD).

Specimens Examined. Holotype, male, NEW ZEALAND, WD, Ross, Mikonui Tk, 9. xi. 2005, R. Leschen, S. Nomura, ants in wood, RL1015, 43°00′S, 170° 1′E // HOLOTYPE Staphylinidae Pselaphinae Kenocoelus mikonuiensis Nomura et Leschen, 2014 S. Nomura det., 2014 [red label]. Paratypes: 1 male, 2 females, same data as holotype.

Figures

Fig. 1. Kenocoelus species, habitus. A) K. dimorphus, male, B) K. mikonuiensis, male, C) K. johni, male, D) K. dimorphus, female, E) K. mikonuiensis, female, F) K. johni, female. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 2. Kenocoelus species. A) K. dimorphus, ventral view, B) K. mikonuiensis, ventral view, C) K. johni, ventral view, D) K. dimorphus, abdominal sternites IV–V, ventral view, E) K. mikonuiensis, abdominal sternites IV–V, ventral view, F) K. johni, abdominal sternites IV–V, ventral view, G and J) K. dimorphus, left concavities on abdominal sternites IV–V, H and K) K. mikonuiensis, left concavities on abdominal sternites IV–V, I and L) K. johni, left concavities on abdominal sternites IV–V.

Fig. 3. Kenocoelus species. A) K. dimorphus, abdominal tergite VIII, B) K. mikonuiensis, abdominal tergite VIII, C) K. johni, abdominal tergite VIII, D) K. dimorphus, sternite VIII, E) K. mikonuiensis, sternite VIII, F) K. johni, sternite VIII, G) K. dimorphus, abdominal segment IX, H) K. mikonuiensis, abdominal segment IX, I) K. johni, abdominal segment IX, J) K. dimorphus, male genitalia, K) K. mikonuiensis, male genitalia, L) K. johni, male genitalia. Scale = 0.1 mm.