Sagola sunsookae Park and Carlton

Park, J. - S. & Carlton, C. E., 2014, A revision of the New Zealand species of the genus Sagola Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Faronitae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 13) 68, pp. 1-156 : 37

Sagola sunsookae Park and Carlton , new species

( Figs. 15f , 16f , 18 )

Type Material. Holotype. NEW ZEALAND: Waikato: 1♂ ( NZAC), aedeagus dissected and mounted in balsam on a clear plastic card, “ NEW ZEALAND WO Mt Karioi near base 11 Oct 1981 C.F. Butcher ”, “ N.Z. Arthropod Collection, NZAC Private Bag 92170 AUCKLAND New Zealand”, “Litter 81–96”, “ HOLOTYPE Sagola sunsookae Park and Carlton 2013 ” . Paratype (1 male). NEW ZEALAND: Auckland : 1♂ ( FMNH) , Hunua Range Reg. Park, Kohukohunui Tr. nr Mine Rd. , 475m, 37″02.396′S 175″11.251′E, 17 XI–28 XII 2005, broadleaf-podocarp forest, numerous tree fern, FMHD#2005-001 , FIT, A. Newton, M. Thayer et al., ANMT site 1140 .

Etymology. This species is named for one of the enthusiastic supporters of this study, Sun-Sook Choi. She is the first author’ s mother and has provided a lifetime of support and encouragement.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from the other species of the baiknami speciesgroup by the following combination of characters: smaller body, length 2.4–2.7 mm; male head bluntly triangular, widest across eyes, ventral surface of head with pair of short carinae on temple; male mid-femur weakly depressed at base; midtibia bent; shape of antennomeres and genitalia unique to species.

Description of Male. Length 2.4–2.7 mm. Body brown, antenna, elytra, legs, and maxillary palpi paler ( Fig. 15f ). Head: As long as wide, widest across eyes ( Fig. 15f ), ventral surface with pair of short carinae on temple. Antennomere 1 approximately 2 times longer than wide, 2 longer than wide, 3 subquadrate, 4–7 longer than wide, 8–10 subquadrate. Frontal sulcus deep and reaching midpoint of eye from frontal rostral lobes. Anterior frontal fovea round. Posterior frontal fovea oval. Eye large and prominent, one-third length of temple. Thorax: Prosternum as long as wide, widest at midpoint. Elytra rectangular ( Fig. 15f ). Meso- and metathorax trapezoidal, longer than wide. Male mid-femur weakly depressed at base. Male mid-tibia bent. Abdomen: Tergite IV with pair of oval or transverse patches of microtrichia. Aedeagus: Median lobe blunt ( Fig. 16f ). Phallobase of median lobe asymmetrical and triangular ( Fig. 16f ). Parameres asymmetrical, left paramere L-shaped, right paramere with 3 lobes with thick setae apically ( Fig. 16f ).

Distribution. Waikato, Auckland ( Fig. 18 : triangles).

Habitat. Specimens of this species were collected using flight intercept traps or by sifting litter in broadleaf and podocarp forests with tree ferns.

Figures

Fig. 15. Habitus of Sagola species in the baiknami species-group, dorsal views. a) S. baiknami, b) S. watti,

Fig. 16. Sagola pecies in the baiknami species-group. Aedeagi, dorsal views: a) S. baiknami, b) S. watti, c) S. butcherae, d) S. taupoensis, e) S. nunni, f) S. sunsookae, g) S. choeunae. S. watti, male head: h) Dorsal surface, i) Ventral surface (arrow indicates transverse depression). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 18. Known collection localities of New Zealand Sagola species. S. nunni: black circles; S. sunsookae: triangles; S. choeunae: black square.