Nesamblyops kuscheli, Sokolov, 2023

Sokolov, Igor M., 2023, Fourteen new species of the genus Nesamblyops Jeannel (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Anillini) from the South Island of New Zealand with redescription of the genus and description of a new subtribe, Zootaxa 5375 (2), pp. 151-192 : 170-171

Nesamblyops kuscheli , sp. nov.

Figures. 9E , 12E , 14M–O , 17E , 19

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, in NZAC, labeled: \ Flora Hut 2500’ 4-2-65 Mt.Arthur moss G.Kuschel \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \. PARATYPES (14 specimens, dissected 4 exx.), 4 males and 2 females labeled same as holotype; 1 female labeled: \ Damp stream bed S. of Flora Hut. Mt. Arthur NELSON 12 Nov 69 J.I. Townsend \ NZ PB \; 2 males and 3 females labeled: \ Flora Mt. Arthur 3-2-65 moss G.Kuschel \ DSIR \ No \ NZ PB \; 1 female labeled: \ Flora Track 1066m Mt.Arthur Nelson \ 16 Nov 69 B.M. May \ Litter 66/221 \ NZ PB \; 1 male labeled: \ Flora Tr. 1005m Mt.Arthur Nelson 20 Nov 69 S.M.Silcock \ Litter 69/231 \ NZ PB \.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latinized eponym in the genitive case and is based on the surname of Guillermo (Willy) Kuschel, a recognized New Zealand entomologist of Chilean origin, and a world specialist in weevils, who made an incredible contribution to the knowledge of the beetle fauna of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly the fauna of New Zealand.

Type locality. New Zealand, South Island, Nelson, Kahurangi National Park, Mount Arthur .

Recognition. Adults of this species ( Fig. 9E ) are practically indistinguishable from the adults of many Nesamblyops species based on external characters (e.g., Figs. 9A–B , 10C ) and are distinguished from them by the structures of the male genitalia.

Description. Of medium size for genus (SBL range 1.65–1.85 mm, mean 1.74± 0.059 mm, n=14).

Habitus. Body form ( Fig. 9E ) markedly convex, elongate ovoid, general proportions wide (WE/SBL0.41±0.009), head narrow relative to pronotum (WH/WPm 0.70±0.014), proportions of pronotum in comparison to elytra average for genus (WPm/WE 0.73±0.016).

Color. Body color brunneorufous, appendages testaceous.

Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 12E ) moderately long in comparison to elytra (LP/LE 0.41±0.008) and moderately transverse (WPm/LP 1.27±0.017), with lateral margins arcuately constricted posteriorly (WPm/WPp 1.31±0.030). Anterior angles indistinct, posterior angles obtuse (112–119°), rounded. Width between posterior angles greater than between anterior angles (WPa/WPp 0.91±0.020). Basal margin almost rectilinear, slightly convex at middle.

Elytra. Ovoid, narrowly depressed along suture, comparatively long (LE/SBL 0.59±0.003) and moderately wide (WE/LE 0.71±0.015). Humeri completely rounded. Lateral margins slightly divergent at basal half, subparallel at middle and evenly rounded to apex in apical third.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Fig. 14O ) moderately arcuate and moderately twisted. Shaft subparallel, tapering in apical third. Apex straight with rounded tip. Apical orifice of moderate length, occupies almost one-third of the shaft length. Ventral margin of median lobe almost straight. Walls of shaft without poriferous canals. Dorsal copulatory sclerites with well-developed rC-sclerite and with reduced V-contour, dorsal branch of which protruding toward basal orifice ( Fig. 14O ). Left paramere ( Fig. 14M ) of moderate width slightly tapering to apex, bearing two long setae. Right paramere ( Fig. 14N ) of moderate length, bearing two long setae, which are slightly shorter than the length of paramere. Ring sclerite as in Fig. 17E .

Female internal genitalia. Not examined.

Geographical distribution. This species is known from the Mount Arthur area, South Island only ( Fig. 19 , red circles).

Habitat. Specimens were collected from moss and litter samples (labels mention as habitat the damp stream bed).

Relationships. The structure of the male genitalia of N. kuscheli suggests its relatedness to the other species with a well-developed rC-sclerite and small V-contour in the internal sac of the median lobe. Details of sclerite configurations and bisetose parameres point out on affinity of the new species to N. moorei , described below.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Digital images of habitus of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect.A—N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO), B—N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO), C—N. hobbit (9mi. N Karamea, Nelson, SO), D—N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, MountArthur, Nelson, SO), F—N. magnificus (Allison Reserve,Akatore, Dunedin, SO). Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 10. Digital images of habitus of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. montanus (Lake Sylvester, Kahurangi National Park, Nelson, SO), B—N. moorei (Kangaroo Creek, Mawhera Forest, Buller, SO), C—N. ovipennis (Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), D—N. rotundicollis (Onekaka, Nelson, SO), E—N. solitarius (Italian Creek, Capleston, Buller, SO), F—N. subcaecus (Sharp) (Greymouth, Buller, SO). Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 12. Digital images of pronota of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, dorsal aspect. A—N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO), B—N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO), C—N. hobbit (9mi. N Karamea, Nelson, SO), D—N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), F—N. magnificus (Allison Reserve, Akatore, Dunedin, SO), G—N. montanus (Lake Sylvester, Kahurangi National Park, Nelson, SO), H—N. moorei (Kangaroo Creek, Mawhera Forest, Buller, SO), I—N. ovipennis (Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO). Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 14. Line drawings of male genitalia of New Zealand Nesamblyops species. N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO): A—left paramere, left lateral aspect, B—right paramere, right lateral aspect, C—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO): D—left paramere, left lateral aspect, E—right paramere, right lateral aspect, F—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. hobbit (Mount Domett, Nelson, SO): G—left paramere, left lateral aspect, H—right paramere, right lateral aspect, I—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO): J—left paramere, left lateral aspect, K—right paramere, right lateral aspect, L—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO): M—left paramere, left lateral aspect, N—right paramere, right lateral aspect, O—median lobe, right lateral aspect. N. magnificus (Allison Reserve, Akatore, Dunedin, SO): P—left paramere, left lateral aspect, Q—right paramere, right lateral aspect, R—median lobe, right lateral aspect. Legend: rCs—reversed C-contour; Vs—V-contour. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Line drawings of ring sclerite of New Zealand Nesamblyops species, male genitalia, dorsal aspect. A—N. canaanensis (Canaan, Nelson, SO), B—N. disjunctus (Fletchers Creek, Buller, SO), C—N. hobbit (Mount Domett, Nelson, SO), D—N. karamea (Karamea River Gorge, Nelson, SO), E—N. kuscheli (Flora Hut, Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), F—N. montanus (Relax Shelter, Mount Robert Ridge, Nelson, SO), G—N. moorei (Kangaroo Creek, Mawhera Forest, Buller, SO), H—N. ovipennis (Mount Arthur, Nelson, SO), I—N. rotundicollis (Onekaka, Nelson, SO), J—N. subcaecus (Margarets Tarn Lake, Arthur’s Pass, Mid Canterbury, SO), K—N. viator (Secretary Island, Grono Bay, Fjordland, SO), L—N. victoriae (Capleston, Victoria Range, Buller, SO). Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 19. Distributional records for the Nesamblyops species and images of male median lobe, obtained from specimens, collected in the line-connected with images localities. Green circles—N. canaanensis; black circles—N. hobbit; blue circles— N. ovipennis; yellow circles—N. karamea; red circles—N. kuscheli. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.