Atheta (Dimetrota) larsonae Klimaszewski & Larson

Klimaszewski, Jan, Larson, David J., Labrecque, Myriam & Bourdon, Caroline, 2016, Twelve new species and fifty-three new provincial distribution records of Aleocharinae rove beetles of Saskatchewan, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), ZooKeys 610, pp. 45-112 : 57

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Atheta (Dimetrota) larsonae Klimaszewski & Larson sp. n. Figs 16-20

Holotype (male).

Canada, Saskatchewan, Royal Edward Road, 25 km NW Maple Creek, 5-VI-2011, D. Larson (LFC).

Etymology.

The name of this species is dedicated to R.I. Larson. Ruby I. Larson was a geneticist at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, Lethbridge, who worked on wheat genetics. She was very active in promoting science and from 1958 to 1973 ran a Science Club for Junior High and High School age children. Members of this club went on to a variety of professional careers, including three (DJL included) who became professional entomologists. Her love of learning and science was infectious and her support and encouragement were major factors in our career choices. She taught us the joy and personal rewards of following one’s curiosity.

Diagnosis.

Body narrowly elongate, slightly flattened (particularly on elytra), uniformly dark brown, almost black except for paler, light brown sutural section of elytra and legs (Fig. 16); punctation on forebody fine, dense and sparse; integument strongly glossy; head slightly narrower than pronotum; pronotum moderately transverse, and much narrower than elytra (Fig. 16); elytra strongly transverse, and at suture about as long as pronotum (Fig. 16); abdomen subparallel and distinctly narrower than elytra (Fig. 16); body length 2.5 mm; antennal articles V-X moderately transverse. MALE. Tergite VIII serrate apically with two larger lateral teeth (Fig. 19); sternite VIII rounded apically (Fig. 20); median lobe of aedeagus with broad and rounded bulbus and short and broadly triangular tubus in dorsal view (Fig. 18), and tubus straight with apex produced ventrally in lateral view (Fig. 17). FEMALE. Unknown.

Distinguished from all other Atheta (Dimetrota) by narrow head and pronotum, broad and short elytra, strongly glossy integument, and the shape of median lobe of aedeagus with apex produced ventrally in lateral view (Fig. 17).

Distribution.

This species is known only from the type locality in SK.

Natural history.

The holotype was captured in June from unspecified habitat.

Comments.

This species is superficially similar to Nearctic Atheta (Dimetrota) peticapensis Klimaszewski & Webster, with which it shares similar body proportions and enlarged bulbus of median lobe of aedeagus. However, these differences may not necessarily indicate a close relationship between these species.