Custotychus carloritaorum Chandler and Geromini, 1962

Chandler, Donald S. & Geromini, Sarah D., 1962, A Revision of the Eastern Nearctic GenusCustotychusPark and Wagner, 1962 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 1962 (2), pp. 217-242 : 217-242

10. Custotychus carloritaorum Chandler and Geromini , new species

( Figs. 11 , 24a–b , 29 , 36 )

Tychus minor : (not LeConte, 1849) Brimley 1938: 149 (misidentification).

Specimens Examined. n = 36. Holotype male: // N.C., Macon Co., Norton Coweeta Hydro. Lab., 23.V.65, el. 3505′/ forest floor debris at rotten wood/ H.R. Steeves, Jr., J.D. Patrick, Jr. Collectors/ H.R. Steeves, Jr. Collection/ [red label] HOLO- TYPE Custotychus carloritaorum Chandler & Geromini // (FMNH). Paratypes: North Carolina: N.C. [state record only], IV-20-1895, (1M 1F, FMNH) IV-25-1895 (2M 2F, FMNH), (1M, MCZC), IV-29-1895 (2M 5F, FMNH), (1M, MCZC), (1M 1F, FMNH). South Carolina: Spartanburg Co.: Croft State Park, Fosters Mill Tr[ail], 552′, VII-10-2011, J.F. Cornell, berl. ∼ 35kg lit[ter] roadside ditch (1M, LSAM). Tennessee: Johnson Co. : 4 mi. E Hampton, Watauga Scenic Trail, #134 on highway 321, V-19-1991, S. O’ Keefe, berlese maple and oak litter (1M 1F, DSCC). Sevier Co.: G[reat] S[moky] M[ountains] N[ational] P[ark], Roaring Fork area, Rainbow Falls Trail, VIII-1-2002, C.E. Carlton, moist forest berlese (1M, LSAM). Sullivan Co.: 10 mi. SE Bristol, Appalachian Trail on Hwy. 421, V-19-1991, S. O’ Keefe, berlese maple and oak litter (1M 1F, DSCC). Virginia: Pulaski Co.: 7 mi. SE Mechanicsburg, X-9-1985, R. Baranowski (1M, DSCC). Smythe Co.: 7.5 mi. SE Marion, Racoon Branch Campground, V-19- 1991, S. O’ Keefe, berlese maple and oak litter (1M 1F, DSCC). Wythe Co.: 2 mi. W Barren Springs, Rt. 608, N slope Fosters Falls Mtn., IV-27-1996, R.L. Hoffman, litter of Aesculus - Liriodendron (1M, DSCC). 5 mi. NW Wytheville, Stony Fork Campground, V-18-1991, S. O’ Keefe, sift oak beech litter (3M 1F, DSCC). Four females are not placed as paratypes: North Carolina:

Buncombe Co.: Black Mountain, IX, (3F, USNM), VII (1F, USNM).

Description. Body: Brown, often with elytra darker; 1.64–1.94 mm long. Male: Eyes with about 35 facets. Metasternal tubercle at middle ( Fig. 24a, b ); in lateral view, erect/straight, apex usually acute, varying to occasionally more subtruncate; in posterior view, stem narrow, gradually widening to broadly rounded apex, apical portion shallowly concave on posterior face, minimum stem width about 2/3 width of apex; tubercle height 0.072 mm, maximum apical width 0.045 mm, minimum stem width 0.027 mm [tubercle measurements taken from specimen from Brasstown Bald, GA; FMNH]. Mesotibiae with preapical spur thick and aciculate, apical spur broad, 2 apical teeth widely separated ( Fig. 29 ). Abdomen with ventrite 2 gently convex at middle; ventrite 6 with shallow circular impression at middle through length. Aedeagus ( Fig. 11 ) 0.38 mm long; in dorsal view, median lobe elongate, gradually narrowing to subtruncate apex, lateral arms of dorsal plate strongly curved, abruptly narrowed in apical fourth; in lateral view, median lobe with acutely pointed apex, lateral arms with thick spur curving posteriorly, with acute apex, with weakly sclerotized preapical tubercle on postero-dorsal margin; parameres in dorsal view with apical portion greatly expanded and membranous, margins in lateral view roughly same width to abruptly expanded apical portion. Female: Eyes with 14–16 facets; mesotibiae lacking spurs.

Collection Data Synopsis. Specimens were collected from April and May, and from July to October. Individuals were extracted from various mixed hardwood leaf litters (maple, oak, beech, buckeye, and tuliptree) by use of Berlese funnels. Material is present in the following collections: DSCC, FMNH, LSAM, MCZC, and USNM.

Distribution. Custotychus carloritaorum is found in the southern half of the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to South Carolina ( Fig. 36 ). Individuals were examined from the following states: NC, SC, TN, and VA.

Etymology. This species is named for the paternal grandparents of the second author in thanks for their overwhelming support in all her academic and personal endeavors.

Comments. The long, thin metasternal tubercle is distinctive, especially when tied to its distribution at the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. The dorsal plate of the male genitalia is more robust than for any of the other species in the group, and only C. natchez has the long, simple median lobe together with the lateral arms of the dorsal plate bearing a single ventral spur. Custotychus minor also has a long, simple median lobe, but the lateral arms have two recurved ventral spurs.

Figures

Figs. 8–15. Custotychus species, dorsal and left lateral view of aedeagus. 8) C. cavei; 9) C. verticalis; 10) C. watrousi;

Figs. 16–27. Custotychus species, scanning electron micrographs right lateral (a) and posterior (b) views of metasternal tubercle. 16) C. chickasaw; 17) C. daggyi; 18) C. lobatus; 19) C. turnbowi; 20) C. rothorum; 21) C. spinosus; 22) C. verticalis; 23) C. watrousi; 24) C. carloritaorum; 25) C. leei; 26) C. minor; 27) C. natchez. Grid for measurements of 20 or 50m at bottom of micrographs.

Figs. 28–32. Custotychus species. 28) C. pocahontas, scanning electron micrographs of right lateral (a) and posterior (b) views of metasternal tubercle. Grid for measurements of 20 or 50m at bottom of micrographs; 29) C. carloritaorum, mesotibial spurs; 30) C. spinosus, mesotibial spurs; 31) C. watrousi, abdominal ventrites, ventrolateral view; 32) C. daggyi, right maxillary palpus, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figs. 34–36. Distribution of Custotychus species. 34) Distribution of species in the spinosus and verticalis species-groups: C. rothorum and C. spinosus, and C. cavei, C. verticalis, and C. watrousi; 35) Distribution of C. minor; 36) Distribution of other species in the minor species-group: C. carloritaorum, C. leei, C. natchez, and C. pocahontas.