Atheta (Dimetrota) cranberriensis Klimaszewski & Webster

Webster, Reginald P., Klimaszewski, Jan, Bourdon, Caroline, Sweeney, Jon D., Hughes, Cory C. & Labrecque, Myriam, 2016, Further contributions to the Aleocharinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) fauna of New Brunswick and Canada including descriptions of 27 new species, ZooKeys 573, pp. 85-216 : 106-107

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Staphylinidae

Atheta (Dimetrota) cranberriensis Klimaszewski & Webster sp. n. Figs 104-111

Holotype (male).

Canada, New Brunswick, Queens Co., Cranberry Lake P.N.A., 46.1125°N, 65.6075W, 21-27.V.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère, coll. // red oak forest, Lindgren funnel trap (LFC). Paratypes: Canada, New Brunswick, Kent Co., Kouchibouguac N.P., near Callanders Beach, 46.8072°N, 64.9082°W, 21.V.2015, R.P. Webster // Margin field/Jack pine forest, in litter in entrance to Marmota monax burrow (1 ♂, 3 ♀, RWC). Queens Co., Cranberry Lake P.N.A., 46.1125°N, 65.6075°W, 12-21.V.2009, R. Webster & M.-A. Giguère // Red oak forest, Lindgren funnel traps (1 ♂, 1 ♀, RWC); same data except 21-27.V.2009 (1 ♀, RWC); Jemseg, 45.8412°N, 66.1195°W, 14-28.V.2012, C. Alderson & V. Webster // Hardwood woodland near seasonally flooded marsh, Lindgren funnel trap 1 m high under Quercus macrocarpa (♂, RWC). York Co., New Maryland, Charters Settlement, 45.8395°N, 66.7391°W, 17.V.2010, 8.V.2011, R.P. Webster // Mixed forest opening, collected with net during evening flight between 16:30 and 19:00 h (1 ♀, RWC); same data except 21.IV.2010 (1 ♀, LFC).

Etymology.

This species is named after Cranberry Lake P.N.A. (Protected Natural Area) where the type specimen and most paratypes were collected.

Description.

Body length 3.2-3.8 mm, moderately narrow, subparallel (Fig. 104); antennae, head, pronotum, and most of abdomen except for apical part dark brown, elytra and legs light brown to yellowish brown; forebody with minute and sparse punctation, moderately glossy; head angular posteriorly, with moderately large eyes; antennae with articles V–X slightly transverse and progressively more so toward apex; pronotum angular posterolaterally and rounded anteriorly, transverse, wider than head and narrower than elytra, pubescence directed laterad from midline of disk; elytra with pubescence directed posterolaterad from midline of disk; abdomen at middle as broad as elytra, broadly arcuate laterally. Male. Median lobe of aedeagus with bulbus broad, oval, tubus short, triangular in dorsal view (Fig. 105), and straight with rounded apex in lateral view (Fig. 106); internal sac with structures not apparent (Figs 105, 106); tergite VIII truncate apically, slightly emarginate medially bearing some crenulation, with angular lateral edges (Fig. 107); sternite VIII rounded apically (Fig. 108). Female. Tergite VIII with apical margin arcuate (Fig. 109); sternite VIII broadly rounded apically (Fig. 110); spermatheca with elongate sac-shaped capsule and sinuate stem narrowly looped posteriorly (Fig. 111).

Distribution.

Known only from NB, Canada.

Natural history.

Most adults were captured in Lindgren funnel traps in a red oak forest and a hardwood woodland near a seasonally flooded marsh. Other individuals were collected with a net between 16:30 and 19:00 h in a mixed forest opening. Four individuals were collected from litter from the entrance of a groundhog burrow. It is possible that this species is associated with ground-nesting mammals, but more sampling from this habitat is required. All specimens were captured in May.

Comments.

This species is externally very similar to Atheta alesi Klimaszewski & Brunke, and has similar body coloration and pubescence pattern with the pubescence appearing soft, but has a much broader and more elongate body (body length 3.2-3.8 mm compared with 2.4-2.6 mm in Atheta alesi ( Klimaszewski et al. 2012); has more robust antennae with articles VIII-X less transverse that those in Atheta alesi , has broader (almost as broad as base of elytra) and differently shaped pronotum with strongly angular posterior angles, and elytra less contrasting yellow. The genitalia are superficially similar in the two species, but the apical margin of male tergite VIII in Atheta cranberriensis has a more arcuate emargination (Fig. 107), and that of Atheta alesi has a more angular broadly V-shaped emargination.