Cyclaxyra politula ( Broun, 1881 )

Gimmel, Matthew L., Leschen, Richard A. B., Ślipiński, S. Adam & Csiro, 2009, Review of the New Zealand endemic family Cyclaxyridae, new family (Coleoptera: Polyphaga), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 49 (2), pp. 511-528 : 523-526

Cyclaxyra politula ( Broun, 1881)

( Figs. 1–18 , 20, 21 , 26–29 )

Cyclomorpha politula Broun, 1881: 668 . Cyclaxyra politula: BROUN (1893: 1077 ; transfer to Cyclaxyra Broun, 1893 ). Cyclaxyra impressa Broun, 1915: 314 , syn. nov.

Type locality. Cyclomorpha politula : New Zealand, Tairua. Cyclaxyra impressa : New Zealand, Greymouth.

Type material. Cyclomorpha politula: Two syntypes present in BMNH. LECTOTYPE (here designated): J, second specimen in syntype series, card-mounted ventral side up, with the labels “1165 / Tairua / New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Cyclaxyra politula . / [invalid paralectotype label added by J.C. Watt (1985), turned over] / LECTOTYPE J Cyclomorpha politula Broun des. M.L. Gimmel 2009” ( BMNH). PARALECTOTYPE: ♀, “Type / 1165 / Tairua / New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Cyclaxyra politula . / [invalid lectotype label added by J.C.Watt (1985), turned over] / PARALECTOTYPE Cyclomorpha politula Broun des. M.L. Gimmel 2009” ( BMNH). The lectotype designation is necessary to fix the identity of this species since another species has been described.

Cyclaxyra impressa : HOLOTYPE: J, “ New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922-482. / Greymouth 5.12.1907 / Cyclaxyra latitarsis / HOLOTYPE ♂ Cyclaxyra impressa Broun det. J.C. Watt 1985 (Broun’s det in error)” ( BMNH).

Additional material examined (386 spec.). NEW ZEALAND: NORTH ISLAND: TO: Waimarino, I.1910, T. Broun, 1 ( BMNH), 1 ( NZAC); TK: Hooker track, Mt. Egmont, 3700′, 15.VI.1965, J.I. Townsend, 1 ( NZAC). AK: Waitakere Ra, Piha, wasp survey, Malaise trap, duration ca. 1 week, 21.III.2000, 1 ( AMNZ); same data except 20.IV.2000, 2 ( AMNZ); same data except 28.IV.2000, 1 ( AMNZ); same data except 6.VI.2000, 2 ( AMNZ); same data except 13.VI.2000, 3 ( AMNZ); same data except 21.VI.2000, 1 ( AMNZ). SOUTH ISLAND: NN: Tasman Mts., Lake Sylvester, 4330′, 30.IV.1969, James E. Tobler, 7 ( CAS); Takaka Hill, 2000′, 5.II.1957, E.S. Gourlay, 4 ( NZAC); Takaka Hill, beech forest, forest litter, 18.IV.1963, G. Kuschel, 1 ( NZAC); Hope, 21.XII.1915, 1 ( NZAC); Upper Maitai, 19.X.1941, E.S. Gourlay, 3 ( NZAC); same data except 13.II.1957, 1 ( NZAC); Maitai Valley, fumagine fungus on Nothofagus , 27.III.1966, J.C. Watt, 1 ( NZAC); Upper Maitai Valley, moss sample, 15.II.1967, J.I. Townsend, 3 ( NZAC); Wooded Pk., Dun Mt., 609 m, 13.VIII.1966, J.C. Watt, 6 ( NZAC); Wooded Pk., Dun Mt., 2000′, fungus on Nothofagus fusca , 31.VIII.1966, J.C. Watt, 2 ( NZAC); Nelson area, fumagine on Nothofagus , 1.III.1957, R.A. Crowson, 15 ( ANIC); Nelson, Third House, Dun Mt. track, litter, 14.IX.1971, G. Ramsay, 7 ( NZAC); Nelson, Dun Mt., 2000′, fumagine fungus, 31.VIII.1966, J.C. Watt, 1 ( NZAC); Dun Mt., 1850′, in fumagine fungus on Nothofagus fusca , 4.IV.1966, J.C. Watt, 8 ( NZAC); same data except moss under beech trees, 29.III.1966, J.I. Townsend, 1 ( NZAC); Dun Mt. track, 609 m, fungus, 6.XI.1969, J.C. Watt, 21 ( NZAC); Eves Valley, 5.XII.1972, G. Kuschel, 2 ( NZAC); ridge between Totaranui & Anapai, fumagine fungus on beech trees, 6.V.1967, F. Alack, 2 ( NZAC); Aorere area, Brown R., above 1000′, fumagine fungus, 22.VIII.1967, F.Alack, 1 ( NZAC); Karamea Bluff, 41°31′S, 172°01′E, sooty mould, 9.II.1999, RL284, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 6 ( NZAC); Karamea Bluff, View Hill Saddle, 41°30.981′S, 172°01.229′E, 411 m, ex sooty mould from beech trunks, 2.III.2007, KM041, K. Marske, 1 ( NZAC); Harwoods Hole, 40°57′S, 172°53′E, sooty mould, 17.II.1999, RL332, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 1 ( NZAC); Pigeon Saddle, 41°22′S, 173°01′E, sooty mould, 15.II.1999, RL320, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 2 ( NZAC); same data except 16.II.1999, RL327, 2 in NZAC; 1.1 km E 2 Mile Creek, 41°42′S, 172°31′E, leaf litter rotten logs berlesate, 8.II.1999, RL273, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 1 ( NZAC); Mt. Domett, 1066–1219 m, XI–XII.1971, G. Kuschel, 3 ( NZAC); same data except Nothofagus, XII.1971 , G. Ramsay,1 ( NZAC);Abel Tasman NP,Torrent Bay,on trees at night, 23.VII.1985, R.M. Emberson & P. Syrett, 1 ( LUNZ); Heaphy Track, Heaphy Hut - Lewis Hut, sooty mould, 40°58’S, 172°08’E, 7.XI.1999, RL441, R. Leschen & G. Hall, 1 ( NZAC); Kahurangi N.P., Cobb Ridge, above Cobb Reservoir, Nothofagus menziesii & N. solandri cliffortioides forest, pyr.-fogging sooty mold on Nothofagus, ANMT site 1159, 1050 m, 41°06.351′S, 172°41.658′E, 29.XI.2005, A. Newton, 13 ( FMNH) (in 95% ethanol). SD: Opouri Saddle, 487 m, fungus, 14.I.1969, collector unknown, 22 ( NZAC); Okiwi Bay, Malaise trap, VI– 19.VII.1984, T. Jones, 1 ( NZAC); Queen Charlotte Sound, Bay of Many Coves, yellow pan trap, Leptospermum bush, 27.XII.1987 – 9.I.1988, J.W.M. Marris,1 ( LUNZ);Elie Bay, 11.XI.1949, E.S.Gourlay, 1 ( NZAC); Ronga Valley, 28.II.1957, E.S. Gourlay, 2 ( NZAC). MB: Pelorus Bridge, fumagine fungus on Nothofagus solandri , 25.VII.1967, J.C. Watt, 14 ( NZAC); same data except at night on fumagine fungus, 20.IX.1967, 1 ( NZAC); Fell Pk., Richmond Ra., 4250′, litter, 13.III.1969, J.C. Watt, 1 ( NZAC). KA: Hundalee, 19.VIII.1962, E.S. Gourlay, 1 ( NZAC). BR: Inangahua, 23.I.1957, E.S. Gourlay, 6 ( NZAC); Capleston, 21–22.I.1957, E.S. Gourlay, 1 ( NZAC); Flowers Ck., Capleston, fungus, 28.I.1972, J.C.Watt, 2 ( NZAC); same data except 12.XI.1971, 2 ( NZAC); Pororari R. [as “Porarari R.”], 30 m, Malaise trap, 28.X– 17.XI.1984, G.R. Champness, 3 ( LUNZ); Punakaiki, Bullock Ck., 20 m, Malaise trap on edge of Podocarpus broadleaf forest, 15.VIII–23.X.1983, G.R. Champness, 2 ( NZAC); Punakaiki Scen. Res., Bullock Ck., 20 m, Malaise trap, 24.I–8.II.1983, G.R. Champness, 1 ( LUNZ); same data, except 17.IV–5.VII.1983, 1 ( LUNZ); Lewis Pass Nat. Res., 11.9 km ESE Springs Junction, 540 m, Nothofagus spp. for., log & leaf litter #715, FMHD #85-445, 17.XII.1984 – 21.I.1985, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 1 ( FMNH); Lewis Pass, St. James Walkway, 42°23′S, 172°25′E, dried sap flow, 14.II.1999, RL312, RL313, & RL315, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 9 ( NZAC); Nelson Lakes NP, N slope Mt. Robert w/ Nothofagus spp. , 860 m, on trees & logs w/ lichens & moss at night, 23–26.III.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 2 ( NZAC), 6 ( ANIC), 1 ( FMNH); Mt. Robert, 1220 m, yellow pan trap in Nothofagus forest, 18– 23.XII.1983, J.W. Early & L. Masner, 1 ( LUNZ); Lake Rotoiti, 610 m, leaf mould, 20.IX.1978, A.K. Walker, 2 ( NZAC); Lake Rotoiti, 41°32′S, 172°51′E [latitude in error], beating, 13.XI.1999, RL458, R. Leschen & R. Hoare, 1 ( NZAC); Nelson Lakes NP, St. Arnaud tr., L. Rotoiti w/ Nothofagus spp. , 650 m, pyrethrin-fogging Nothofagus menziesii bark, 24–26.III.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 1 ( NZAC); Nelson Lakes NP, St. Arnaud tr., L. Rotoiti, 610–650 m, berl. sooty mould, 24–26.III.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 5 ( ANIC), 1 ( FMNH); Nelson Lakes NP, St. Arnaud tr., L. Rotoiti, 610–650 m, Nothofagus spp. sooty mould, 24–26.III.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 12 ( ANIC); Nelson Lakes NP, Lake Rotoiti, St.Arnaud track, 645 m, sooty mould on Nothofagus , 14.XII.1984 – 6.I.1985, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 2 ( NZAC); Lake Rotoiti, nr. Paddys Hut, 900 m, beaten from dead Nothofagus branches, 9.I.1993, J.W.M. Marris, 1 ( LUNZ); Lake Rotoiti, 615 m, swept in Nothofagus forest at night, 19–20.XII.1983, J.W. Early, 1 ( LUNZ); Lake Rotoiti, beech forest, emergence trap, 12–20.XII.2003, D. Hartnett, 1 ( AMNZ); same data except 16.I–12.II.2004, 10 ( AMNZ); Woods Creek track, 42°33.194′S, 171°20.926′W, 184 m, regenerating Wienmannia racemosa and Rahu forest, dead wood with fungi, 24.II.2007, KM010, K. Marske, 2 ( NZAC). WD: South Westland, Malaise trap, 3.VIII–3.IX.1984, R. Stewart, 1 ( NZAC); Doughboy Creek, 6 km SW Mahitahi, fungus, 5.II.1984, J.C. Watt, 1 ( NZAC); Haast River, Sunny Flat, 100 m, sifted litter, 25.I.1978, G. Kuschel, 1 ( NZAC); 7.7 km SSE Kumara, podocarp-broadleaf, 90 m, sooty mould on Nothofagus , 18–22.III.1980, A. Newton & M. Thayer, 1 ( NZAC), 4 ( ANIC); Mt.Aspiring NP,Arawata Biv., 840 m, pitfall trap, 31.I–5.II.1989, R.M. Emberson, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except at night on moss, 3.II.1989, J.W. Early, 2 ( LUNZ); Westland NP, Canavans Knob, 140 m, Malaise trap in grassy clearing, Podocarpus forest, 12.IX–14.X.1982, A. Miller, 2 ( NZAC); Westland NP, adj. Canavans Knob, 140 m, Malaise trap, 28.III–10.IV.1982,A.B. Miller, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 10–26.IV.1982, 2 ( LUNZ); same data except 12–26.IV.1982, 3 ( LUNZ); same data except 26.IV–5.V.1982, 2 ( LUNZ); same data except 5.V–6.VI.1982, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 19.VIII–12.IX.1982, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 14.X–XI.1982, 2 ( LUNZ). MC: Greyneys Ck., Arthurs Pass, 24.IV.2005, J. Nunn, 2 ( JNIC). OL: Mavora Lakes, 45°18′S, 168°11′E, 650 m, Nothofagus leaf litter, 23.II.1998, RL115, R. Leschen & C. Carlton, 1 ( NZAC). FD: Fiordland NP, track above Gunns camp, 250 m, on moss at night, 5.II.1980, R.M. Emberson, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 12.II.1980, R.M. Emberson, C.A. Muir, & P.T. Townsend, 5 ( LUNZ). STEWART ISLAND (and surrounding islets): SI: Big S. Cape I., at night, 14.XI.1968, J.C. Watt, 8 ( NZAC); Big S. Cape I., reared from sooty fungus on Olearia colensoi, XI.1968 (larvae), J.C. Watt, 6 ( NZAC); Big S. Cape I., general beating, XI.1968, G. Kuschel, 2 ( NZAC); Big S. Cape I., at night, II.1969, J.I. Townsend, 27 ( NZAC); same data except bush at night, 2 ( NZAC); same data except general beating, II.1969, B.A. Kuschel, 2 ( NZAC); Stewart Island, Freshwater Hut, night collecting on trees in bush, 4.II.1991, R.M. Emberson & P. Syrett, 2 ( LUNZ); Stewart Island, Mason Bay, on tree trunks at night, 2.II.1991, S.P. Worner, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 3.II.1991, J.W. Early, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except 2.II.1991, Rumpf, S.K., 2 ( LUNZ); Stewart Island, Mason Bay, Island Hill Homestead, on mossy trees at night coastal forest, 2.II.1991, R.M. Emberson, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except on bark and trees at night behind homestead, H.M. Harman, 1 ( LUNZ); same data except at night, J.B. Waller, 2 ( LUNZ); same data except from logs and trees behind homestead, P. Syrett, 1 ( LUNZ); Stewart Island, Port William, 9.II.1991, P. Syrett & R.M. Emberson, 5 ( LUNZ); Dryad Is., P. Pegasus, Stewart Island, on tree bark at night, Olearia -broadleaf forest, 14.XII.1974, R.M. Emberson, 8 ( LUNZ); Stewart Island, Glory Cove Scen. Res., 46°58′S, 168°10′E, ex sooty mould, 30.IV.2002, RL698, R. Leschen, 5 ( LSAM), 21 ( NZAC); Excelsior Road to Leonard Road, 46°54.057′S, 168°07.524′E, hand collecting, 21.I.2007, RL1170, R. Leschen, T. Buckley & K. Marske, 2 ( NZAC); Garden Mound track, 46°52.049′S, 168°07.359′E, at large, 21.I.2007, RL1167, R. Leschen, T. Buckley & K. Marske, 2 ( NZAC).

Adult description. Total length: 2.22–2.76 mm; body colouration of mature specimens deep black, but with the following regions often rufotestaceous: clypeus, lateral and basal margins of pronotum, scutellum, sutural and basal margins and apex of elytra, metacoxae, abdominal ventrites medially; appendages testaceous to rufous, antennal club usually darker; glabrous above; frons ( Fig. 20 ) with coarse to fine, sparse to moderately dense punctation, punctures separated by 1–3 diameters, or with punctation nearly effaced ( Fig. 21 ); metaventrite medially smooth or with very fine, sparse punctation; fully winged or hind wings reduced to short pads; pronotal length 0.48–0.56 mm; elytral length 1.28–1.65 mm; tegmen of aedeagus ( Figs. 26, 27 ) with short, straight basal strut, parameres proportionally short; penis ( Fig. 28 ) not including basal strut less than 4.5 times as long as wide; spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 29 .

Variation. The punctation is highly variable in strength and distribution on the frons and pronotum ( Figs. 20, 21 ). Approximately 25% of specimens are fully winged, the remainder have the hind wings reduced to short pads. The male genitalia are highly variable with regard to the length of the paired terminal setae on the parameres, formation of the basal strut of the penis, and shape of the apex of the penis. The thinly sclerotised posterolateral regions of the tegmen are often flexed inward as a result of clearing, making the tegmen appear narrowed apically. These differences overlap between North and South Island populations, and therefore we regard C. impressa as a synonym of C. politula . BROUN’ s (1915) diagnostic character for separation of his new species, the “elongate impression behind the scutellum,” was not apparent in the holotype. The specimens from Mt Domett originally labeled as a new species fall well within the variation of C. politula .

Differential diagnosis. Adults may be distinguished from C. jelineki sp. nov. by the coarsely, more sparsely punctate frons (or punctation sometimes almost absent), the medially smooth or finely, sparsely punctate metaventrite and by the characters of the male genitalia noted in the key.

Distribution. The species is recorded from throughout the North and South Islands, and from Stewart Island and its surrounding islets, New Zealand. Specimens are mainly collected in Nothofagus forests, but may be common in Leptospermum and podocarp forests (e.g., Stewart Island where no Nothofagus exists). They are rarely collected in the North Island.

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Habitus of Cyclaxyra politula (Broun, 1881). 1 – adult (scale bar = 1.0 mm); 2 – larva.

Figs. 10–13. Genitalia of Cyclaxyra poli- tula (Broun,1881).10–11–penisshowing basal strutand flagellum(10 –dorsal view, 11 – lateral view). 12–13 – female geni- talia (12 – ovipositor, 13 – spermatheca). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figs. 14–18. Details of larval Cyclaxyra politula (Broun, 1881). 14 – head capsule, dorsal view; 15 – head capsule, ventral view; 16 – mandible; 17 – apex of mandible; 18 – labium and maxilla.

Figs. 19–21. Frons of Cyclaxyra Broun, 1893. 19 – C. jelineki sp. nov.; 20–21 – C. politula (Broun, 1881) (20 – typical form; 21 – nearly impunctate form).

Figs. 26–29. Male genitalia of Cyclaxyra politula (Broun, 1881). 26 – tegmen, dorsal view; 27 – tegmen, lateral view; 28 – penis, dorsal view (basal strut omitted); 29 – spiculum gastrale. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.