Eupines (Byraxis) complector, Shen & Leschen, 2020

Shen, Jia-Wei & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2020, Revision of Eupines King of New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Goniaceritae), Zootaxa 4777 (1), pp. 1-84 : 19

Eupines (Byraxis) complector sp. nov.

Fig. 10 ; map Fig. 49

Diagnosis: Head with vertexal foveae punctiform; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A8 disc-shaped, A9 largest, slightly longer than A10, with subapical impression at ventral side and bearing a conspicuous spine at middle, A10 conical and slightly impressed at ventral side. Abdominal ventrite 2 with pair of barely visible discal protuberances, inserted with strongly curved small apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of long and acute median struts, curved towards each other, about two-thirds of ventral length. Protrochanters with short and acute ventral spine, slightly shorter than one-third of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified.

Description: Body length 1.50–1.60 mm; body colour reddish brown with lighter coloured tibiae and tarsi. Head wider than long; frons not narrowed at end, about three-fourths width of head at eye level; eyes well developed, conspicuously prominent in dorsal view, with about 35 facets; vertexal foveae punctiform; antennal tubercles moderately developed; postantennal notches broad and shallow; postantennal cavities small, about half length of antennal tubercles in dorsal view; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 unmodified, A8 disc-shaped, A9 largest, slightly longer than A10, with subapical impression at ventral side and bearing a conspicuous spine at middle, A10 conical and slightly impressed at ventral side. Pronotum as long as wide, about as wide as head at eye level; lacking lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra about as long as wide, widest at middle; humeral calli and sutural stria barely visible. Abdomen with tergite 1 about twice length of tergite 2; ventrite 2 with pair of barely visible discal protuberances, inserted with strongly curved small apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of long and acute median struts, curved towards each other, about two-thirds of ventral length. Legs with protrochanters modified with short and acute ventral spine, slightly shorter than one-third of protrochanteral width; protibiae and mesotibiae unmodified. Aedeagus about 0.32 mm long, with slender parameres, curved towards each other, bent downwards in lateral view, with three pairs of long subapical setae and pair of short apical setae; median lobe large, with four entwined sclerites, left one straight and short, right one long and wide, slightly wider than parameres, middle two longer than outer two in dorsal view, strongly entwined together and slightly narrower than parameres.

Comments: This species is most similar to E. (B.) coalita by having a similarly modified A9 but can be separated by having A5 transverse ( Fig. 10B ) (it is longer than wide in E. (B.) coalita ).

Distribution: North Island. ND, TO, BP.

Etymology: This specific epithet means ‘entwined’ in Latin, referring to the strongly entwined sclerites in aedeagus of this species.

Type material ( NZAC): Holotype. ♂, specimen entire, point-mounted: “ NEW ZEALAND, ND, Poor Knights Is., Aorangi , ridge to Oneho Hill, 17 Nov 1981 // J.C. Watt Sifted litter 81/141”. Paratypes . 10 ex.: ND : 1, Poor Knights Is. , Aorangi, 11/Nov/1981, J.C. Watt // Beaten from Flowering Myoporum laetum ; 2, Poor Knights Is., Tawhiti Rahi, 01/Dec/1980 G. Kuschel // Sifted litter and rotten wood on plateau, 80/130; 2, Poor Knights Is., Tawhiti Rahi, 02–10/Dec/1980, M.F. Tocker // Pan traps at edge of stagnant stream; 1, Poor Knights Is., Tawhiti Rahi, 04–10/Dec/1980, R.H. Kleinpaste // Malaise trap in bush; BP : 1, Kaimai Ra. , 427 m, Leyland Tramline , 22/ Sep/1981, B.M. May // litter 81/92; 1, Orete Forest , Te Puia Hut Bush, 15/Sep/1992, G. Hall & // R.C. Henderson, sifted litter 92/50; TO : 1, Ohakune Jubilee Park , Bush Walk , 05/Nov/2004, A.C. Eyles // litter & moss, bark of live tree & fallen logs; 1, Waipunga River nr. Fall, 14/Mar/1980, C.F. Butcher // litter and mosses 80/32 .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Diagnostic characters of E. (B.) complector sp. n. A) Habitus. B) Antenna, in dorsal view. C) Same, in ventral view. D) Protrochanter. E) Ventrite 2. F) Ventrite 6. G) Aedeagus, in dorsal view. H) Same, in lateral view. I) Same, in ventral view. Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B–E = 0.2 mm, F–I = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 49. Geographic distributions of E. (B.) anisarthra (Broun, 1914), E. (B.) bisulcifrons (Broun, 1914), E. (B.) brevis sp. n., E. (B.) caesta sp. n., E. (B.) carinata sp. n., E. (B.) coalita sp. n., E. (B.) complector sp. n. and E. (B.) conspicua (Broun, 1893) in New Zealand.