Pselaphaulax pelorus Owens & Carlton, 2022

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2022, Revision of the New Zealand species of the Genus Pselaphaulax Reitter (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae: Pselaphini), Zootaxa 5155 (2), pp. 221-244 : 234

Pselaphaulax pelorus Owens & Carlton , sp. nov.

( Fig. 8a–c )

Type Material. Holotype: (male) New Zealand: MB: Pelorus Reserve Litter , 15 Sep 1964 JI Townsend, 64/93 ( NZAC) . Paratypes: (1 male, 2 females) holotype locality ( NZAC) .

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality in Pelorus Reserve.

Diagnosis. Of the species in group 1, only P. pelorus possesses a ventral process with serrations on the dorsal surface. Additionally, the elongate, curved processes associated with the elongate median lobe (4/5 length of basal bulb) are unique.

Description. MALE holotype. Integument: head, pronotum, elytra, abdomen, and appendages light brown, palpi lighter in color. Head: wide, width between eyes greater than ½ length of head from base of vertex to apex of rostrum. Eyes rounded, composed of 19 facets. Frontal margin of rostrum in dorsal view straight with sparse suberect setae. Gular mound modified, ovate, narrowed posteriorly and anteriorly, longer than wide; area of head posterior to gular mound flattened, slightly concave, nude. Maxillary palpomere IV as long as head, widened at base and distal 1/3, apical swelling roughened, v-shaped sensory patches present, margined by carinae. Thorax: pronotum with basal sulcus distinct, delimited by lateral antebasal foveae; median antebasal foveae margined by small longitudinal carinae, present in groove alongside basolateral pits. Mesoventrite with median shield bearing patch of spongeose setae in small concavity behind margin of procoxae. Metaventrite afoveate; metacoxae separated by extension of ventrite I. Legs unmodified. Elytra with two basal foveae, single sutural fovea; single discal stria, sutural striae present; sparse apical fringe of setae present. Abdomen: tergites of usual form for tribe. Ventrite II with median area slightly flattened throughout length of ventrite, apically with row of small tubercles. Genitalia: aedeagus asymmetrical. Median lobe broad, about 4/5 length of basal bulb; associated processes narrow, elongate, curved. Ventral process serrate on dorsal surface, about as long as median lobe. Parameres present, as long as median lobe.

Females. Integument, Head, Thorax, Abdomen: similar to male except eyes slightly smaller and ventrite II lacking median ovate depression and thickened area at apex.

Distribution. This species is known from the Pelorus and Wakamarina Valleys in Marlborough (MB) and Cobb Reservoir and Dun Mt. in Nelson (NN).

Material examined. Marlborough region: (2 males) New Zealand: MB: Pelorus Bridge Litter , 15 Sep 1964 JI Townsend, 64/95 ( LSAM); (1 male) New Zealand: MB: Pelorus Valley, 214 m Moss , 13 Jul 1965 JI Townsend, 65/388 ( LSAM); (1 male) New Zealand: MB: Wakamarina Valley Litter , 12 Aug 1966 AK Walker, 66/237 ( LSAM); (1 male) New Zealand : MB Ronga Saddle Moss, 13 Jul 1965 LPMarchant, 65/391( LSAM) . Nelson region: (1 female) New Zealand: NN: Cobb Reservoir, 1037 m Moss , 18 Sep 1964 TG Wood, 64/100 ( LSAM); (1 male) New Zealand: NN: Dun Mt., Third House 560 m, moss, 66/121 29 Mar 1966, JI Townsend ( LSAM); (1 male) NEW ZEALAND: So. Island , 70 km NE Nelson, Tennyson Inlet 480m, 27-v-1982, FMHD #82-604, Beech forest litter, S. Peck ( FMNH, EtOH) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Pselaphaulax pelorus, sp. nov. a) localities where specimens have been collected; b) aedeagus, lateral; c) aedeagus, dorsal.