Pselaphaulax pilifrons (Broun), 1914, 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 : 234-237

Pselaphaulax pilifrons (Broun), 1914 , comb. nov.

Pselaphus pilifrons ( Broun 1914a: 93)

Pselaphus trifoveatus ( Broun 1914b: 172) , synon. nov.

( Fig. 9a–c )

Type Material Examined. After examining the type series of Pselaphus pilifrons and P. trifoveatus in the NHM and reviewing the original species descriptions of Broun, we determined the two species to be identical; we hereby synonymize them and transfer them to the genus Pselaphaulax . In the case of P. trifoveatus , lectotype designation is necessary to fix the taxon to a name bearing type. Broun did not specifically identify the holotype specimen, and the syntype series includes multiple species

Pselaphus trifoveatus: The following specimen is here designated the lectotype: (male) 3538.// New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482//Mc Clennans 25-3-1912 (lectotype). The following four specimens are included in the syntype series in the NHM and have been determined to represent additional specimens of P. trifoveatus , and are here designated as paralectotypes: (1 male) TYPE (red/orange label)// 3538. ♂ // New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482// Mc Clennans 25-3-1912; (2 females) 3538. ♀ // New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482// Rakaia 9-8-1912; (1 female) New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482// Mc Clennans 25-3-1912. These specimens match the manuscript number, “3583”, locality “McClennans Bush and Raikaia Gorge”, and collecting date, 1912, mentioned in Broun’s original description of the syntype series (1914b).

Pselaphus pilifrons : (1 female) 3402// Tisbury 9/10/10// Pselaphus pilifrons // TYPE

(red/orange label) (Holotype). This specimen matches the manuscript number, “3402”, as well as the locality, “Tisbury, Invercargill” of the one specimen mentioned by Broun in the original description (1914b), so this specimen was determined to represent the holotype of P. pilifrons .

No other specimens are included in the type series in the NHM.

Diagnosis. Pselaphaulax pilifrons may primarily be separated from the other species in group 1 by the reduction of the ventral process with a short, blunt apex. The well-developed fleshy process associated with the median lobe is also unique among species in the group.

Redescription. MALE lectotype. 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 weakly emarginate with sparse suberect setae. Gular mound modified, slightly longer than wide, glabrous; 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, distal swollen area smooth, v-shaped sensory patches present, margined by carinae. Thorax: pronotum with basal sulcus faint, 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; discal stria and 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 margined by short, sparse setae. Genitalia: aedeagus asymmetrical. Median lobe distally curved downwards, protruding from fleshy dorsal extension. Ventral process blunt, shortened, barely extending beyond basal bulb. 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. Pselaphaulax pilifrons is known from a number of collecting events in Mid Canterbury (MC) and the lectotype collection locality in Southland (SL).

Material examined. Middle Canterbury region: (3 males, 1 female) New Zealand: MC: Foot of Mt. Somers Moss , 28 Jul 1966 AD Lowe, 66/220 ( LSAM, one m slide-mounted); (1 female) New Zealand: MC: Foot of Mt. Somers Moss , 28 Jul 1966 AD Lowe, 66/219 ( LSAM); (1 male) New Zealand: MC: McClennan's Bush Moss , 28 Jul 1966 AD Lowe, 66/221 ( LSAM); (1 female) New Zealand: MC: Mt. Hutt, McClennan's Bush Moss , 11 Dec 1973 G Kuschel, 73/142 ( LSAM); (2 males, 1 female) NEW ZEALAND MC Mt Alford 1067m NW of Methven 2 Feb 1976 G.W. Ramsay // Litter 76/16 ( NZAC); (1 female) NEW ZEALAND MC Peel Forest Park Blandswood 7 Nov 1979 J.C.Watt // Litter 79/148 ( NZAC); (1 female) NEW ZEALAND MC Sharplin Falls Bowyers stream 610m Mt Somers 2 Feb 1976 // G.W. Ramsay Litter and moss 76/18 ( NZAC); (2 males) Pudding Hill, nr. Methven , Canterbury // Coll. T. Hall 13.4.1915 // 3538// T.Broun ( NZAC); (5 females) Pudding Hill, nr. Methven Canterbury //3538 Pselaphus trifoveatus Broun ( NZAC); (6 specimens) 21.i.52, moss, Riccarton Bush, Christchurch, S.I. ( NZAC); (3 specimens) 13.x.51 moss Riccarton Bush, Christchurch, S.I. ( NZAC); (2 specimens) 9.x.51 moss, 7 miles Christchurch (Bell-Bush) S.I. ( NZAC); (2 specimens) 31.i.52 moss K. Valley, Cant., S.I. ( NZAC); (3 specimens) 17.i.52, moss n. Ashley Gorge Cant. S.I. ( NZAC); (1 male) Ex Lucerne Lincoln College , N.Z. ex: (turf) 10 pm 3 10. 1967 Coll. R. Macfarlane ( NZAC); (1 male) Oakden 23-9-13// 3538// T.Broun Collector ( NZAC); (2 males, 1 female) Mt. Algidus 9.10.1913 // T.Broun Collection ( NZAC); (1 female) Algidus 25-9-13// 3538// T.Broun Collection ( NZAC) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pselaphaulax pilifrons (Broun), comb. nov.. a) localities where specimens have been collected; b) aedeagus, lateral; c) aedeagus, dorsal.