Rhexius (Rhexius) amyae Owens and Carlton, 2016

Owens, Brittany E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2016, Collecting in the Museum: New Species, Taxonomic Changes, and Range Extensions of Euplectite Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Southeastern United States, The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (3), pp. 611-633 : 611-633

Rhexius (Rhexius) amyae Owens and Carlton , new species

( Fig. 13a–c )

Type Material. Holotype, male: USA: TN: Blount Co. GSMNP Abrams Falls Rd. 2424399 3946695 920m 11 Jun. 2005 LSAM 0092198 . ( FMNH) . Paratypes, one male, one female: USA: TN : Blount Co. GSMNP White Oak Sink: F. I. T . 251399 3946695 920m 11 Jun. 2005 ATishechkin LSAM 0092305 / LSAM 0092301 . (male, LSAM) . Tennessee: Sevier Co. GSMNP, W Old Settlers Trhd. 35°42.46′N 83°22.9′W Forest litter. 6 Oct 2005 D. Chouljenko, M. Gimmel & A. Heppermann LSAM 0091905 . (female, LSAM).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the first author’ s mother, Amy Owens, whose years of friendship and encouragement have been of immeasurable value and made the current study possible.

Diagnosis. Externally, the presence of a deep impression on ventrite III with the vertical shelf extending to the apex of ventrite II distinguishes this species from R. substriatus , R. stephani , and R. ferrugineus . Additionally, the aedeagus ( Fig. 11c ), bears a ventral lobe with a semicircular, internal fold on the right side, and the median lobe has three distal extensions that distinguish this species from all others in the genus.

Description. Male. Measurements: HL = 0.20 mm, HW = 0.30 mm; PL = 0.25 mm, PW = 0.32 mm; EL = 0.48 mm, EW = 0.48 mm; A1–6, respectively, = 0.07, 0.16, 0.12, 0.09, 0.09, 0.04 mm; An1–11, respectively, = 0.13, 0.04, 0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.04, 0.03, 0.09 mm; MP1–4, respectively, = 0.01, 0.02, 0.01, 0.06 mm; GL = 0.41 mm, GW = 0.25 mm; ML = 2.2 mm. Integument: Head, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen light brown, appendages light brown to yellow. Entire surface covered with semierect pubescence. Pubescence in gular area longer and denser than on other parts of body, some setae capitate. Abdomen: Ventrite III with basolateral impressions, each impression with vertical shelf at base extending ventrally to the apex of ventrite II. Penial plate rounded-ovate. Other ventrites unmodified. Genitalia: Aedeagus asymmetrical. Ventral lobe flattened with patch of distal setae, bearing a semicircular internal fold on right side. Median lobe straight and expanded distally into 3 separate processes with middle process bearing patch of setae apically. Basal bulb rounded, dorsal diaphragm obvious.

Female. Integument, head, thorax, and abdomen similar to those of male except eyes smaller with about 45 facets, abdominal ventrite III unmodified, and abdominal ventrite VII with ovate depression in basal 1/2.

Distribution. This species is known from four localities within Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee: three in Blount County and one in Sevier County.

Figures

Figs. 13–15. 13) Rhexius amyae - a) Habitus, dorsal view, b) Habitus, lateral view, c) Aedeagus, dorsal view;

Fig. 11. Pseudactium jaitlynum, aedeagus, dorsal view.