Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke, 2011

(11) Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 115 View Figs , 123 View Figs , 127 View Figs , Map 3 View Map 3 )

Type Material. Holotype. ♂, with four labels: “New Zealand WN| Keith George Res| Silverstream [ 41°9.276′S, 175°0.918′E]| 11.7.92/ FMNH- INS 0000 019 786 / HOLOTYPE Agnosthaetus aequalis Clarke , ♂, design. D. Clarke 2011/ Permount”, in MONZ. Originally on card, remounted on point; aedeagus mounted on clear strip in Permount GoogleMaps . Paratypes. 18 specimens ( 10♂ 8♀). NEW ZEALAND: North Island: WA: Wellington, Eastbourne, Stella’ s Bush, Rona Bay , 20–29.iv.1937 , among dead leaves, 1♂, 1♀ (in MONZ; both specimens, and two others below, on same card, with label FMNH-INS 19800); WN: Brooklyn, Mitchell Street (#142), 200 m, 41°18.304′S, 174°45.415′E, 16.x.1995 GoogleMaps , under cut Macrocarpa branches, J.T. Nunn, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19685 (in JTNC); Karori Reservoir , 340 m, 41°18.639′S, 174°44.706′E, 15.iii.1997 GoogleMaps , beaten from Phormium colensoi, J.T. Nunn , 1♂, FMNH-INS 19864 (in JTNC); Karori Reservoir, Southern Boundary , 340 m, 41°18.639′S, 174°44.706′E, 1.x.1994 GoogleMaps , litter under Phormium tenax, J.T. Nunn , 1♀, FMNH- INS 19863 (in JTNC); Karori, Johnston Hill , 230 m, 41°16.697′S, 174°44.441′E, broadleaf forest, 29.iii.1945 GoogleMaps , among dead leaves, 1♂ (in MONZ; on same card as FMNH-INS 19800); Tararua Forest Park, Akatarawa Saddle , 464 m, 40°56.9′S, 175°6.577′E, 22.i.2008 GoogleMaps , KM231, sifted leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, & T. Buckley, 1♂ (in NZAC); Tinakori Hill , 41°16′5″S, 174°46′25″E, forest, 26.xi.1991 GoogleMaps , in forest soil sample, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19694, 2♀ FMNH-INS 19693, FMNH-INS 19695 (in JTNC); Tinakori Hill , 200 m, 41°16′5″S, 174°46′25″E, 12.vii.1992 GoogleMaps , 1♀, FMNH-INS 19790 (in OMNZ); 18.vii.1993 , in Phormium litter, J.T. Nunn, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19678 (in JTNC); 14.iii.1992 , leaf litter, 1♀, FMNH-INS 19788 (in MONZ); xi.1991 , stony soil sample, 1♀, 1♂, FMNH-INS 19789 (in MONZ in glycerine); Wellington, Wilton’ s Bush [=Wilton Bush, near suburb of Wilton], 41°15.96′S, 174°45.16′E, 11.iv.1938 GoogleMaps , 1♂, FMNH-INS 38387 (in BMNH); 22.iii.1944 , among dead leaves, 1♂ (in MONZ; on same card as FMNH- INS 19800); Wellington, Wilton’ s Bush , 110 m, ANMT 1150, 41°15.963′S, 174°45.159′E, mixed broadleafpodocarp forest, 24.xi.2005 GoogleMaps , FMHD#2005-030, berl., log & leaf litter, M. Thayer & A. Newton, 1♂, 1 larva (in FMNH) .

Diagnosis. Agnosthaetus aequalis may be distinguished from all other species of Agnosthaetus by the combination of pronotal basolateral carina present ( e.g., Figs. 72–74 View Figs , bp), metathoracic pleural ridge present (as in Fig. 24 View Figs , mp, but usually partly effaced), distinct spine at the middle of the labral apex in both sexes ( Fig. 115 View Figs ), and lack of microsculpture from the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head and thorax. The aedeagus is distinct from that of superficially similar species ( A. brouni , A. impressus , A. tumidus , A. bicolor , and A. zonatus ) most notably in lacking a distinction between the apicomedial and apicolateral lobes of the median lobe ( Fig. 123 View Figs , cf. Figs. 121–122 View Figs , 129–131 View Figs ).

Description. Color: Head and prothorax reddish brown, elytra usually much darker, nearly black in middle, abdomen lighter, but with segment VI nearly black. Head: Frontal ridge present ( cf. Fig. 12 View Figs , fr). Dorsum moderately densely punctate; with punctures distributed anteriorly, laterally, and posteriorly on disc, middle part impunctate. Punctures deep, well-defined; diameter greater than diameter of eye facet; interpuncture distance mostly much less than half puncture diameter. Dorsal microsculpture absent. Dorsal tentorial sulcus ( cf. Figs. 10–11 View Figs , dt) distinctly slit-like; width subequal to or less than puncture diameter. Sublongitudinal ridge ( cf. Fig. 10 View Figs , sr) distinct; not confused by smaller carinae or punctures; crest at antennal tubercle without distinct microsculpture. Area above and behind antenno-ocular carina ( Figs. 10–11 View Figs , arrow) more or less smooth, without subsidiary carinae, or with single subsidiary carina formed by confluent punctures. Antenno-ocular carina joining eye at or behind middle ( cf. Fig. 13 View Figs , ao). Temple ( Fig. 11 View Figs , tm) very short, much less than 50% EYL. Subocular surface with narrow welldemarcated band of microsculpture ( cf. Fig. 63 View Figs , bm). Labrum distinctly sexually dimorphic ( Fig. 115 View Figs ). Apical labral margin in males broadly emarginate medially, evenly dentate, with 21–27 teeth ( n =5), with medial anteriorly projecting tooth about twice length of paramedial teeth. Apical labral margin in females slightly concave medially; with 19–25 teeth ( n =7), medial tooth elongate, twice length of others. Adoral labral surface in males smooth, without subapical transverse ridge. Mandible more or less identical in both sexes; males and females with single, mesially directed tooth, males with weakly developed preapical spur ( cf. Fig. 190 View Figs , arrow); females without spur. Prothorax: Pronotum without microsculpture. Medial pronotal sulci anteriorly separate from and terminating posterior to anterior punctures ( cf. Fig. 78 View Figs ). Distance between medial sulci slightly greater posteriorly. Pronotal basolateral carina present, distinct ( cf. Fig. 76 View Figs , bp). Anterior pronotal puncture ( cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , ap) indistinct; medial puncture ( cf. Fig. 70 View Figs , mu) distinct; basal puncture ( Fig. 70 View Figs , bu) indistinct. Medial pronotal seta subequidistant from medial and lateral sulci ( cf. Fig. 78 View Figs ). Pronotal hypomeron ( Fig. 24 View Figs , hy) shiny, without microsculpture. Prosternum without microsculpture. Pterothorax: Elytron ( Fig. 23 View Figs , e) without microsculpture; with 2 macrosetae, not set in punctures; laterally with single ridge ( cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , ek). Mesothoracic epimeral region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , mer) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural region ( Fig. 24 View Figs , m) shiny, without microsculpture. Metathoracic pleural ridge present ( cf. Fig. 24 View Figs , mp), poorly developed and often partially effaced; metathoracic pleural groove ( Fig. 24 View Figs , gr) complete, continuing to or near to pleurocoxal articulation. Abdomen: Abdominal vestiture long, dorsally with radiating fans of setae either side of midline and laterally. Aedeagus ( Fig. 123 View Figs ): “ Type A” (see description on p. 8). Apical part of median lobe with rounded lateral lobes, produced into broadly acute, sharp point. Both apicolateral and apicomedial setae short ( Fig. 127 View Figs ). Paramere extending to about level of median lobe apex; lamellate, in lateral view distinctly broad along most of length; with apical part curving ventrally; in dorsal view with outer side gently convex; with 4 large setae near inner edge of apex.

Etymology. The epithet aequalis is a Latin adjective meaning like or same, referring to the unusual presence of an enlarged, medial labral tooth in both sexes (usually only females of this species-group have such a tooth).

Distribution. ( Map 3 View Map 3 ). North Island: WN.

Biology and Ecology. Habitat: podocarp-broadleaf forest. Specimens have been taken from diverse leaf litter and in association with the megaherb Phormium tenax J. R. Forst. and G. Forst. (Agavaceae) . Phenology: year-round. Elevation: 110– 464 m.

Remarks. In addition to the diagnostic characters, most specimens examined also have the elytral disc incompletely darkly pigmented.