Lionepha australerasa, Maddison, David R. & Sproul, John S., 2020

LIONEPHA AUSTRALERASA MADDISON, SP. NOV.

( FIGS 1B, 15C, D, 11C, D, 14B, 20)

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Holotype ♂ ( OSAC), herein designated, labelled: ‘ USA: California: Amador Co., Oyster Lake, Silver Lake Cpgd , 2205 m, 38.6711°N 120.1186°W, 31 May 2012. DRM 12.060. D.R. Maddison’, ‘ David R. Maddison DNA3844 DNA Voucher’ [pale green paper] GoogleMaps , ‘ HOLOTYPE Lionepha australerasa David R. Maddison’ [partly handwritten, on red paper], ‘ Oregon State Arthropod Collection OSAC _0002000003 [matrix code]’ [printed on both sides of white paper]. Genitalia mounted in Euparal in between coverslips pinned with specimen; extracted DNA stored separately. GenBank accession numbers for DNA sequences of the holotype are KY 246650, KY246686, KY246720, KY246801, KY246842, MN401912, MN401959 and MN402263 .

Habitat: In the Oregon Coast Range, restricted to high-elevation grasslands (e.g. Fig. 4F), where they can be abundant under small rocks in the spring before the rains end, or early fall after the rains start. At Lost Prairie Campground in the Cascades of Oregon, found at the edge of snow melt in an open, grassy field; on Mt. St. Helens in Washington, found on the open pumice plain. Although typically found in open habitats away from

Paratypes (25): One paratype from the type locality ( OSAC) , as well as 24 specimens from the following localities: USA: California: Tulare Co., Sequoia Nat. Park , 6000’, Huckleberry Meadow (2, MZLU) ; USA: California: Amador Co., Carson Spur, 2430 m, 38.7047°N 120.1055°W (3, OSAC) GoogleMaps ; USA, California, Amador County, Highway 88 at Carson Spur, 2430 m, 38.70459°N 120.10554°W (1, CAS) GoogleMaps ; USA: California: El Dorado Co., Martin Meadow , 2305 m, 38.6958°N 120.1223°W (1, OSAC) GoogleMaps ; California: El Dorado Co., Strawberry Valley (1, CAS) ; California: El Dorado Co., 0.8 miles S of Sciots Camp at Strawberry Creek , 38.78329 120.14628 1745 m (1, CAS: CASENT1043929 About CAS ) GoogleMaps ; USA: California: El Dorado Co., trail south of Lily Lake, 2012 m, 38.874°N 120.0804°W (1, OSAC) GoogleMaps ; USA: California: Placer Co., creek in Homewood Canyon , 1930 m, 39.0783°N 120.1610°W (3, OSAC) GoogleMaps ; USA: California: Tehama Co., Nanny Creek , Lassen NF, 1585m, 40.3696°N 121.5607°W (2, OSAC) GoogleMaps ; USA: California: Tehama Co., tributary of Mill Creek at Hwy 89, 1996 m, 40.4210°N 121.5333°W (7, OSAC, USNM) GoogleMaps ; USA: Oregon: Klamath Co., Munson Creek , Crater Lake NP, 1981 m, 42.8987°N 122.1343°W (2, OSAC) GoogleMaps .

Type locality: USA: California: Amador Co., Oyster Lake, Silver Lake Campground , 2205 m, 38.6711°N 120.1186°W GoogleMaps

Etymology: The epithet is derived from the Latin australis, southern, and erasum , expunged, which is also the specific epithet of a similar species, Lionepha erasa . This species is a southern, close relative of Lionepha erasa .

Diagnosis: A small, dark species with slightly transverse elytral microsculpture ( Fig. 15C, D). The prothorax is small [PW/EL 0.438 –0.466, average 0.45 (N = 9), <0.46 in most specimens] and relatively parallel-sided ( Fig. 1B), with less obtuse hind angles. Aedeagus with straighter ventral margin, with apex not expanded ( Fig. 11C, D). Internal sac with distinct nub; sclerite CH 1 as in Figure 14B. Dorsal microtrichial patch of bursa relatively small, triangular, narrower anteriorly (as in Fig. 9B). The combination of transverse elytral microsculpture and having a nub in the aedeagus is unique within Lionepha .

Most similar to L. erasa , but also difficult to distinguish externally from L. probata . Compared to L. erasa , L. australerasa is darker, with tibiae piceous or black in most specimens. Sculpticells of elytra more transverse. Prothorax narrower with less rounded sides, with posterior regions more parallel-sided, and hind angle in most specimens less obtuse. Striae of elytra slightly stronger, with larger, more distinct punctures; striae 4 and 5 usually evident and occasionally outer ones as well. The two species share the same overall shape of the aedeagus ( Fig. 11A–D), especially the straight, ventral margin and unexpanded apex. L. erasa and L. australerasa are not known to be sympatric, but their ranges may overlap in the Cascades of Oregon. Most easily distinguished externally from L. probata by the transverse microsculpture and the notably narrower prothorax, which is also more parallel-sided, but some L. probata approach L. australerasa in this regard. L. australerasa has a straighter ventral margin of the aedeagus, without an expanded apex. Females of L. australerasa have a smaller dorsal microtrichial patch on the bursa than those of L. probata . The internal sac sclerites, including the size of the nub and shape of sclerite CH 1, are distinctive in each of the three species ( Fig. 14A–C).

Although not closely related, L. australerasa is most similar in external form to the sympatric L. lindrothi , in that they both have dark legs, slightly or moderately transverse microsculpture on the elytra (although males have somewhat or notably effaced microsculpture, making the shape of sculpticells difficult to observe), and normal-sized or narrow prothoraces. They are difficult to distinguish externally, although L. australerasa has less rounded prothoracic margins and more effaced microsculpture. The lack of a nub in the internal sac of L. lindrothi and the shape of sclerite CH 1 ( Fig. 14) allows males to be distinguished; females can be distinguished by the triangular, anteriorly narrowed dorsal microtrichial patch in L. australerasa (as in Fig. 9B) compared to the rectangular dorsal microtrichial patch of L. lindrothi ( Fig. 9D, F).

Additional characteristics: Body length 3.63–4.14 mm. Antenna piceous. Legs with femora piceous, with tibiae piceous or rufopiceous, rarely rufous. Hind wings full-sized. Chromosomes of male 24 + X ( Table 5).

Note: Referred to as Lionepha ‘Carson Spur’ in Sproul & Maddison (2017). Specimens of this species were identified as ‘ Bembidion erasum ’ by Erwin & Kavanaugh (1981).

Distribution: Known only from the Sierra Nevada of California and Crater Lake , Oregon ( Fig. 20); not known from north of 42.9°N. A relatively high-elevation species, found from 1570 to 2925 m elevation. Specimens have been found in May, June and July.

Habitat: As with the previous species, this species is not closely tied to flowing water, being found on damp loam in forests or their clearings. At the type locality and at Carson Spur found near small patches of damp soil in an open forest, likely where snow had recently melted. At Crater Lake , Oregon, found at night in damp soil under bushes in the small flood plain of Munson Creek.