Picrotus thoracicus Sharp, 1886

Picrotus thoracicus Sharp, 1886

( Figs 3–4 View Fig View Fig )

Picrotus thoracicus Sharp, 1886: 395 . = Picrotus sanguineus Broun, 1893: 1098 . Synonymy by LESCHEN

(1996: 606). = Picrotus pensus Broun, 1910: 40 . Synonymy by LESCHEN (1996: 606).

Material examined (127; AMNZ, LUNZ, NZAC). NORTH ISLAND: WO: 1, Maungatautari, 20 Nov - 17 Dec 2010, C. Watts, 37°58.133′S, 175°33.683′E, AMNZ 86125; 1 ( AMNZ), Mount Maungatautari track, Tari Road end, 1 Sept 2003,rotten wood,S.E.Thorpe,[38°0′S, 175°34.8′E];

1, Mount Pirongia, Grey Road track, 30 Jan 2003, on underside of log, S.E. Thorpe, [37°58.145′S, 175°8.826′E], NZAC 04234610; 1, Mount Pirongia, Mahaukura Track, 18 Nov 2005, J. Nunn Collection, [37°59.552′S, 175°7.282′E], NZAC 04234525 2 ( LUNZ), Mount Pirongia, track at end of Waite Road, 6 Jan 2006, under bark dead branch on ground, S.E. Thorpe, [37°57.628′S, 175°8.162′E]; 7, Mount Pirongia, track from end of Waite Road, 8 Jan 2002, under bark of dead branch on ground, S.E. Thorpe, 37°58.2′S, 175°7.8′E, AMNZ 47938, AMNZ 47939, AMNZ 47940, AMNZ 47941, AMNZ 47942, AMNZ 47943, AMNZ 47944; 1, Mount Pirongia, Waite Road track, 13 Dec 2004, under logs, S.E. Thorpe, 37°57.867′S, 175°8.067′E, AMNZ 67397; 1, W of Otorohanga, 6 Sep 1942, C.E. Clarke, 38°11.1′S, 175°9.017′E, AMNZ 30942. TK: 1, Tahora Scenic Reserve, west end of road tunnel, sifted wood and leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, 39°1.218′S, 174°47.968′E, KM196, NZAC 03019739. TO: 1, Mt Ruapehu,Rangataua Forest, 15 Dec 1981, beech leaf litter, K.A.J. Wise, 39°25.6598S, 175°27.207′E, AMNZ 38132; 1, Waituhi Saddle, 2 Sep 1993, decayed wood, J. Nunn Collection, [38°51.859′S, 175°32.733′E], NZAC 04114151. GB: 1 ( FRNZ), Putere, Site 8495 – W, 16 Jan 13 - 13 Feb 2013, M. Scott, 38°56.39′S, 176°55.004′E; 1 ( FRNZ), Putere, Site 8661- 16 Jan 13 - 13 Feb 2013, E M. Scott 39°1.835′S, 177°9.439′E. RI: 1, Kahuterawa, 27 Apr 1961, R.A. Cumber, [40°30.023′S, 175°35.268′E], NZAC 04238382; 1, Mataroa near Taihape, Paengaroa Scientific Reserve, 30 Mar 2006, T. Buckley, D. Seldon, R. Hoare, [39°38′S, 175°43′E], RL1106, NZAC 04114145;1, Mataroa near Taihape,Paengaroa Scientific Reserve, 30 Mar 2006, T. Buckley, D. Seldon, R. Hoare, 39°38′S, 175°43′E, RL1105, NZAC 04234436;1, Ruahine State Forest Park, Oroua River, 19 Jan 2008, leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, [39°57.66′S, 176°0.841′E], KM211, NZAC 04136820; 6, RI, Ruahine State Forest Park, Oroua River, 19 Jan 2008, sifted leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, 39°57.66′S, 176°0.841′E, KM211, NZAC 03018640, NZAC 04114148, NZAC 04114150, NZAC 04234441, NZAC 04234520, NZAC 04234534; 1, Wharite Summit, 23 Oct 1994, litter, J. Nunn Collection, [40°15.274′S, 175°51.454′E], NZAC 04234523. HB: 1, Wairarapa, Waewaepa Range, 4 Sep 1965, litter, J.I. Townsend, [40°25.859′S, 176°3.157′E], NZAC 04238601. WI: 4, Manawatu, Pohangina Field Centre, 13 Jan - 10 Feb 2004, I. Johnston, 40°2.917′S, 175°57.317′E, AMNZ 72127, AMNZ 72129, AMNZ 72130, AMNZ 72131, AMNZ 72132; 3, Manawatu, Pohangina Field Centre, 16 Dec 2003 - 13 Jan 2004, I. Johnston, 40°2.917′S, 175°57.317′E, AMNZ 72126, AMNZ 72128. WN: 2, Akatarawa Saddle, 17 Mar 1978, litter, S.B. Peck, [40°56.907′S, 175°6.502′E], NZAC 04238561, NZAC 04238623; 3, Akatarawa Saddle, 7 Mar 1978, litter, S.B. Peck, J. Peck, [40°56.851′S, 175°6.485′E], NZAC 04234519, NZAC 04234524, NZAC 04234539; 1, Akatarawa, Kakanui Park, 9 Mar 1978, bracket fungi, S.B. Peck, J. Peck, [40°57.891′S, 175°8.123′E], NZAC 04114157; 6, Kaitoke Regional Park, Pakuratahi Forks, 15 Apr 2005, leaf litter, R. Leschen, C. McGuiness, [41°3.374′S, 175°11.698′E], RL975, NZAC 04134363, NZAC 04224147, NZAC 04224217, NZAC 04233895, NZAC 04234035, NZAC 04272539; 2, Kapiti Island, Wilkinson Track, 21 Jan 2008, under/in dead wood, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, 40°51.145′S, 174°55.722′E, KM226, NZAC 03018789, NZAC 03019129; 1, Levin, Waiopehu Scientific Reserve, 16 Nov 2015, in tawa litter, J. Nunn, [40°38.338′S, 175°19.771′E], NZAC 04235146; 1, Lower Hutt, Woburn Reserve, 10 Sep 1994, J. Nunn Collection, [41°13.176′S, 174°51.817′E], NZAC 04234576; 3, Manawatu District Balance Bridge, 19 Dec 1948, leaf mould, A.E. Brookes Collection, [40°20.244′S, 175°49.1′E], NZAC 04238331, NZAC 04238384, NZAC 04238504; 1, Rimutaka Forest Park, Graces Stream Track, 15 Aug 1983, litter, J. Nunn Collection, [41°20.482′S, 174°55.779′E], NZAC 04234545; 6, Rimutuka Hill, Rimutuka Summit Track, 23 Jan 2008, sifted wood and leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, [41°6.897′S, 175°13.7′E], KM240, NZAC 03018933, NZAC 04233873, NZAC 04233952, NZAC 04233923, NZAC 04233960, NZAC 04233970; 4, Rimutuka Summit Track, 15 Apr 2005, leaf litter, R. Leschen, C. McGuiness, [41°6.897′S, 175°13.7′E], RL974, NZAC 04233533, NZAC 04233539, NZAC 04233548, NZAC 04234023; 2, Summit Akatarawa Road, 27 Mar 1983, litter, J. Nunn Collection, [40°56.851′S, 175°6.485′E], NZAC 04114149, NZAC 04234452; 2, Summit Akatarawa Road, 19 Aug 1991, J. Nunn Collection, [40°56.851′S, 175°6.485′E], NZAC 04234444, NZAC 04234455; 1, Tararua Forest Park 4 km along Waiotauru Road, 16 Oct 1991, J. Nunn Collection, [40°56.765′S, 175°6.907′E], NZAC 04234448; 2, Tararua Forest Park Track, Akatarawa Saddle, 17 Jan 1984, litter, H.P. McColl, [40°56.902′S, 175°6.487′E], NZAC 04238347, NZAC 04238503; 1, Tararua Forest Park Track, Akatarawa Saddle, 8km from SH, 17 Jan 1984, litter, H.P. McColl, [40°56.851′S, 175°6.485′E], NZAC 04235251; 1, Tararua Forest Park, Akatarawa Saddle, 22 Jan 2008, sifted leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, 40°56.9′S, 175°6.577′E, KM231, NZAC 03020463; 1, Tararua Forest Park, Kakanui, 21 Aug 1976, J. Nunn Collection, [40°57.868′S, 175°8.151′E], NZAC 04234447; 4, Tararua Forest Park, Mount Holdsworth, 29 Jan 2008, sifted wood and leaf litter, K. Marske, R.Leschen,T.Buckley, [40°54.408′S, 175°28.432′E], KM273, NZAC 03020609, NZAC 04135036, NZAC 04136059, NZAC 04138921; 1, Tararua Forest Park,Waiohine Gorge, Totara Flats Track, 25 Jan 2008, sifted wood and leaf litter, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, 40°59.628′S, 175°23.28′E, KM255, NZAC 03019253; 1, Tararua Forest Park,Waiotauru Road, 5 Jul 1999, E.Spurr, [40°58.179′S, 175°15.647′E], NZAC 04238619; 1, Tararua Forest Park, Waiotauru Road, 11 Jul 2000, E.Spurr,[40°58.179′S, 175°15.647′E], NZAC 04230219; 1, Tararua Forest Park, Waiotauru Road, 22 Oct 1991, in litter under silver beech, J. Nunn Collection, [40°58.179′S, 175°15.647′E], NZAC 04234679; 1, Tararua Range, Mangaore, Mangahao, 20 Jan 2008, dead wood, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, [40°34.456′S, 175°26.961′E], KM223, NZAC 04139573; 1, Tararua Range, Mount Holdsworth, 16 Apr 2005, leaf litter, R. Leschen, [40°52.46′S, 175°25.043′E], RL976, NZAC 04224175. WA: 2, Fensham Scenic Reserve, Carterton, 27 Jan 2008, ex freshly dead pohutukawa, at night, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, [40°59.594′S, 175°30.141′E], KM265, NZAC 04137404, NZAC 04138376; 6, Puketoi Range, near Mount Butters, 28 Jan 2008, forest patch in gully below road, sifted leaf litter and rotten wood, K. Marske, R. Leschen, T. Buckley, [40°33.723′S, 176°3.364′E], KM271, NZAC 03018630, NZAC 04135012, NZAC 04137696, NZAC 04137789, NZAC 04139191, NZAC 04139996; 1, S Rimutaka, White Stone Trig, 12 July 1992, black beech litter, K. Stokes, [41°19.383′S, 175°6.069′E], NZAC 04114155. SOUTH ISLAND: NN: N Nelson nr Riwaka, Takaka Hill, 5 Mar 1957, Nothofagus bark, R. Crowson, [41°0′18”S,172°53′26”], NZAC 04272527; 1, Nelson, 14 Apr 1943, E.S. Gourlay, [41°16.355′S,

173°17.884′E], NZAC 04238498; 1, Nelson, Canaan, 18 Apr 1966, under bark Nothofagus menziesii, J.C. Watt , [40°56.582′S, 172°53.349′E], NZAC 04238616;11, Takaka, near Riwaka, 5 Mar 1957, Nothofagus bark, R. Crowson, [41°2.875′S, 172°55.359′E], NZAC 04182083, NZAC 04238615, NZAC 04238342, NZAC 04238344, NZAC 04238373, NZAC 04238383, NZAC 04238603, NZAC 04238607, NZAC 04238609, NZAC 04238614; 2, Upper Maitai, 14 Feb 1943, E.S. Gourlay, [41°17.583′S, 173°22.157′E], NZAC 04182057, NZAC 04238341; 1, Maitai, Wooded Park, Roadge S Branch, 14 Feb 1943, dead beech, [41°20.135′S, 173°20.895′E], NZAC 04238372. SD: 3, SD, Maud Island, 4-6 Mar 1953,E.S.Gourlay,[41°1.498′S, 173°53.694′E], NZAC 04238545,

NZAC 04238604, NZAC 04238617;3, Mount Stokes Track,Mount Stokes Scenic Reserve., 19 Feb 2009, sifted leaf litter and rotten wood, K. Marske, R. Leschen, 41°5.253′S, 174°7.994′E, KM320, NZAC 03019183, NZAC 04234445, NZAC 04234446; 1, Port Underwood Saddle, 3 Dec 1969, litter, J.I. Townsend, [41°17.359′S, 174°6.637′E], NZAC 04238339; 1, Port Underwood Saddle, 3 km SSE Curious Cove, sifted litter, R. Leschen, M. Anderson, T. Buckley, Y. Chen, 41°16.423′S, 174°7.195′E, RL2241, NZAC 03038715; 1, Port Underwood Saddle, 3 km SSE Curious Cove, 15 Nov 1999, sifted leaf litter,R.Leschen, 41°17′S, 174°5′E, RL480, NZAC 04114152; 1, Stephens Island, 14-28 Jan 1933, E.S. Gourlay, [40°40.056′S, 174°0.019′E], NZAC 04238602.

Diagnosis. Picrotus thoracicus is easily distinguished from P. wairarapa sp. nov. by the presence of a row of foveolate punctures with a broad medial puncture at the base of the pronotal disc and the prosternal process which narrows and is apically truncate.

Redescription. Length 1.25–1.35 mm. Colour of body dark to light reddish-brown, mouthparts, legs, and antennae lighter. Surfaces of body glabrous. Dorsal setae golden, sparse, decumbent. Ventral surfaces with sparse, recumbent and semi-recumbent setae, longer in length compared with those on dorsum; finely to shallowly punctate on most surfaces, punctation of head dense, areolate, central disc of metaventrite glabrous with large punctures similar to those of prosternum, punctation of abdominal ventrites 1 to 4 more dense and impressed than metaventrite, on ventrite 5 denser and smaller towards apex, which lacks a patch of posteriorly-directed setae. Head smooth with large, ovate punctures with shiny interspaces, punctures above eye forming a transverse row; vertex without ridge; transverse ridge above antennal insertions present, clypeal constriction about as wide as length of antennomere 1. Eye ovate, contacting antennal cavity, consisting of about 12 facets. Antennomere 2 globular, as long as wide, antennomere 3 subconical, longer and as wide as 2, widths of antennomeres 3–8 equal, antennomeres 4–8 similar, antennomere 4 shorter than 3, antennomere 9 scarcely wider than 8 and narrower than 10 and 11, antennomere 10 transverse and wider than 11, antennomere 11 about as long as 10, shorter than 9 and 10 combined. Pronotum transverse, pronotal length/width ratio ~0.72, widest in basal third; lateral edges parallel in basal half and convergent anteriorly; anterior angles weakly projecting anteriorly (not extending anterior to cervical foramen of prothorax); anterior part of the lateral furrow not pinched; pronotal disc impunctate, basally impressed with a row of foveolate punctures and a broad medial puncture; posterolateral angles narrowly rounded, acute, and projecting posteriorly; posterior margin strongly sinuate with weak scutellar lobe. Prothoracic hypomeron fused to prosternum, not separated by suture. Prosternal process with well-developed lateral marginal beads, with narrow longitudinal depression medially, process not expanded apically behind procoxae, apex narrowed and then truncate, width 0.63 longer than length of prosternum; procoxal cavity without anterolateral notch. Scutellar shield mostly hidden except for extreme apex. Elytra about 0.98 times as long as combined width, about 1.05 times width of pronotum at greatest width, about 1.37 times length of pronotum; surface impunctate; parasutural stria absent. Tarsi moderately slender, tarsomere 5 as wide as preceding tarsomeres in lateral view; mesotarsomeres 1–3 of subequal to equal lengths, with 1 slightly shorter than 2, 3 and 4 equal, 4 shorter than 3, mesotarsomere 5 equal to 1–4 combined. Abdominal ventrites free; first abdominal ventrite with intercoxal process that is weakly curved at the apex, narrower than mesoventrital process. Aedeagus with parameres fused to phallobase and broadest at their bases and separated at the apex, combined length of fused parameres about 1.2 times as wide as long; apices with 4 primary setae distinctly shorter than parameres, two at apex longer than two subapical setae; interparameral process absent; basipenis 6.0 times length of distipenis; distipenis rectangular, about 1.1 times longer than wide, lateral lobes widely separated and symmetrical; internal sac with a pair of thin endophallites that extend about 1/2 the length of the sac.

Distribution. North Island: WO, TO, GB, HB, RI, WI. WN, WA. South Island: NN, SD ( Fig. 21 View Fig ).

Remarks. Picrotus thoracicus ranges from about the middle of North Island south to the north of the South Island. It may be abundant in leaf litter, dead wood, under bark, from fungus, wood and leaf mould and rarely from moss. All specimens we have examined that we consider as part of this species have the foveolate punctures at the base of the pronotal disc, though the strength and size of the punctures, including the median puncture, vary from moderately deeply impressed and circular to transverse and less impressed. Information on type material was given in LESCHEN & GIMMEL (2012).