Eupines (Byraxis) minuta Shen & Leschen 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Shen, Jia-Wei
name: Leschen, Richard A. B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Staphylinidae
Eupines
Eupines minuta

description: Eupines (Byraxis) minuta sp. nov.
Fig. 33; map Fig. 53
Diagnosis: Head with vertexal foveae punctiform; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A6, A7, A8 and A10 unmodified, A5 greatly enlarged and asymmetrical, lateral side with large and shallow basal impression, A9 cylindrical, about 5 × longer than A8, A10 conical, about 1.4 × longer than A9. Abdominal ventrite 2 with pair of large and round discal protuberances, inserted with strongly curved small anterolateral setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short and acute median struts, about one-fourth of ventral length. Protrochanters with minute ventral spine, about one-seventh of protrochanteral width; protibiae unmodified; mesotibiae with minute apical spine.
Description: Body length 1.41–1.48 mm; body colour dark brown with lighter coloured tarsi. Head as long as wide; frons greatly narrowed at end, about one-third width of head at eye level; eyes moderately developed, slightly prominent in dorsal view, with about 27 facets; vertexal foveae punctiform; antennal tubercles weak; postantennal notches distinctive and small; postantennal cavities small, about half length of antennal tubercles in dorsal view; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A6, A7, A8 and A10 unmodified, A5 greatly enlarged and asymmetrical, lateral side with large and shallow basal impression, A9 cylindrical, about 5 × longer than A8, A10 conical, about 1.4 × longer than A9. Pronotum about as long as wide, wider than head at eye level; with punctiform lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra as long as wide, widest at middle; humeral calli weak, slightly prominent in dorsal view; sutural stria shallowly extending from base to apex. Abdomen with tergite 1 about twice length of tergite 2; ventrite 2 with pair of large and round discal protuberances, inserted with strongly curved small anterolateral setae; ventrite 6 with pair of short and acute median struts, about one-fourth of ventral length. Legs with protrochanters modified with minute ventral spine, about one-seventh of protrochanteral width; protibiae unmodified; mesotibiae with minute apical spine. Aedeagus about 0.32 mm long, with long and stout parameres, curved downwards in lateral view, apex slightly curved, with pair of long subapical setae; median lobe with two long and stout sclerites, slightly twisted at apex, slightly shorter and narrower than parameres.
Comments: This species is characterized by a A5 greatly enlarged and asymmetrical (Figs. 33 B–C).
Distribution: South Island. SD, NN.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the minute apical spine on mesotibiae of this species.
Type material (NZAC): Holotype. ♂, specimen in two parts, head + thorax glued on card, abdomen mounted on acetate card: “ NEW ZEALAND, NN, Stockton Coal Mine W6C dump 880m, 13–20 Dec 2000 [handwritten], R.J. Toft // Rehabilitation trial Bare control plot Malaise trap, 9 [handwritten], RT”. Paratype. 3 ex.: SD: 2, FMNH, Tennyson Inlet, west side Te Mako Bay, 125 m, 15/xii/1984 – 5/i/1985, Nothofagus-podo-hdwd., A. Newton / M. Thayer, 710; NN: 1, Mt. Arthur, 1200 m, Nelson, 13–20/Nov/1969, B. May & S. Silcock.
description: Published as part of Shen, Jia-Wei & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2020, Revision of Eupines King of New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Goniaceritae), pp. 1-84 in Zootaxa 4777 (1) on pages 52-53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4777.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3821174