Fauna of New Zealand 69 - Landcare Research

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Geographic distribution (Map p. 178). North Island:
AK–Hunua.
Ecology. Lowland. Probably silvicolous and nocturnal.
Biology. Seasonality: Unknown. Predacious (based on
mouthpart morphology).
Dispersal power. Elytra fused along the suture. Subapterous.
Moderate runner (based on body morphology).
Vagility limited by flight incapacity.
Reference. Larochelle & Larivière, 2001: 63 (catalogue;
biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution,
references).
Remarks. This species is known only from the holotype
(BMNH) which is glued to a piece of cardboard. A number
of characters from the underside of the body, were omitted
from the above description for fear of causing damage to
the type by ungluing it. Selenochilus oculator is easily
separated from its congeners by its very large, strongly
convex eyes.
Selenochilus hinewai E new species
Figures 104, 199; Map p. 178
Selenochilus hinewai Larochelle & Larivière, new species.
Holotype: female (LUNZ) labelled “NEW ZEALAND,
MC Banks Pen [=Peninsula], Hinewai Res [=Reserve]
7.II.1995 R.M. Henderson under logs and rocks in mixed
forest (typed) / HOLOTYPE [female symbol] Selenochilus
hinewai Larochelle & Larivière, 2013 (red label; typed).”
Paratype: one female (NZAC) from the same locality as the
holotype, bearing blue paratype label.
Description. Body: length 7.0–7.1 mm. Head, pronotum,
elytra, and abdomen black; lateral margins of elytra dark
reddish apically; antennae, palpi, and legs pale, infuscate
reddish. Microsculpture absent on head, moderately transverse,
feeble on pronotum, strong on elytra. Iridescence
absent on head and pronotum, present in apical third of
elytra. Very shiny. Head. Impunctate and unwrinkled dorsally,
about as wide across eyes as pronotal apex. Frontal
furrows wide, shallow. Eyes normally developed, moderately
large, moderately convex. Tempora not inflated.
Paraglossae membranous, prominent, much longer than
ligula. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 104) slightly convex,
impunctate, unwrinkled, moderately transverse, strongly
cordate; apex subtruncate; anterior bead absent (present,
incomplete in other species); anterolateral angles poorly
developed, rounded; sides strongly rounded anteriorly,
strongly sinuate posteriorly; lateral beads narrow; lateral
depressions absent; each anterolateral setiferous puncture
situated well in front of middle and touching lateral bead;
basal constriction long; posterolateral angles acute and
projecting laterally; base subtruncate, subdepressed, moderately
narrower than elytral base. Prosternum impunctate,
Larochelle & Larivière (2013): Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)
unwrinkled. Proepisterna impunctate, unwrinkled. Metepisterna
finely punctate. Elytra. Slightly convex, subovate,
widest about middle. Basal margin reaching level
of stria 5 (stria 4 in other species). Shoulders denticulate.
Sides moderately rounded. Scutellar setiferous pore present.
Striae incomplete; striae 1–4 shallow, finely punctate;
striae 5–7 obsolete. Intervals depressed. Abdomen. Sterna
finely punctate, unwrinkled. Aedeagus. Male unknown.
Material examined. Two specimens (LUNZ, NZAC).
Geographic distribution (Map p. 178). South Island:
MC─Banks Peninsula, Hinewai Scenic Reserve.
Ecology. Lowland (hills). A mixed forest. Shaded ground;
dry soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day under logs and
stones.
Biology. Seasonality: October, February. Predacious
(based on mouthpart morphology).
Dispersal power. Elytra fused along the suture. Subapterous
(hindwings vestigial). Moderate runner. Vagility
limited by flight incapacity.
Remarks. The name of this taxon is based on the type
locality, Hinewai Scenic Reserve (Banks Peninsula, MC).
Selenochilus hinewai is morphologically close to S. piceus
and S. syntheticus. In addition to diagnostic characters of
the male genitalia S. hinewai has the following distinguishing
features: pronotum strongly cordate, with sides
strongly rounded anteriorly and strongly sinuate posteriorly,
and posterolateral angles acute, projecting laterally;
elytra subovate, with a scutellar setiferous pore and a short
basal margin reaching the level of stria 5.
Selenochilus piceus (Blanchard, 1843) E
Figures 61, 105, 200; Map p. 178
Argutor erythropus Blanchard, 1843: Plate 2, Figure 7 (redescribed
in 1853: 27). Holotype: sex undetermined “cette
espèce a été prise à Akaroa [MC] (Nouvelle-Zélande)”.
Secondary homonym of Pterostichus erythropus (Marsham,
1802). Synonymised by Chaudoir, 1878: 21.
Argutor piceus Blanchard, 1843: Plate 2, Figure 8 (redescribed
in 1853: 28). Holotype: sex undetermined «cette espèce
comme la précédente a été recueillie à Akaroa [MC] (Nouvelle-Zélande)»
(MNHN, could not be located).
Feronia (Argutor) erythropus: Lacordaire, 1854: 326.
Feronia (Argutor) picea: Lacordaire, 1854: 326.
Selenochilus erythropus: Chaudoir, 1878: 23.
Sympiestus modestus Broun, 1894: 311. Holotype: male (BMNH)
labelled “Type (circular red-bordered label; typed) / 2655.
(hand-written) / [male symbol] (hand-written) / Canterbury
(typed) / Sympiestus modestus. (hand-written)”. Condition:
Excellent. Synonymised by Johns, 1986: 29.
Selenochilus piceus: Csiki, 1930: 736.
Description. Body: length 6.0–6.7 mm. Head, pronotum,