Fauna of New Zealand 69 - Landcare Research

Fauna of New Zealand 69 71
maximum width; segments 1–3 glabrous (excluding apical
setae). Frontal furrows narrow, shallow. Eyes reduced,
very small, slightly convex. Tempora convex, moderately
long (about half as long as eyes). Mentum: medial tooth
acute apically, slightly shorter than lateral lobes. Ligula
narrow apically. Paraglossae membranous, prominent,
much longer than ligula. Palpi: terminal segment fusiform,
not elliptical, sparsely setulose; penultimate maxillary
segment apically setulose. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig.
130) moderately convex, coarsely and sparsely punctate
across base, unwrinkled, moderately transverse, strongly
cordate; apex strongly arcuate laterally, straight medially;
anterolateral angles strongly developed, obtuse or obtusely
rounded; sides strongly rounded anteriorly, strongly sinuate
posteriorly; lateral beads strongly widening from apex
to base; lateral depressions widening posteriorly; a single
setiferous puncture on each side (anteriorly), situated well
in front of middle and touching lateral bead; posterolateral
angles subrectangular or acute and projecting laterally,
not denticulate; laterobasal foveae ill-defined, coarsely
punctate, deep, wide, elongate medially; posterior bead
complete; base rather straight, slightly narrower than apex,
much narrower than elytral base. Prosternum impunctate,
unwrinkled. Proepisterna punctate, unwrinkled. Metepisterna
impunctate. Elytra. Strongly convex, ovate, widest
about middle. Basal margin complete. Shoulders rounded,
denticulate. Sides strongly rounded. Scutellar setiferous
pore inserted at junction of striae 1+2. Scutellar striole
absent. Striae complete, striae 1–5 moderately deep, striae
6–7 shallower, with moderately coarse punctation; stria 3
with two setiferous punctures. Intervals slightly convex.
Sutural apices angular. Abdomen. Sterna impunctate,
unwrinkled. Last visible sternum (sternum VII): male with
two apical ambulatory setae; female with four apical and
two or four medial ambulatory setae. Aedeagus. Lateral
view (Fig. 84): strongly arcuate; apex moderately wide,
subtriangular, not projecting dorsoventrally. Dorsal view:
asymmetrical (ostium deflected to the right); apex deflected
to the right. Parameres. Glabrous.
Material examined. 44 specimens (LUNZ, MONZ,
NZAC).
Geographic distribution (Map p. 181). South Island:
BR─Lake Rotoroa. NN─Canaan. Cobb Reservoir. Cobb
Valley. Karamea (9 miles north). Mount Arthur (Flora Hut,
Flora Stream, Flora Track, Tableland). Mount Domett.
Oparara River.
Ecology. Lowland, montane, subalpine, alpine. Wet forests
(beech), shrublands, and fellfields. Shaded or open ground;
wet soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day in leaf litter, moss,
and plant mats. Gregarious.
Biology. Seasonality: November to February, April, June.
Tenerals: November. Predacious (based on mouthpart
morphology).
Dispersal power. Elytra fused basally along suture.
Subapterous. Moderate runner. Vagility limited by flight
incapacity.
Remarks. This species is named after our friend and colleague
Terry L. Erwin (Smithsonian Museum, Washington
D.C.) for his authoritative contribution to the study of
world Carabidae.
Trichopsida erwini is morphologically close to T.
pretiosa and T. paturauensis. In addition to diagnostic
characters of the male genitalia, especially the subtriangular
apex of the aedeagus, T. erwini has the following
distinguishing features: pronotum strongly cordate, with
sides strongly sinuate and posterolateral angles subrectangular
or acute and projecting laterally; elytral striae
with moderately coarse punctation.
Trichopsida pretiosa (Broun, 1910) E new
combination
Figures 85, 131, 226; Map p. 183
Tarastethus pretiosus Broun, 1910: 6. Holotype: male (BMNH)
labelled “Type (circular red-bordered label; typed) / 3022
(hand-written) / New Zealand. Broun Coll. Brit. Mus.
1922–482. (white label with red horizontal line; typed) /
Raurimu. Jany. 1909. (hand-written) / Tarastethus pretiosus.
(hand-written).” Condition: Excellent. Paratype: male
(BMNH) labelled “Paratype (circular yellow-bordered label;
typed) / 3022 (hand-written) / New Zeal. Broun Coll.
Brit. Mus. 1922–482. (white label with red horizontal line;
typed) / Raurimu. Jany. 1909. (hand-written) / Tarastethus
pretiosus. (hand-written).” Condition: Fair.
Molopsida pretiosa: Britton, 1940: 477.
Description. Body: length 3.9–4.4 mm. Head and pronotum
reddish; pronotum dark brown medially; elytra dark
brown with sides and apex brownish red; abdomen mostly
yellowish, blackish medially; antennae, palpi, and legs
entirely pale yellowish. Microsculpture absent. Iridescence
absent. Very shiny. Head. Impunctate and unwrinkled
dorsally, much narrower across eyes than pronotal apex.
Mandibles moderately long. Labrum moderately transverse,
truncate anteriorly. Antennae: segment 1 (scape)
moderately long, about 1.5× longer than its maximum
width; segments 1–3 glabrous (excluding apical setae).
Frontal furrows wide, deep. Eyes reduced, very small,
slightly convex. Tempora convex, moderately long (about
half as long as eyes). Mentum: medial tooth acute apically,
slightly shorter than lateral lobes. Ligula narrow apically.
Paraglossae membranous, prominent, much longer than
ligula. Palpi: terminal segment fusiform, not elliptical,
sparsely setulose; penultimate maxillary segment apically
setulose. Thorax. Pronotum (Fig. 131) moderately convex,