Fig. 8, 18; Map 11.
Michael L. Ferro, the collection manager at the Clemson University Arthropod Collection, recently published the article ‘Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America‘ in ‘Insecta Mundi’, a journal of world insect systematics.
The article describes fourteen new beetles species, all belonging to the Sonoma genus, that were discovered by Ferro after examining specimens from eighteen different institutions. The beetles are small predators, mainly found in leaf litter and rotten wood. With these new discoveries, the genus now has fifty-seven species, with forty from western North America and seventeen from the eastern United States.
Some of the new species were named after famous people, including Sonoma stewarti (named after Jon Stewart) and Sonoma colberti (named after Stephen Colbert) which has only been found in Shasta County, California.
8. Sonoma colberti new species
Fig. 8, 18; Map 11.
Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.23 long, 0.27 wide; pronotum 0.27 long, 0.28 wide; elytra 0.51 long, 0.26 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.62; total length 1.90. Body uniformly brown. Body setae covered in elongate (greater than half the length of the eye).
Head. Eyes prominent, maximum length in dorsal view 0.83x length of fi rst antennal segment, with approximately 40 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately equal width of 1; 3 smallest.
Thorax. Elytra with 3 indistinct sutural foveae; 2 foveae lateral to sutural fovea; central row of 2–4 foveae in basal 1/3. Winged. Metatrochanter elongate; metatibia unmodi fi ed.
Abdomen. Tergite IV with transverse patch of microtrichia narrowly interrupted at midline. Basal lateral foveae on ventrites IV–VI. Basal pubescence present on ventrites III–VI.
Aedeagus. Elongate. Left paramere: subequal in length to endophallus; subequal in width in basal 4/5; apical 1/5 widened, paddle shaped with 7–10 stout setae directed mesad. Endophallus: widest at basal 1/3; stout subapical projection 3/5 from base on right lateral margin; left apical process with wide posteriorly directed triangular projection, tip bent anteriorly; median apical process thin, elongate, shaped like a shepherd’s hook; right apical process a stout pointed projection; Right paramere: 2/3 length left paramere; subequal in width in basal 3/4; apical 1/4 widened, paddle shapped, with 7–10 stout setae directed mesad.
Type Material. Holotype, male: T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. III.9.1973 (1 ♂ ). Deposited in CSAC.
Paratypes (n=5). UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA: Shasta Co.: T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. III.9.1973 (CSCA 4 ♂ , one aedeagus only, one SLIDE). *T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. 1-31-1973 (FMNH) (1 ♂ ).
Geographical Distribution. Sonoma colberti is only known from one location in Shasta County, California.
Comments. Sonoma colberti was collected during January and March. Aedeagal characters of S. colberti are super fi cially similar to S. wintuorum , S. twaini , and S. stewarti all of which share a similar gestalt comprised of narrow, elongate parameres and an elongate endophallus with elaborate apical hooks or processes. The following combination of characters will separate S. colberti from the others: endophallus with three projections [ S. twaini and S. stewarti with one, S. wintuorum with two]; subapical lateral projection of endophallus directed posteriorly and short, approximately 1/10 length of endophallus [ S. stewarti with projection 1/5 length of endophallus, S. wintuorum with projection greater than 1/3 length of endophallus, S. twaini with two projections perpendicular to endophallus].
Etymology. Sonoma colberti is named for Stephen Colbert (silent “t”) a character created by Stephen Tyrone Colbert (sounded “t”), an author, philosopher, humanitarian, champion of science, and humorist.
New Beetle Species Named after Stephen Colbert
Fig. 8, 18; Map 11.
Michael L. Ferro, the collection manager at the Clemson University Arthropod Collection, recently published the article ‘Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America‘ in ‘Insecta Mundi’, a journal of world insect systematics.
The article describes fourteen new beetles species, all belonging to the Sonoma genus, that were discovered by Ferro after examining specimens from eighteen different institutions. The beetles are small predators, mainly found in leaf litter and rotten wood. With these new discoveries, the genus now has fifty-seven species, with forty from western North America and seventeen from the eastern United States.
Some of the new species were named after famous people, including Sonoma stewarti (named after Jon Stewart) and Sonoma colberti (named after Stephen Colbert) which has only been found in Shasta County, California.
8. Sonoma colberti new species
Fig. 8, 18; Map 11.
Description. Holotype, male. Measurements: head 0.23 long, 0.27 wide; pronotum 0.27 long, 0.28 wide; elytra 0.51 long, 0.26 wide; antennomeres 1–11 total 0.62; total length 1.90. Body uniformly brown. Body setae covered in elongate (greater than half the length of the eye).
Head. Eyes prominent, maximum length in dorsal view 0.83x length of fi rst antennal segment, with approximately 40 facets. Antennomere 2 approximately equal width of 1; 3 smallest.
Thorax. Elytra with 3 indistinct sutural foveae; 2 foveae lateral to sutural fovea; central row of 2–4 foveae in basal 1/3. Winged. Metatrochanter elongate; metatibia unmodi fi ed.
Abdomen. Tergite IV with transverse patch of microtrichia narrowly interrupted at midline. Basal lateral foveae on ventrites IV–VI. Basal pubescence present on ventrites III–VI.
Aedeagus. Elongate. Left paramere: subequal in length to endophallus; subequal in width in basal 4/5; apical 1/5 widened, paddle shaped with 7–10 stout setae directed mesad. Endophallus: widest at basal 1/3; stout subapical projection 3/5 from base on right lateral margin; left apical process with wide posteriorly directed triangular projection, tip bent anteriorly; median apical process thin, elongate, shaped like a shepherd’s hook; right apical process a stout pointed projection; Right paramere: 2/3 length left paramere; subequal in width in basal 3/4; apical 1/4 widened, paddle shapped, with 7–10 stout setae directed mesad.
Type Material. Holotype, male: T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. III.9.1973 (1 ♂ ). Deposited in CSAC.
Paratypes (n=5). UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA: Shasta Co.: T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. III.9.1973 (CSCA 4 ♂ , one aedeagus only, one SLIDE). *T.R.Haig Whiskeytown Shasta Co. Cal. 1-31-1973 (FMNH) (1 ♂ ).
Geographical Distribution. Sonoma colberti is only known from one location in Shasta County, California.
Comments. Sonoma colberti was collected during January and March. Aedeagal characters of S. colberti are super fi cially similar to S. wintuorum , S. twaini , and S. stewarti all of which share a similar gestalt comprised of narrow, elongate parameres and an elongate endophallus with elaborate apical hooks or processes. The following combination of characters will separate S. colberti from the others: endophallus with three projections [ S. twaini and S. stewarti with one, S. wintuorum with two]; subapical lateral projection of endophallus directed posteriorly and short, approximately 1/10 length of endophallus [ S. stewarti with projection 1/5 length of endophallus, S. wintuorum with projection greater than 1/3 length of endophallus, S. twaini with two projections perpendicular to endophallus].
Etymology. Sonoma colberti is named for Stephen Colbert (silent “t”) a character created by Stephen Tyrone Colbert (sounded “t”), an author, philosopher, humanitarian, champion of science, and humorist.