Gnypeta ashei Klimaszewski & Savard & Pelletier & Webster 2008, sp. nov.

1. Gnypeta ashei Klimaszewski, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C0AC9EAB-C95F-481E-BCD9-C3046CBEEA33

(Figs 3, 21 a, b, 39-47, 190)

HOLOTYPE (male): CANADA, Northwest Territories, Hazen Camp, Ellesmere I., [81°49'00" N, 71°20'00" W] 10.VIII.1961, D.R. Olivier; paratype Gnypeta larifuga Ashe [manuscript name], det. Ashe 1987, CNC No. 23676 (CNC). PARATYPES: listed in Appendix A.

Etymology

This species is named after the late Steve Ashe of the University of Kansas who discovered this species but did not publish it. The CNC specimens, which he examined, bear his identification labels as the manuscript – unpublished name “ Gnypeta larifuga Ashe ”.

Diagnosis

This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: body length 2.5-2.8 mm (Fig. 3); elytra (at suture) about as long as pronotum and 1/4 wider than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 3); abdomen at base slightly narrower than elytra (Fig. 3); antennal articles 4-6 subquadrate, and 7-9 transverse (Fig. 3); median lobe of aedeagus with apex broadly triangular (Fig. 39); spermatheca with capsule wider than long and broadly funnel-shaped (Fig. 45); stem sinuate and slightly swollen basally (Fig. 45).

Description

Body length 2.5-2.8 mm; dark brown to black, sometimes central part of elytra and tarsi reddish brown (Fig. 3); integument strongly glossy; pubescence yellowish grey and moderately long and dense; antennal article 4 slightly shorter than preceding article, articles 4-6 subquadrate to slightly elongate in male, and 7-9 transverse (Fig. 21 a, b); head and pronotum of about the same width (Fig. 3); elytra and abdomen wider than either head or pronotum; elytra small and short (Fig. 3); head rounded basally; pronotum broadest in apical third, pubescence directed anterad along midline and laterad elsewhere; elytra (at suture) about as long as pronotum and 1/4 broader than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 3), pubescence directed obliquely postero-laterad, with wavy pattern on medial part of disc; abdomen subparallel, slightly narrower than elytra at base (Fig. 3); metatarsus with two basal articles of about the same length and the third one slightly shorter. Male. Tergite 8 transverse and truncate apically (Fig. 43). Sternite 8 about as long as wide and slightly produced posteriorly (Fig. 44). Median lobe of aedeagus with broadly triangular apical part of tubus in lateral view (Fig. 39); bulbus moderately sized (Figs 40, 41); internal sac with structures as illustrated (Figs 39-41). Female. Tergite 8 similar to that of male (Fig. 46). Sternite 8 broadly rounded posteriorly (Fig. 47). Spermatheca with capsule wider than long and broadly funnelshaped (Fig. 45), stem sinuate and swollen basally (Fig. 45).

Distribution (Fig. 190)

Gnypeta ashei is a Nearctic species recorded here from Manitoba, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Alaska.

Collection and habitat data

Adults were collected in June, July and August from marsh, by treading sedges around edge of a pond, and by sifting litter at the shore of a lagoon. One specimen was taken on snow on Devon Island.

Comments

The late Steve Ashe (University of Kansas) worked on a revision of Nearctic Gnypeta but was not able to complete it. Some specimens of this species that he studied were returned to CNC with his 1987 identification labels as “ G. larifuga Ashe ” [manuscript name – unpublished].