Amarophilus wanakensis Larochelle and Lariviere E 2022, new species

Amarophilus wanakensis Larochelle and Larivière, new species

Fig. 20, 34, 39

Amarophilus wanakensis Larochelle and Larivière, new species. Holotype: male (AMNZ) labeled “[NEW ZEALAND OL] Minarets [=Minaret Peaks] (6000ft) Lake Wanaka 30.12.23. (hand-written) / C. E. Clarke Collection (typed) / AMNZ 31959 Auckland Museum New Zealand (green label; typed) / HOLOTYPE ♂ Amarophilus wanakensis Larochelle & Larivière, 2022 (red label; typed).” Paratypes: three females (AMNZ) from the same locality as the holotype, bearing blue paratype labels.

Description. Body length 6.8–7.2 mm; ovate. Head, pronotum, elytra, and abdomen rufopiceous; antennae, palpi, and legs rufotestaceous. Microsculpture isodiametric on head (almost granulate) and pronotum, moderately transverse on elytra. Iridescence present on elytra. Shiny on head, pronotum, and elytra. Head. Labrum strongly transverse. Eyes slightly convex; setiferous puncture inserted postmedially on inner side of each eye. Frontal furrows very deep, convergent posteriorly. Thorax. Pronotum moderately convex, impunctate, obsoletely wrinkled across base, trapezoid, widest basally; apex subtruncate; anterolateral angles poorly developed, obtuse; anterior bead complete; sides moderately rounded anteriorly, straight posteriorly; lateral beads narrow, slightly widened from apex to base; lateral depressions absent anteriorly, wide posteriorly; posterolateral angles subrectangular; laterobasal foveae rounded, moderately wide, very deep, separated from lateral depressions by a pronounced convexity; posterior bead obsolete; base as wide as elytral base. Legs. Pro- and mesotarsomeres 1–4 of both sexes strongly dilated. Elytra. Moderately convex. Shoulders slightly obtuse. Sides strongly rounded. Striae shallow, finely punctate; stria 3 without setiferous punctures. Intervals slightly convex. Umbilicate series with 14 or 15 setiferous punctures. Apices angulate. Aedeagus. Lateral view (Fig. 20): strongly arcuate, slender, moderately widened in apical half; base moderately convex dorsally; middle moderately convex dorsally, moderately concave ventrally, without dorsal membranous area; apex moderately concave dorsally and ventrally, with extreme tip very wide, rounded, hooked dorsally. Dorsal view: asymmetrical (ostium of membranous area deflected to the right).

Material examined. 11 specimens (AMNZ).

Geographic distribution (Fig. 39). South Island: OL–Minaret Peaks and vicinity.

Ecology. Alpine. Epigean. Fellfields and tussock grasslands. Open ground. Probably nocturnal.

Biology. Seasonality: December. Tenerals: December. Predacious (based on mouthpart morphology).

Dispersal power. Subapterous (incapable of flight).

Collecting technique. Unknown.

Remarks. This species is named after the Lake Wanaka region (OL) where the type locality is situated and the Latin suffix – ensis, denoting a place, locality, or country. Amarophilus wanakensis is morphologically close to A. lomondensis. In addition to diagnostic characters of the male genitalia, A. wanakensis has the following distinguishing features: antennae rufotestaceous; frontal furrows very deep, convergent posteriorly; pronotum moderately convex, its base as wide as elytral base and sides not sinuate posteriorly; elytra moderately convex, striae shallow and finely punctate, stria 3 without setiferous punctures. Amarophilus wanakensis and A. lomondensis occur in the Otago Lakes region (OL) of the South Island where they are known only from a few localities.