Gnypeta carbonaria

13. Gnypeta carbonaria (Mannerheim)

(Figs 15, 33 a, b, 139-147, 199)

Bolitochara carbonaria Mannerheim 1830: 75; Palm 1966: 141; Smetana 2004: 489. TYPE LOCALITY: FINLAND: in original description: “Ad Willnäs in Finlandia australi semel capta”. Holotype not examined.

Material examined

Specimens are listed in Appendix A.

Diagnosis

This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: body length 2.7-3.0 mm (Fig. 15); elytra at suture slightly longer than pronotum and about 1/4 wider than maximum width of pronotum (Fig. 15); abdomen at base distinctly narrower than elytra and subparallel (Fig. 15); antennal article 4 strongly elongate, 5-7 moderately elongate, 8-10 subquadrate to slightly transverse (Figs 33 a, b); median lobe of aedeagus with apical part triangularly produced with sinuate edges in lateral

view (Fig. 139); spermatheca club-shaped, apical part of capsule approximately spherical connected to narrow and short tubular part (Fig. 145); stem narrow, tubular, short and slightly swollen posteriorly (Fig. 145); male tergite 8 truncate apically and with slight apical emargination (Fig. 143); female sternite 8 with small apical emargination (Fig. 147). The antennal proportions; distinct shape of spermatheca; medially emarginated female sternite 8, and the shape of the apical portion of the median lobe of the aedeagus are the best characters for recognition of this species.

Description

Body length 2.7-3.0 mm; dark brown to black, elytra often rust brown medially, and legs and/or tarsi rust brown (Fig. 15); integument moderately glossy; pubescence yellowish grey and moderately long and dense; antennal article 4 strongly elongate, 5-7 moderately elongate, 8-10 subquadrate to slightly transverse (Figs 33 a, b); head and pronotum of about the same width (Fig. 15); elytra and abdomen (less so) wider than either head or pronotum; head rounded posteriorly; pronotum broadest in apical third, pubescence directed anterad along midline and laterad elsewhere; elytra at suture slightly longer than pronotum and about 1/4 wider than maximum width of pronotum, pubescence directed obliquely postero-laterad, in wavy pattern medially on each side of disc (Fig. 15); abdomen subparallel, distinctly narrower than elytra at base (Fig. 15); metatarsus with basal article slightly longer than the following article. Male. Tergite 8 transverse and truncate apically with small median emargination (Fig. 143). Sternite 8 elongate and broadly rounded apically (Fig. 144). Median lobe of aedeagus with triangularly produced apical part of tubus in lateral view (Fig. 139); bulbus moderately large in dorsal view (Fig. 140); internal sac with complex structures as illustrated (Figs 139-141). Female. Tergite 8 truncate apically (Fig. 146). Sternite 8 broadly rounded posteriorly with small median emargination (Fig. 147). Spermatheca with tubular and short, club-shaped capsule (Fig. 145); stem short and broadly tubular (Fig. 145).

Distribution (Fig. 199)

Gnypeta carbonaria is a Holarctic species and is here reported from Canada and Alaska for the first time. It was previously known from the Palaearctic region and was recorded from Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia including eastern and western Siberia (Smetana 2004). We discovered this species to be transcontinental in North America with records from Alaska, Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Collection and habitat data

In Canada and Alaska, adults were collected in July and August from wet ground near a bog, in rotten fungus, and in a UV light trap.

Comments

We compared North American specimens of G. carbonaria with those from Sweden and found no distinct external or genital morphological differences between the two populations. We also compared the newly designated female lectotype of Gnypeta brunnescens Casey with Canadian and Swedish specimens of G. carbonaria and found no differences between female genital features. However, Casey’s type of G. brunnescens differs from both populations by the light brown body colour instead of dark brown or black and by a slightly different pubescence pattern on the pronotum, which may be caused by the preparation of the specimen. Due to these differences, we hesitate to formally synonymize G. brunnescens with G. carbonaria. Additional specimens of G. brunnescens are needed from the type locality to confirm its taxonomic status.