Oedichirus muscicolus Rougemont 2018, nov.sp.

Oedichirus muscicolus nov.sp. (Figs 6)

Material studied: ♂ Holotype: NEW CALEDONIA 11138, 21º53’S x 166º24’E, 1400m, Mt Humboldt, moss forest, 6-7 Nov 2002, Monteith & Burwell, pyreth. trees & logs ♀ HOLOTYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [MNHN]; 2♀♀ paratypes [Ibid.] ♀ PARATYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [QM]; 2♂♂ paratypes: NEW CALEDONIA 11134, 21º53’S X 166º25’E, 5 Nov 2002, G. Monteith, pyrethrum, trees, 1350m ♀ PARATYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [QM]; 3♂♂ paratypes: NEW CALEDONIA 11143, 22º02’S x 166º28’E, Dzumac Rd, jcn, 9 Nov 2002, Burwell & Monteith, 950m, pyrethrum, trees & logs ♀ PARATYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [QM, CRO]; 1♂ paratype: NEW CALEDONIA, Mt. Dzumac, elev. 900m, 28.V.1987, R.J. Raven N.I. Platnick, dry forest ♀ PARATYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [AMNH]; 1♀ paratype: Nouvelle Caledonie, m 1330, M. Humboldt for. Mousse, 15.II.2006, P.M. Giachino leg. ♀ PARATYPE: Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [SMNS]; 1♀ paratype: NEW CALEDONIA, Prov. Sud, Mt. Koghis 518 m, 22º10’44"S 166º30’32"E, VII ♀ 21- 24.2008 L. Herman, leaf litter nr. stream & on slope to stream ♀ PARATYPE Oedichirus muscicolus des. 2017 G. de Rougemont [AMNH].

Description: length: 10-10.5 mm; length of fore-body: 4.4; length of head: 1.2; breadth of head: 1.32; length of antenna: 3; length of pronotum: 1.7; breadth of pronotum: 1.4; length of elytron: 1.35; breadth of elytra: 1.58. Body black; palpi, antennae and legs testaceous, the kness not, or only very slightly and narrowly infuscate. Head and pronotum densely microsculptate, giving a sericeous appearance; elytra with less evident and sparser microsculpture; abdominal tergites with dense trasverse micro-striation. Pubescence short, very sparse and erect on fore-body, longer, denser and decumbent on abdomen. Habitus: similar to Fig. 4h.

Male: abdominal sternite VIII: Fig. 6s8; aedoeagus: Figs. 6arl, arlB (with inner sac everted), av; Plate AEC.

Female: abdominal sternite IX: Fig. 6vp

In habitus, colour and puncturation this species is indistinguishable from O. novacaledonicus except in that the head and pronotum are considerably more strongly microsculptate; the only other discernible differences are that the knees are more narrowly, or not infuscate, and the abdominal puncturation is marginally sparser.