The Pselaphini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of the Subantarctic and Chatham Islands of New Zealand; Description of Five Species and One Genus

Abstract

Abstract The staphylinid subfamily Pselaphinae is generally depauperate at high latitudes. We examine one exception, the tribe Pselaphini, at the southern extreme of its global distribution, the New Zealand subantarctic islands and the Chatham Islands, an archipelago farther north. Currently, only two species are known from remote Campbell Island (Pselaphotheseus hippolytae Park and P. ihupuku Carlton and Leschen). A new genus, Pselaphopluteum gen. nov. (type species, Pselaphopluteum motumaha sp. nov.) and two new species, Pselaphopluteum motumaha sp. nov. and Pselaphaulax dracophyllum sp. nov., from the Auckland Islands, are added to the subantarctic fauna. Pselaphophus atriventris Westwood, introduced from Australia, is currently the only species known from the Chatham Islands, although several unidentified species were noted by Emberson (Emberson, R. M. 2002. The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Chatham Islands: additions and corrections. N.Z. Entomol. 25: 69–77.). Three new species are described from the Chatham islands: Pselaphaulax caeruleus sp. nov., Pselaphaulax flavus sp. nov., and Pselaphaulax traversi sp. nov. Potential biogeographic implications of these new taxa are discussed within the context of the overall New Zealand fauna of Pselaphini, which is the subject of ongoing study.