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

Researchers have identified five new species and one genus of Pselaphini beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands and Chatham Islands, expanding the known biodiversity of this rare subfamily at high latitudes. The study, led by Owens et al., describes Pselaphopluteum motumaha as a new genus and species from the Auckland Islands, along with two additional species (Pselaphaulax dracophyllum) from the Subantarctic and three more (Pselaphaulax caeruleus, Pselaphaulax flavus, and Pselaphaulax traversi) from the Chatham Islands. These findings challenge the notion that Pselaphinae are depauperate in extreme southern regions, offering new insights into their biogeographic distribution. The study also highlights the presence of an introduced species, Pselaphophus atriventris, in the Chatham Islands, suggesting potential pathways for species dispersal and colonization.

Owens, B. E., Leschen, R. A. B., & Carlton, C. (2019). The Pselaphini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of the Subantarctic and Chatham Islands of New Zealand; Description of Five Species and One Genus. Insect Systematics and Diversity, 3(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixz011