A new genus of pselaphine staphylinid beetles from New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

Discovery of a new genus and three new species of New Zealand endemic pselaphine staphylinid beetles belonging to the tribe Faronini is announced. When published, the genus will be named “Pseudostenosagola” with names of included species yet to be determined. Thirty specimens were studied from the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA; New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand; and personal collection of John T. Nunn, Dunedin, New Zealand. Permanent microscope slide mounts aided observation of internal characters and fine external characters. The new genus may be separated from other faronite genera by the following combination of characters: smaller size, last three antennomeres weakly clubbed; head at least twice longer than wide, frontal sulcus narrow or linear at apex, and circular or drop-shaped basally; prosternum longer than wide, with median procoxal fovea and lateral procoxal fovea; hind wing reduced to small pad; meso- and metaventrite with promesocoxal fovea; tergite and ventrite VI distinctly larger than V and VII. The new genus brings the number of faronine genera known from New Zealand to four. The tribe currently includes 287 species described or known as undescribed species, or about 36% of the total New Zealand pselaphine species fauna.