Eupines (Byraxis) halli (Broun, 1921)

Fig. 21; map Fig. 51

Byraxis halli Broun, 1921: 608 . Hudson 1923: 367, 1934: 185. Eupines (Byraxis) halli: combination and subgeneric assignment by Nomura and Leschen 2006: 255. Maddison 2010: 417; Shen and Leschen 2019: 266.

Type locality: [NN] Mount Saint Arnaud, Nelson .

Type depository: BMNH LT ♂, 2 PLT; NZAC 2 PLT .

Diagnosis: Head with vertexal foveae punctiform; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A6, A7, A8 and A10 unmodified, A5 greatly enlarged and asymmetrical, flag-shaped, dorsal side broadly concave, A7 asymmetrical, A8 disc-shaped and slightly asymmetrical, A9 largest, with laminate base and boot-shaped protuberance at lateral side, forming gulf-shaped structure, A10 conical. Abdominal ventrite 2 with pair of long and slender discal protuberances, inserted with small and strongly curved apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of long medi- an struts, about half of ventral length. Protrochanters with long ventral spine, about three-fourths of protrochanteral width; protibiae with blunt apical protuberance; mesotibiae with apical minute triangle spine.

Redescription: Body length 1.20–1.30 mm; body colour dark brown with lighter coloured tarsi. Head slightly wider than long; frons slightly narrowed at end, about half width of head at eye level; eyes slightly prominent, with about 32 facets; vertexal foveae punctiform; lacking antennal tubercles and postantennal notches; postantennal cavities barely visible in dorsal view; antennae 10-segmented with 2-segmented antennal club; A4, A6, A7, A8 and A10 unmodified, A5 greatly enlarged and asymmetrical, flag-shaped, dorsal side broadly concave, A7 asymmetrical, A8 disc-shaped and slightly asymmetrical, A9 largest, with laminate base and boot-shaped protuberance at lateral side, forming gulf-shaped structure, A10 conical. Pronotum about as long as wide, wider than head at eye level; lacking lateral antebasal foveae. Elytra slightly wider than long, widest at apical three-fourths; humeral calli barely visible; sutural stria weakly extending from base to apex. Abdomen with tergite 1 about 1.2 × longer than tergite 2; ventrite 2 with pair of long and slender discal protuberances, inserted with small and strongly curved apical setae; ventrite 6 with pair of long median struts, about half of ventral length. Legs with protrochanters modified with long ventral spine, about three-fourths of protrochanteral width; protibiae with blunt apical protuberance; mesotibiae with apical minute triangle spine. Aedeagus about 0.34 mm long, with parameres wide and long, slightly curved inwards, with three pairs of apical setae; median lobe relatively small, with two sclerites much narrower than parameres, strongly curved towards each other in dorsal view, basal bulb slightly longer than two sclerites.

Comments: This species can be immediately recognized by its bizarre form of A9 (Figs. 21 B–C).

Distribution: North Island. TO. South Island. BR.

Additional material examined: 8 ♂♂, TO: 3, Whanganui V., 792 m Whenuakura Flats, 11/ Oct/1979, J. S. Dugdale, bryophytes, 79/94; 1, Tongariro NP., Chateau, 1000 m, 6/Dec/1978, G. Kuschel, Dacrydium bidwillii; NN: 1, DSC, Nelson Lakes N.P., N. slope Mt. Robert, Pinchgut Track, 950 m, 14/xii/84–6/i/85, Nothofagus spp. forest, A. Newton/ M. Thayer, 707, flight intercept (window) trap; 1, FMNH, Nelson Lakes N.P., N. slope Mt. Robert, Pinchgut Track, 1290 m, 18–26/xii/1984, Noth. Sol. Elfin For., A. Newton/ M. Thayer, 716; BR: 1, Mt. Sewell, TV station, 853 m, 22/Nov/1984, B.A. Holloway; 1, FMNH, Lewis Pass Nat. Res., 0.6 km S Lewis Pass, 870 m, 17/ xii/1984 – 21/i/1985, Nothofagus spp. forest, A. Newton/ M. Thayer, 714. Associated females (1 ♀): NN: Arnaud, T. Broun Collection, A. E. Brookes Collection.