Sagola hirtalis Broun, 1893

(Figs. 3a, 4a, 4q–s, 5)

Sagola hirtalis Broun, 1893b: 1050 . Raffray 1904: 498, 1911: 5, 1924: 233; Hudson 1923: 365, 1934: 183; Newton and Thayer 2005b; Nomura and Leschen 2006: 242.

Sagola cilipes Broun, 1921a: 491 . Hudson 1923: 365, 1934: 184; Newton and Thayer 2005b; Nomura and Leschen 2006: 241. New synonymy.

Type Material Examined. Holotype: NEW ZEALAND: Auckland: 1♀ (BMNH), glued on rectangular card, “Type” [red label, printed]; “1876. ♂.” [white label, handwritten]; “Howick” [ white label, printed]; “ New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482.” [white label, printed]; “ Sagola hirtalis ” [white label, handwritten]. The original label indicates this specimen is a male, but it is female. Syntypes of S. cilipes: 2♂♂ (BMNH), glued on rectangular card, “3999. ♂ ” [white label, handwritten]; “ New Zealand Broun Coll. Brit. Mus. 1922–482.” [white label, printed]; “Waitakerei. 26.10.1914.” [white label, handwritten]; “ sagola cilipes . ♂ ” [white label, handwritten] .

Additional Material (n = 7: 4 males; 3 females). NEW ZEALAND: Auckland: 1♂ (slide-mounted), Waitakere Range, 260m, Nohoanga Scenic Res., 8 XII 1984 – 25 I 1985, hdwd.-podocarp forest, A. Newton, M. Thayer, FIT ; 1♀, Titirangi, Waitakere Range, 26 X 1914, A. Brookes ; Northland: 2♂♂ 2♀♀ (1♀ slide-mounted), Waipoua State Forest, 0.8km nw Wairau Summit, 350m, 27 XI 1984, hdwd.-podocarp forest, A. Newton, M. Thayer 689, berl., leaf & log litter forest floor ; 1♂, Waipoua State Forest, Wairau Summit, 400m, 27 XI–6 XII 1984, hdwd.-podocarp forest, A. Newton, M. Thayer 687, window trap 687 .

Diagnosis. Specimens of S. hirtalis can be distinguished from the other species of the hirtalis species-group by the following combination of characters: large body size, 3.2–4.0 mm; antennomere 1 elongate, approximately 3 times longer than wide; 4–5 antennomeres elongate, approximately 1.5 times longer than wide; posterior frontal fovea elongate; eye small, one-third length of temple; hind wings well-developed; shape of genitalia unique to species.

Redescription. Length 3.2–4.0 mm. Body brown, elytra, legs, and maxillary palpi yellowish brown (Fig. 3a). Head: As long as wide, widest across eyes (Fig. 4r). Antennomere 1 approximately 3 times longer than wide, 2–3 longer than wide, 4–5 elongate, 6 longer than wide, 7–10 subquadrate. Frontal sulcus deep and reaching hind point of eye from frontal rostral lobes (Fig. 4r). Anterior fovea round, posterior frontal fovea elongate. Eye small and prominent, one-third length of temple (Fig. 4r). Thorax: Prosternum as long as wide, widest at one-third length. Elytra rectangular (Fig. 3a). Hind wings well-developed. Meso-and metathorax trapezoidal, longer than wide. Abdomen: Tergite IV with pair of transverse patches of microtrichia reaching middle in male and more limited in female. Aedeagus: Median lobe longer than parameres, bearing 2 basal processes (Fig. 4a). Phallobase of median lobe asymmetrical and triangular (Fig. 4a). Left paramere larger than right with 1 slender branch apically (Fig. 4a).

Type Locality. Near Howick, Auckland, New Zealand .

Distribution. Auckland, Northland (Fig. 5: black circles).

Habitat. Specimens of this species were collected using window traps and flight intercept traps, or by sifting leaf or log litter in hardwood and podocarp forests.

Comments. Specimens of S. hirtalis are difficult to distinguish from those of other species externally, but the shape and size of the antennomeres, size of the eye, presence or absence of hind wings, and genitalia are diagnostic. The type specimens of S. cilipes share these diagnostic characters, and this species has been collected at or near the type locality. For these reasons, we have placed S. cilipes in synonymy with S. hirtalis .