Alaudes vizcainensis Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith, 2018

Aalbu, Rolf L., Caterino, Michael S. & Smith, Aaron D., 2018, Studies in the Cnemeplatiini I: A New Subtribe and Revision of the Genus Alaudes Horn (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Cnemeplatiini), with Descriptions of New Species from the Southwestern USA and Mexico, Including Notes on Distribution and Biology, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (2), pp. 249-268 : 258-259

Alaudes vizcainensis Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:02C8F9AB-FB8D-440C-81A4-04C759715D28 ( Figs. 1D , 8 , 10 )

Diagnosis. Elytral vestiture erect, slender and hair-like throughout, setae always much longer than twice width; lateral aspect of pronotum slender, with hair-like setae; pronotum regularly slightly expanding anteriorly, anterior angles acute ( Fig. 8 ).

Description. Length 1.86 mm. width 0.86 mm. Color dark brown, luster opaque. Head: Transverse, broader behind, anterior margin broadly rounded, with central aspect concave. Laterally with indentation at eye level. Upper surface transversely shallowly rounded, upper and lower surface completely covered with short, appressed scales. Mentum short, transverse, covered with appressed setae; ligula barely visible with long, laterally produced scales. Maxillary palpi short, apical segment elongate-oval. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, nearly rectangular, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex with small pore. Anterior margin very slightly concave, lateral aspect with anterior angles not produced, broadly rounded laterally, posteriorly narrowing, very slightly concave before base. Posterior margin bearing 2 pairs of longer, flattened setal clumps, 1 positioned around central bare area with very long, appressed scales and 1 on posterior lateral margin with moderately long, appressed scales. Elytra: Slightly inflated, surface finely punctate-striate, punctures set in nearly even striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; punctures small, more impressed near lateral margins. Intervals appearing mostly bare, with series of long, fine setae. Anterior margin concave with 2 more depressed areas midlaterally and 1 centrally and 4 alternately elevated areas of concentrated scales corresponding to areas on posterior margin of thorax. Venter: Prosternal process vertically convex between procoxae, mesosternum not excavate; Prosternum bare except central aspect with rounded scales extending on prosternal process; metasternum with few scattered punctures, extending to first 3 visible sterna; first visible sternite with barely visible groves extending laterally from sternal base; sternal ratios (anterior to posterior midline) 1:.7:0.4:0.3:0.5. Legs: Leg ratios (femur:tibia) pro- 1:0.8; meso- 1.1:1; meta- 1.3:1.1; Tarsal length ratios (base to apex): protarsus 1:1:1:1: 2.3; mesotarsus 1:1:1:1:3; metatarsus 3:1.3:1.3:4.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male. MEXICO: BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: 7 km N Rancho Tablon , 27°37 ʹ N, 113°21 ʹ W, 130 m, III-18-1991 to VII- 13-1991, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap #2, W. H. Mary H., Cynthia J., Karen D. Clark & Jane E. Luther. Deposited in CASC.

PARATYPES: (Four specimens from three localities) – MEXICO: BAJA CALIFORNIA: 11.3 km N Guerrero Negro , IV-1976 to V-1977, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, Sand dunes, R. L. Aalbu (1) RLAC ; 14 km S. Rosarito , 28°30′N, 114°02′W, IV-8.1998 to IV-9.1998, desert, assc. with Pheidole vistana, A. V. Suarez (1) RLAC . BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: 22 km SW Vizcaina , 27°34′N, 113°21′W 40 m, VII-6-1991 to V-14- 1992, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, W. H. Clark & P. E. Blom (1) CIDA ; 7 km N Rancho Tablon , 27°37′N, 113°21′W, 130m, III-12-1986 to III-18- 1991, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, W. H. & Ellen M. Clark (1) CIDA .

Figures

Fig. 1. Alaudes species. A) A. californicus, head showing eye facet, B) A. coloradoensis, head showing eye facet, C) A. californicus, head, ventral view, D) A. vizcainensis, head, ventral view, E) A. californicus, pronotum, dorsal view, F) A. singularis, pronotum, dorsal view.

Fig. 8. Alaudes vizcainensis. A) Dorsal habitus, B) Lateral habitus, C) Ventral habitus.

Fig. 10. Distribution of Alaudes species. Purple circles = A. californicus; Green circles = A. mojavensis; Brown circles = A. coloradoensis; Blue circles = A. moenkopii; Black circles = A. vizcainensis; Yellow circles = A. singularis; Red circles = A. setigera; Tan circles = A. alternata.