Alaudes mojavensis 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 : 254-255

Alaudes mojavensis Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0911ADB1-38B8-4FA5-83BF-C096BFDA766B ( Figs. 2D , 5 , 10 )

Diagnosis. Lateral aspect of pronotum with slender, hair-like setae; sides of pronotum sinuate, expanding anteriorly, anterior angles rounded; elytral vestiture erect, slender and hair-like throughout, always much longer than twice width.

Description. Length 1.87 mm. width 0.9 mm. Color dark brown, luster opaque. Head: Transverse, broader behind, anterior margin broadly rounded, with central aspect concave. Laterally with slight indentation before eye level. Upper surface centrally, transversely, shallowly rounded, with concave indentations laterally, upper and lower surface completely covered with short, appressed scales. Mentum short, transverse, hexagonal, with lateral areas somewhat extended, covered centrally with appressed scales, ligula visible, with long, appressed scales oriented laterally. Maxillary and labial palps with apical segments elongate-oval. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex of bare area with small, shallow pore. Anterior margin slightly concave, lateral aspect with anterior angles produced anterolaterally, narrowly rounded, posteriorly narrowing, slightly concave before base. Posterior margin bearing longer, flattened setal clumps with long, appressed scales, clumps more pronounced in central bare area and on posterior lateral margin. Lateral aspect of pronotum with long, thin setae. Elytra: Slightly inflated, surface punctate-striate, punctures small, set in even striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; punctures small but impressed, more so near lateral margins. Alternate intervals mostly bare, with 7 series of long, thin setae. Anterior margin concave with 2 bare, depressed areas laterally and 1 centrally and 2 more 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 laterally on prosternal process; metasternum covered with appressed setae, with few scattered punctures, extending to sterna; first visible sternite with 2 shallow grooves extending laterally from sternal base; sternal ratios (anterior to posterior midline) 1:0.7:0.5:0.3:0.6. Legs: Covered with short, appressed scales, with leg ratios (femur:tibia) pro– 1:0.6; meso– 0.8:0.7; meta–. 0.9:0.8. Tarsal length ratios as follows (base to apex): protarsus 1:1: 1:1:2.7; mesotarsus 1.3:1.3:1.3:1.3:3; metatarsus 2.3:1.7:1.3:4. Genitalia: Male ( Fig. 2D ) with basal piece and parameres about equal in length; basal piece slightly broader than parameres, nearly flat. Parameres curved basally at midpoint.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male. CALIFORNIA: Kern Co.: nr. Pearblossom, V-5- 1980, Berlese 80-167 in Joshua tree. Deposited in CASC.

Other Material Examined. (227 specimens from 14 localities) – ARIZONA: Maricopa Co.: Gila Riv. at Airport Rd. , 33°21′06″N, 112°30′13″W, IV-29-2011 to V-19-2011, (fake burrow) = black pitfalls, W. B. Warner (10) WBWC ; same locality except barrier pit trap on river sand, W. B. Warner (5) WBWC ; same locality except barrier pit trap on sandy area, W. B. Warner (1) WBWC ; same locality except human dung baited pitfall trap, W. B. Warner (1) WBWC . CALIFORNIA: Inyo Co.: 2 mi. N, 2 mi. W Lone Pine, Alabama Hills , 4400′, III-31 to IX-11-1981, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, D. Giuliani (1) RLAC ; 2.3 mi. E. Big Pine, White Mountains , 4000′, IV-25 to VII-22-1982, Antifreeze Pit Trap, D. Giuliani (1) CDFA ; 4 mi. ESE Cantil, Fremont Valley , 2000′ IV-16 to IX-7-1982, Ethylene Glycol Pit Trap, sand dunes, D. Giuliani (14) CDFA ; same locality except X-7-1982 to IV-4- 1984, Ethylene Glycol Pit Trap, sand dunes, D. Giuliani (1) CDFA ; Owens River Gorge, 4450′, V- 12-1982 to XII-20-1982, Antifreeze Pitfall Trap, D. Giuliani (1) CASC ; same data except (1) CDFA ; Mono Co.: Inyo-White Mts., Westgard Pass , Poleta Cave , V-21 to XI-5-1988, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap #1, R. L. Aalbu (1) RLAC ; San Bernardino Co.: 17 mi. SE Baker, Cronise Valley , V-19 to VI-8- 1980, Antifreeze Pit Trap on sand dune with creosote and sand verbenas, R. Hardy (2) CDFA ; Barstow , V-30-1941, G.P. Mackenzie (1) UCRC ; Basin exit, 3 mi. ENE Cronise dry lk., IV-8/13- 1993, pit trap at entrance of Messor nest, R. Aalbu (2) RLAC ; same locality except pit trap at Messor nest, R. Aalbu (1) CDFA ; same data except (99) RLAC ; 35°05′47.7N, 116°15′42.6W, 3398′ III-17/ 20-2011, pitfall traps, R. Aalbu (2) RLAC ; same locality except IV-20/23-2011, pit trap at Messor nest, R. Aalbu (1) CIDA ; same data except (48) RLAC ; Bell Mountain , V-18 to VI-8-1980, Antifreeze Pit Trap along wash in Hymenoclea and Quail bush area, R. Hardy (8) CDFA ; Pilot Knob Valley , 12 mi. S, 18 mi. E Trona, III-20-1992 to III-25-1993, Antifreeze Pit Trap on sand, D. Giuliani (2) CDFA ; 2100′, IV-1-1988 to IV-2- 1989, Antifreeze Pit Trap, D. Giuliani (2) CDFA . UTAH: Washington Co. : 2 mi. E Washington, V-20 to VI-8-1980, Antifreeze Pit Trap on sand dune with creosote and sand verbenas, R. Hardy (2) CDFA .

Distribution. California, Mojave Desert, southcentral Arizona, and southwestern corner of Utah.

Collection Data. Sandy areas or sand dunes. Often collected in pitfall traps at entrance to nests of Messor pergandei (Mayr) (Formicidae) . Elevation range 600–1,400 m.

Figures

Fig. 2. Alaudes species, male genitalia. A) A. singularis, B) A. setigera, C) A. californicus, D) A. mojavensis, E) A. coloradoensis, F) A. moenkopii.

Fig. 5. Alaudes mojavensis. 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.