Earota dentata ( Bernhauer, 1906 )

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2002, A revision of Nearctic species of the genus Earota Mulsant & Rey, 1874 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 92, pp. 1-16 : 5-13

Earota dentata ( Bernhauer, 1906) ( Figs. 1­32 , 34 )

Atheta (Liogluta) dentata Bernhauer, 1906: 342 (publication date: September 30, 1906). Macroterma alutacea Casey, 1906: 335 (publication date: November 22, 1906). Macroterma borealis Casey, 1906: 336 (publication date: November 22, 1906). Atheta (Earota) dentata: Bernhauer, 1907: 393 (as valid species).

Macroterma borealis: Fenyes, 1907: 61 (as valid species).

Atheta dentata: Fenyes, 1908: 60 (as valid species).

Atheta alutacea: Fenyes, 1908: 61 (as valid species).

Atheta borealis: Fenyes, 1908: 61 (as valid species).

Atheta dentata: Blatchley, 1910: 354 (as valid species).

Atheta (Macroterma) dentata: Casey, 1910a: 9 (as valid species).

Atheta (Macroterma) alutacea: Casey, 1910a: 9 (as valid species).

Atheta (Macroterma) borealis: Casey, 1910a: 9 (as valid species).

Atheta (Macroterma) iowensis Casey, 1910a: 10 .

Atheta (Macroterma) alutacea: Casey, 1910b: 106 (as valid species). Atheta (Macroterma) dentata: Casey, 1910b: 106 (as valid species). Atheta (Earota) dentata: Fenyes, 1920: 206 (as valid species).

Atheta (Earota) alutacea: Fenyes, 1920: 206 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ). Atheta (Earota) borealis: Fenyes, 1920: 206 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ). Atheta (Earota) iowensis: Fenyes, 1920: 206 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ). Atheta (Earota) dentata: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 655 (as valid species). Atheta (Earota) alutacea: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 655 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ).

Atheta (Earota) borealis: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 655 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ). Atheta (Earota) iowensis: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 655 (as synonym of A. (E.) dentata ). Earota dentata: Seevers, 1978: 271 (as valid species).

Earota alutacea: Seevers, 1978: 271 (as valid species).

Earota borealis: Seevers, 1978: 271 (as valid species).

Earota iowensis: Seevers, 1978: 271 (as valid species).

Type material. Lectotype of Atheta dentata (here designated),, “Ahwahnee Cal.”, “May”, “ dentata Brh. Cotypus ” (yellow label), “Chicago NHMus M.Bernhauer Collection” ( FMNH); 2 paralectotypes:, “Wawona Cal.”, “June”, “ dentata Bernh. Typus ” (yellow label);, “Pasadena Cal.”, “Mar.”, “ dentata Bh. Cotypus ” (yellow label) ( FMNH).

Lectotype of M. alutacea (here designated),, “N.Y.” (with three black dots under the letters; Ithaca), “ Macroterma alutacea Casey ”, “ CASEY bequest 1925”, “ TYPE USNM 39454” (red label) ( NMNH); 5 paralectotypes:, 4, “N.Y.” (with three black dots under the letters), “ CASEY bequest 1925”, “ alutacea PARATYPE USNM 39454” (red label) ( NMNH).

Lectotype of M. borealis (here designated),, “Subalpine Mt. Wn [Washington]. N.H. vii.7.99”, “ borealis Csy. ”, “ CASEY bequest 1925”, “ TYPE USNM 39455” (red label) ( NMNH).

Lectotype of A. iowensis (here designated),, “Iowa City, Ia. Wickham.”, “ iowensis Csy. ”, “ CASEY bequest 1925”, “ TYPE USNM 39456” (red label); paralectotype, 1 specimen with missing abdomen, “Iowa City, Ia. Wickham.”, “ CASEY bequest 1925”, “ iowensis ­2 PARATYPE USNM 39456” (red label) ( NMNH).

Additional material. CANADA: British Columbia: 39, 17, 7 mi. E Terrace, river debris (Campbell & Smetana), 26­27.vi.1968 ( CNCI, KSEM, SPSU);, 6.2 km S Terrace, 6 km E Hwy. 25, sifting wet moss along falls of small fast stream (J.M.Campbell), 25.viii.1983 ( CNCI);, Shames River, 21 km W Terrace, 2 km N Hwy. 16, sifting alder and deciduous shrub litter (J.M.Campbell), 24.viii.1983 ( SPSU); 2, 2, Creston (D.B.Waddell), 28.iv.1948;, ditto but 10.v.1948;, 8 mi. W Creston, river debris (Campbell & Smetana), 10.vi.1968;, 2 mi. S Salmo (Campbell & Smetana), 9.vi.1968;, Fort Nelson (M.T.Hughes), 26.viii.1948;, Mt. Garibaldi, 14 mi. N Squamish, 4000’ (Campbell & Smetana), 30.v.1968;, Mt. Revelstoke N.P., Eva Lake, 6500’ (J.M. & B.A.Campbell), 25.vii.1971 (all – CNCI); 14 specimens, “Shngan Lake” (A.Fenyes) ( CASC, KSEM, SPSU); Alberta:, Seba, poplar woods (B.Hocking), 19.vii.1954 ( CNCI); Manitoba:, Winnipeg (J.B. Wallis), 24.v.1917 ( CNCI); 2 specimens, ditto but no date ( CASC); Québec:, Saint­Jacques­de­Leeds, 46º16’N 71º23’W, maple forest, 4.vi.1993 ( SPSU); 2, Mont Albert, Parc Gaspesie, 900’ (J.M.Campbell), 12.vii.1972 ( CNCI); UNITED STATES: Maine:, no locality (Frost) ( CASC); New Hampshire: Carroll Co.:, Intervale (A.Fenyes); Coos Co.:, Bretton Woods (A.Fenyes) (all – CASC); county unknown:,, “Mt. Plst.Hse.”, July ( CASC, FMNH); Massachusetts:, no locality (Blanch.); Middlesex Co.:, Tyngs.[boro] (Bowditch) (all – CASC); 3 specimens, ditto but Merrimack River Drift, 25.iv.1901 ( CASC, FMNH);, Framingham (Frost);, S Framingham (Frost) (all – CASC); New Jersey:, no locality, ( NMNH (Casey collection)); Pennsylvania:, no locality (Bang­Haas) ( FMNH); Allegheny Co.:, 2, Pittsburg (Klages), July ( CASC, FMNH); Westmoreland Co.: 11 specimens, Jeannette (H.G.Klages) ( CASC, FMNH, KSEM, SPSU);,, ditto but July ( CASC); Maryland: Baltimore Co.:, Baltimore (F.E.Blaisdell), 10.v.1909; Montgomery Co.:,

, Plummers I. (F.E.Blaisdell), 30.v.1909 (all – CASC); District of Columbia:, Washington (Schwarz), 22.ii.1886 ( FMNH); Virginia:, no locality ( NMNH (Casey collection)); North Carolina: 3 specimens, no locality ( CASC, FMNH); Yancey Co:, 17 km S Burnsville, Mt. Mitchell, near summit, 35º45’58”N 82º15’51”W, 2050m, in forest litter, Picea rubens , Abies fraseri (V.I.Gusarov) , 3.vi.2001; Swain Co.:, 19 km NW Cherokee, Clingmans Dome, S slope, 35º33.66’N 83º29.9’W, 2000m, in forest litter, under young Abies fraseri (V.I.Gusarov) , 1.vi.2001; Mitchell Co.:, Blue Ridge Parkway, 9 km SSW Spruce Pine, 35º50.3’N 82º06.7’W, 1000m, in forest litter, Quercus , Betula , Rhododendron (V.I.Gusarov) , 17.iii.2001 (all – SPSU); Buncombe Co.: 4 specimens, Asheville, 2.ii.1913 ( CASC, FMNH); Alabama: Lee Co.: 3, 4, Auburn (E.J.Kiteley), 14.x.1982 ( CNCI, SPSU); Ohio:, no locality (Hill) ( CASC); Hamilton Co.:, Cincinnati ( NMNH (Casey collection)); 2 specimens, ditto but (Dury) ( CASC); Illinois: Union Co.: 21, 16; Pine Hills Field Station (J.M.Campbell), 15­22.1967 ( CNCI, KSEM, SPSU); Kankakee Co.:,, Hopkins Park, sand dune area, molasses trap in burrow of Geomys b. illinoensis (H.S.Dybas & R.L.Wenzel), 28.v.1946 ( FMNH); Indiana:, no locality ( NMNH (Casey collection)); Iowa: 2, no locality ( NMNH (Casey collection)); Kansas: Douglas Co.:, 1.5 km N Lawrence, right bank of Kansas River, in heaps of rotting wood chips, 38º58.96’N 95º14.62’W, 200m (V.I.Gusarov), 1.v.1999 ( SPSU); Colorado:, no locality (Klages) ( CASC); Boulder Co.:, 2 mi. W Boulder, 5400’ (J.M.Campbell), 8.viii.1973 ( CNCI); Idaho: Latah Co.:, Juliaetta ( FMNH); Montana: Flathead Co.: 3 specimens, Kalispell (Wickham), June ( CASC); Arizona: Apache Co.: 5, 5, Chuska Mts., Wagonwheel Campground, 2250m (J.M.Campbell), 12.vii.1976 ( CNCI, KSEM, SPSU); Navajo Co.:,, 2 mi. W Black Lake, Sitgreaves National Forest, 2240m (J.M.Campbell), 13.vii.1976 ( CNCI); 2, 4, ditto but ex squirrel midden, 14.vii.1976 ( CNCI, SPSU); Coconino Co.: 9 specimens, Flagstaff (A.Fenyes) ( CASC, KSEM, SPSU); New Mexico: Otero Co.:, Lincoln National Forest, 2 mi. SE Cloudcroft, 8500’ (A.Smetana), 13.vii.1969 ( CNCI); 4, ditto but 1 mi. SE Cloudcroft, 8750’, 13­18.vii.1969 ( CNCI);, ditto but 14.vii.1969 ( CNCI); Lincoln Co.: 2, Sierra Blanca Ski Area, 10600’ (A.Smetana), 13.vii.1969 ( CNCI); 3, 4, ditto but 17.vii.1969 ( CNCI, SPSU); San Miguel Co.: 5 specimens, El Porvenir (A.Fenyes) ( CASC); Nevada: Lander Co.:,, 17 mi. S Austin, Big Creek Canyon, 7400 ft (L.Herman), 21.vi.1987 ( AMNH); Alaska:, Hess Creek, mi. 24 of Wales Highway, 65º40’N 149º10’W, (J.M.Campbell & A.Smetana), 1.vii.1978 ( CNCI); Washington: Pierce Co.:, Mt. Rainier National Park, N Puyallup River, 3700’ (A. & Z. & D.Smetana), 10.viii.1973 ( CNCI); Oregon: Klamath Co.: 5, 5, 11 mi. NE Bly, Deming Creek, 5000’ (J.Schuh & J.M.Campbell), 21.vii.1979 ( CNCI, SPSU); Lake Co.:

, 31.3 mi. NW Lake View, Forest Roads 28 & 3428; 5400 ft, spring runoff, alder litter near stream (L.Herman), 31.vii.1992 ( AMNH); Baker Co.:, 12 mi. NW Unity, 3 mi. E of Forest Road 2675, W Fork Burnt River, 4600 ft (L.Herman), 28.vii.1992 ( AMNH); Linn Co.:, Albany (Wickham), 15.vii.1923 ( CASC); California: Los Angeles Co.: 34 specimens, Pasadena (A.Fenyes), January ( CASC; FMNH, KSEM, SPSU); 3 specimens, ditto but December ( CASC);, ditto but iv.1906; 7 specimens, ditto but no date; 3 specimens, Mt. Wilson (A.Fenyes); 4 specimens, mountains near Claremont ( Baker);, Redondo, April (all – CASC); Marin Co.: 6 specimens Glenn Ranch ( CASC, FMNH); Mariposa Co.: 1 specimen, Summerdale (A.Fenyes) ( CASC); Mono Co.:, 6 mi. SW Toms Place, 9000’ (A.Smetana), 8.viii.1969 ( CNCI); Placer Co.: 3 specimens, Applegate (A.Fenyes) ( CASC); San Bernardino Co.:, San Bernardino Mts, 1 mi. E Fallsvale, 6200’ (A.Smetana), 10.iii.1983 ( CNCI); 6 specimens, San Bernardino Mts. ( CASC); San Diego Co.:, Mt. Palomar, 5000’ (J.M.Campbell), 27.xi.1981 ( CNCI);, Oceanside (A.Fenyes); San Francisco Co.:, (Blaisdell), July; Santa Clara Co.: 5 specimens, Los Gatos (A.Fenyes); Sonoma Co. :, Occidental, 4.vi.1920 (all – CASC); county unknown: 3 specimens, Miami, June ( CASC, FMNH); 2 specimens, Sugar Pine (A.Fenyes) ( CASC).

Diagnosis. Earota dentata can be distinguished from the West Palaearctic E. reyi by having subquadrate antennal article 4, more transverse articles 5­10, more narrow median lobe of aedeagus (in parameral view), more narrow medial tubercle on male tergum 7 and protruding apical lobe on male tergum 8.

Description. Length 3.0­ 4.5 mm. Dark brown, elytra and legs lighter, reddish brown to brownish yellow.

Head subquadrate, surface glossy, on disk with weak isodiametric microsculpture, punctation fine, distance between punctures equals 2­3 times their diameter. Eyes 1.2­1.5 times as long as temples (seen from above). Second antennal article as long as third, article 4 subquadrate, articles 5­10 transverse (width to length ratio 1.3­1.6), last article as long as three preceding combined ( Fig. 6 ).

Pronotum transverse, 1.2­1.3 times as wide as head, width to length ratio 1.2­1.3, broadest at middle, anterior margin straight, lateral and posterior margins convex; surface glossy, punctation and microsculpture as on head. Elytra 1.2­1.4 times as wide and 1.3­1.4 times as long (measured from humeral angle) as pronotum, 1.2­1.3 times as wide as long, glossy, microsculpture and punctation as on head, punctures slightly asperate.

Abdominal terga glossy, with fine punctation and microsculpture. Terga 3­6 with microsculpture consisting of transverse waves, tergum 7 with microsculpture of transverse waves or strongly transverse meshes. On terga 3­5 distance between punctures equals 2­5 times their diameter, on terga 6­7 distance between punctures equals 3­6 times their diameter, in some specimens tergum 7 impunctate along midline.

Male tergum 7 with short medial carina in front of anterior margin ( Fig.15 ). Male tergum 8 with protruding lobe, which is emarginate apically ( Fig. 16 ). Posterior margin of male sternum 8 convex ( Fig. 17 ). Aedeagus as in Figs. 20­21, 24­32 .

Female tergum 8 with convex posterior margin ( Fig. 18 ). Sternum 8 with slightly concave posterior margin ( Fig. 19 ). Spermatheca as in Figs. 22­23 .

Discussion. Casey (1910b) believed that E. dentata , described by Bernhauer (1906) from California, can be distinguished from E. alutacea by smaller and more narrow body.

However, both small and large specimens are found in the same samples in different parts of North America and therefore the size alone cannot be used to assign the population from California to a separate species. The types of E. dentata and other examined specimens from California are similar to the specimens from other regions of North America in both external characters and genitalia.

The types of the three species described by Casey (1906, 1910a) are similar to the types of E. dentata in both external characters and genitalia and I agree with the synonymy established by Fenyes (1920) and accepted by Bernhauer and Scheerpeltz (1926).

The shape of the apex of median lobe of aedeagus varies slightly ( Figs. 25­28 ) but no gaps or geographical clines were detected in examined material. This makes E. dentata the only valid species of Earota known in North America.

Distribution. Widespread in Canada and United States ( Fig. 34 ).

Natural History. The specimens of E. dentata were collected in leaf litter, in moss, in river debris and in burrows of Geomys .

Figures

FIGURE 34. Geographical distribution of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) ().

FIGURES 1 ­ 5. Mouthparts of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (Terrace, British Columbia). 1 – labrum; 2 – epipharynx; 3 – left mandible, dorsal view; 4 – left mandible, ventral view; 5 – right mandible, dorsal view. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 6 ­ 12. Mouthparts and antenna of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (Terrace, British Columbia). 6 – antenna, 7 – right maxilla, ventral view; 8 – right lacinia, dorsal view; 9 – right galea, dorsal view; 10 – prementum; 11 – hypopharynx; 12 – mentum. Scale bar 0.4 mm (6), 0.2 mm (7), 0.1 mm (8 ­ 12).

FIGURES 13 ­ 15. Details of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (Terrace, British Columbia). 13 – pronotum; 14 – mesometathorax, ventral view; 15 – male tergum 7. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 16 ­ 19. Details of abdominal segment 8 of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (16, 18 ­ 19, Terrace, British Columbia; 17, Black Lake, Arizona). 16 – male tergum 8; 17 – male sternum 8; 18 – female tergum 8; 19 – female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 20 ­ 28. Genitalia of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (20 ­ 21, 25 ­ 26, Black Lake, Arizona; 22 ­ 24, Terrace, British Columbia; 27 ­ 28, Pine Hills Station, Illinois). 20 – median lobe of aedeagus, parameral view; 21 – median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view; 22 ­ 23 – spermatheca; 24 – apical lobe of left paramere, side facing median lobe; 25, 27 – apex of median lobe, parameral view; 26, 28 – apex of median lobe, lateral view. Scale bar 0.4 mm (20 ­ 23), 0.2 mm (24 ­ 28).

FIGURES 29 ­ 33. Male genitalia of Earota dentata (Bernhauer) (29 ­ 32, Terrace, British Columbia; 33, Mt. Pagano, Italy) and E. reyi (Kiesenwetter). 29, 33 – everted internal sac of aedeagus, parameral view; 30 – everted internal sac of aedeagus, lateral view; 31 – medial lamellae, ventral view; 32 – copulatory piece, ventral view. Scale bar 0.2 mm (29 ­ 30, 33), 0.1 mm (31 ­ 32).