Eleodes curtus Champion, 1884

Thomas, Donald B., 2015, Chaseleodes Thomas: A New Subgenus of Eleodes Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Central Plateau of Mexico, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 122-126 : 123-125

Eleodes curtus Champion, 1884

( Figs. 1 , 2 , 4, 5 )

Elaeodes curta Champion, 1884 . Biologia Centrali- Americana 4: 82, tab. 4, fig. 8.

Eleodes (Melaneleodes) curta: Gebien, 1938 . Katalog der Tenebrioniden, Pt. 2, p. 53.

7) E. connatus ♀.

Diagnosis. Black, elongate, dorsally flattened; pronotum slightly narrower than elytron. Head trapezoidal, clypeal margin concave, surface densely, shallowly punctate. Terminal three antennomeres globular, abruptly wider than preceding eight antennomeres. Mentum simple, subtrapezoidal in outline. Pronotum flat dorsally, widest in anterior half, lateral margins sinuate, anterior margin arcuately concave, posterior margin straight, posterior corners right-angled; surface evenly, finely punctate. Prosternum deflexed with a subapical, posteriorly directed blunt protuberance or cusp. Elytron flattened dorsally, surface vaguely punctate, shallowly rugose. Humeri embracing overlapping posterior pronotum, sides of elytron deflexed more than 90°; truncate posteriorly, the caudal portion essentially vertical. Fold of elytral dorsum at deflection ribbed, subcarinate. Epipleura broad basally, evenly narrowing to apex. Profemur unarmed in both genders. Plantar groove of basal protarsomere bare of spines or setae. Spurs at apex of protibiae stout in females, long and slender in males, the ental spur longer. Length 10–12 mm; width 5–6 mm.

Types. Lectotype (herein designated), male, Toluca , Mexico, Sallé collection, The Natural History Museum ( BMNH) (London, UK) (specimen figured by Champion). The BMNH has three more specimens: one labeled same as type; one labeled Toluca, Mexico, Hoge; one labeled “Calif. Laferte collection”, obviously in error, determined by Laferte as E. laevicollis (from notes provided to the author by C. A. Triplehorn).

Distribution. Mexican states of Estado de México, Michoacán, and Jalisco ( Fig. 8 ).

Remarks. Eleodes curtus is, as Champion (1884) says, somewhat larger than E. connatus . The two species have been collected together near Toluca in mixed series. Pierre (1975) reported finding them in humid forests on the trunks of trees.

Figures

Fig. 1. Eleodes curtus, right second valvifer, dorsal view.

Figs. 2–3. Eleodes (Chaseleodes) species, lateral views showing elytral fold. 2) E. curtus; 3) E. connatus.

Figs. 4–7. Eleodes (Chaseleodes) species, dorsal view. 4) E. curtus ♂; 5) E. curtus ♀; 6) E. connatus ♂;

Fig. 8. Known distribution of Eleodes (Chaseleodes) species.