Heterocerus mollinus, Kiesenwetter, 1851

King, Jonas G. & Lago, Paul K., 2012, The variegated mud-loving beetles (Coleoptera: Heteroceridae) of Mississippi and Alabama, with discussion and keys to the species occurring in the southeastern United States, Insecta Mundi 2012 (275), pp. 1-53 : 11

21(19). Phallobase gradually narrowed towards parameres ( Fig. 41 ); dorsally dark brown with anterior angles of pronotum pale; usually with 2 basal, 1 medial, and 2 apical pale markings on the elytra, although some variation occurs ( Fig. 20 ). Extremely common in the Southeast .......... ........................................................................................................ 9. H. mollinus Kiesenwetter

— Phallobase abruptly constricted before parameres (as in Fig. 43,44); elytral markings and color variable. Widespread in North America, but rare in southeastern United States................. 22

22(21). Parameres widely separated posteriorly, curved to almost touching anteriorly, separated by an oval notch ( Fig. 43 ); dorsal surface dark brown to nearly black. Northern U.S. and Canada, southernmost states recorded by Miller(1996)............................... EL H. parrotus (Pacheco)

— Parameres not separated posteriorly, their medial edges slightly divergent anteriorly and not curving inwardly ( Fig. 44 ); color variable. Common in western North America , with two specimens recorded from Florida, and one from Louisiana by Miller (1996).............................. ....................................................................................................... EL H. brunneus Melsheimer

Figures

Figures 32-44. Male genitalia of southeastern Heterocerus species. The ventral view is shown unless otherwise stated. 32-39) Species that lack post-mesocoxal lines. 32) H. fatuus. 33) H. glicki. 34) H. intermuralis. 35) H. angustatus; left - ventral view, right - dorsal view. 36) H. longilobulus. 37) H. pallidus; left - ventral view, right - dorsal view. 38) H. gnatho; left - ventral view, right - dorsal view. 39) H. sandersoni; left - ventral view, center - dorsal view, left - lateral view. 40-44) Species with post-mesocoxal lines. 40) H. sinuosus; left - dorsal view, right - ventral aspect. 41) H. mollinus. 42) H. insolens; left - dorsal view, right - ventral aspect. 43) H. parrotus. 44) H. brunneus.

Figures 18-20. Habiti of large Heterocerus species with post-mesocoxal lines. 18) H. insolens. 19) H. sinuosus. 20) H. mollinus. Specimens 20a and 20c are hypermandibulate. Scale line = 1mm.