Leiopsammodius ocmulgeei, Harpootlian & Gordon & Woodruff, 2000

Harpootlian, Phillip J., Gordon, Robert D. & Woodruff, Robert E., 2000, Review Of The Genus Leiopsammodius Rakovic (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Psammodiini) In America North Of Mexico With Descriptions Of Three New Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (3), pp. 292-299 : 296-297

Leiopsammodius ocmulgeei , new species

Figs. 8–9

Description. Male; length 3.0 mm, width 1.3 mm oblong­oval, subparallel, moderately shining, dark rufocastaneous. Antennae rufotestaceous. Head strongly convex, strongly verrucose, granules large, frequently elongate, base with distinct, darker transverse groove. Clypeus emarginate, angles rounded. Pronotum slightly lobed basally, narrower in front, angles obtusely rounded, faintly emarginate, sides entire, fimbriate basally with coarse, short hairs; surface very finely, sparsely punctate throughout, with three transverse rows of punctures; anterior row subapical, composed of closely spaced, moderate punctures in a groove extending completely across between anterior angles, median row composed of punctures in transverse groove extending inward from lateral margin nearly to median, longitudinal groove that extends from near pronotal base to median row of punctures, posterior row indistinct, composed of a few widely spaced moderate punctures near lateral margins of pronotum; base margined with contiguous band of faint punctures ( Fig. 9 ). Elytra convex, striae deep, moderately, crenately punctate, intervals weakly convex, very finely, irregularly punctate. Metasternum smooth, shining, anterior postcoxal line absent, faint arcuate groove in front of posterior coxal plate, median longitudinal groove obvious, scarcely impressed, anteriorly alutaceous and very shallowly, moderately punctate at sides. Abdominal segments sparsely, minutely punctate and very finely alutaceous, faintly crenate in front. Pygidium eroded, longitudinally divided, faintly alutaceous, apical fringe with setae obsolete. Posterior femora moderately stout, minutely alutaceous, two or three setigerous punctures paralleling posterior edge with similar row along the anterior margin; middle femora ¾ as wide as posterior, basal marginal rows of setae weakly developed apically. Posterior tibiae ⅓ as wide as long, transverse ridges absent; posterior spurs narrow, faintly foliaceous, the longer as long as the first three tarsal segments combined; first tarsal segment elongate, triangular, equal in length to the next three together. Parameres elongate, ventral notch hooked apically ( Fig. 8 ).

Variations. Length 2.7 to 3.2 mm, width 1.1–1.4 mm; pygidium with fringe setae often obsolete, but as many as five; pronotum with transverse grooves frequently faintly impressed, almost obsolete, especially posterior row. The pronotal grooves and punctation are quite variable, from nearly obsolete to distinct.

Material Studied. Holotype: Georgia, Tattnal Co., 2 mi. E. 147, along the Ohoopee River , 1­VIII­1998, at blacklight, R. Morris ( FSCA) . Paratypes: Georgia, Wheeler Co., along the Ocmulgee River , Summer 1996, at blacklight, E. Donaldson (15); Tattnal Co. , 2 mi. E. 147, along the Ohoopee River, 1­VIII­ 1998, at blacklight, R. Morris (28) . Paratypes in the following collections: FSCA, USNM, BMNH, and the personal collection of Roy Morris, Lakeland, FL .

Remarks. This species apparently has a very restricted range since it is readily attracted to blacklight. The first series was collected in a blacklight trap operated for Roy Morris over the summer of 1996 without specific date information recorded.

Etymology. Named for the Ocmulgee River, locale where this species is known.

Figures

Figs. 8–9. Leiopsammodius ocmulgeei. 8) male genitalia; 9) dorsal aspect.