Agathidium cognatum Matthews, 1887

Miller, Kelly B. & Wheeler, Quentin D., 2004, Two New Genera of Agathidiini from the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions (Coleoptera: Leiodidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (4), pp. 466-487 : 481-483

Agathidium cognatum Matthews, 1887 ; Blackwelder, 1944.

Material Examined. Holotype, $, in BMNH labeled, ‘‘ Type [circular disc with red line around border]/ Sp. Figured. / Totonicapam, 85–10,500 ft Champion. / Agathidium cognatum [handwritten, pink label with black line along bottom]/ B.C.A., Col., II, I./? Liodes [handwritten with another illegible word].’’ Matthews had only a single

482 specimen for this description, and it is a holotype by monotypy. Additional specimens were examined from the following localities: Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Monte Verde , 24 May 1989, 1,520 m, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, and R. Leschen, (1, FMNH) ; Monte Verde , 21 Feb 1983, 1,500 m, D. Lindeman, (4, PECK) ; Puntarenas. Monteverde , 12 Aug 1987, 1,400 m, H. and A. Howden, (2, CNCI) ; Alajuela Penas Blancas , 11 Oct 1986, E. Cruz, (1, CNCI) ; Puntarenas, Rio Guacimal , 26 May 1989, 1,430 m, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, and R. Leschen, (1, FMNH) ; Alajuela Penas Blancas , 20 May 1989, 1,420 m, J. Ashe, R. Brooks, and R. Leschen, (1, FMNH) . Guatemala: Baja Verapaz, 7 km E Purulha , 23 May 1991, 1,600 m, R. Anderson, (1, CNCI) . Honduras: Olancho, La Union Parque Nac. La Muralia , 20 Aug 1994, R. Corudro, (2, FMNH) ; Cortez, Cofradia 25 km N PN Cusuco, 26 Aug 1994, 1,550 m, S. and J. Peck, (1, FMNH) . Mexico: Chiapas, Palenque , 2 Jul 1983, 100 m, Peck and Anderson, (1, PECK) . Hidalgo, Tlanchinol 43 km SW Huejutla, 14 Jun 1983, S. and J. Peck, (16, PECK) ; Hidalgo, Tlanchinol 43 km SW Huejutla, 14 Jun 1983, S. and J. Peck, (1, FMNH) ; Hidalgo, Tlanchinol 43 km SW Huejutla, 1 Aug 1983, 1,490 m, S. and J. Peck, (2, PECK) . Oaxaca, 26 km E Valle Nacional , 25 Jun 1983, 1,220 m, S. and J. Peck, (19, PECK) ; San Luis Potosi, Taman , 20 km SW Tamazunchale, 11 Jun 1983, 350 m, Peck, (1, PECK) ; San Luis Potosi, 20 km W Xilitla , 12 Jun 1983, 1,600 m, S. and J. Peck, (2, PECK) ; Tamaulipas, nr Gomez Farias Rancho del Cielo , 6 Jun 1983, 1,000 m, S. and J. Peck, (23, PECK) ; Tamaulipas, nr Gomez Farias Rancho del Cielo , 6 Jun 1983, 1,000 m, S. and J. Peck, (3, PECK) ; Tamaulipas, nr Gomez Farias Rancho del Cielo , 7 Jul 1983, M. Kaulbars, (1, PECK) ; Vera Cruz, 33 km NE Catemaco, Los Tuxtias Biol. Sta. , 1 Jul 1983, S. and J. Peck, (13, PECK) ; Vera Cruz , 7 km E Huatusco, 22 Jun 1983, 1,250 m, S. and J. Peck, (13, PECK) ; Vera Cruz, 33 km N Catemaco, Los Tuxtlas Biology Stn. , 22 Jun 1984, D.H. Lindeman, (1, CNCI) ; Vera Cruz , 7 km E Huatusco, 22 Jun 1983, 1,250 m, S. and J. Peck, (1, PECK) .

Panama: Chiriqui, La Fortuna Dam , 14 Jun 1982, 1,200 m, B. Gill, (21, PECK) ; Chiriqui, Cerro pelota, 1 Jul 1982, 1,500 m, B. Gill, (18, PECK) ; Chiriqui La Fortuna Dam , 14 Jun 1982, 1,200 m, B. Gill, (6, PECK) ; Panama, El Llano-Carti Rd. , Jun 1982, B. Gill, (13, PECK) ; Chiriqui Cerro Nornito 15 km NE Gualaca, Aug 1982, 1,200 m, B. Gill, (15, PECK) ; Chiriqui Prov. Hornito Finca La Suiza , 29 May 2000, 1,856 m, H. and A. Howden, (12, FMNH) .

Type Locality. Guatemala, Totonicapam , elev. 10,500 ft (Champion) .

Diagnosis. This species is similar to several other species of Gelae (see Diagnosis under G. baen ). It differs from these species in being dorsally very finely, sparsely and inconspicuously punctate. Also, the male median lobe in lateral aspect has the apical portion nearly straight to a narrowly apex ( Fig. 20 ). In ventral aspect the apical portion is evenly narrowed to a narrowly rounded apex ( Fig. 19 ).

Description. Body moderately large (TBL ¼ 2.30–3.01 mm), broad (PNW/TBL ¼ 0.47–0.50), laterally broadly rounded, weakly contractile.

Head brown, clypeus yellow; pronotum brown with yellow around margins; elytra brown to yellow-brown; venter yellow to yellow-brown; antennae and palpi yellow, club of antenna brown; legs yellow-brown.

Head moderately broad (MDL/PHW ¼ 0.65–0.70), dorsally flattened; constricted immediately posterad of eye; very finely and sparsely punctate, surfaces shiny and smooth between punctures; eyes large, rounded, protruding; fronto-clypeal suture continuous, but fine, medially; clypeal margin moderately protruding, extending beyond level of anterolateral margins of frons ( Fig. 31 ); labrum large, quadrate; antennae (ratios: length I:II:III ¼ 2.1:1.0:1.4, width VII:VIII:IX ¼ 1.0:1.0:2.3). Pronotum broad (PNL/PNW ¼ 0.56–0.61), laterally not strongly produced, lateral margins nearly straight, anterolateral angle subquadrate, posterolateral corner distinctive, more angulate than anterolateral corner; punctation similar to that of head. Elytra robust (SEL/ELW ¼ 0.98–1.06); lateral margins broadly rounded; punctation very fine and sparse, similar to pronotum; sutural stria prominent, extending about 1/2 length of elytron. Mesosternum strongly concave posteriorly, with prominent lobe extending ventrally between mesocoxae, anterior portion very narrow. Metasternum broad medially (MTL/MTW ¼ 0.39–0.40).

Male tarsi 5–5–4; pro- and mesobasotarsomeres only slightly expanded and with small ventral field of adhesive setae; metafemur slender, unmodified; metasternal fovea small, inconspicuous, located anterad of middle, with small pencil of fine, long setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect very broad, robust, expanded medially along dorsal margin, apical portion narrowed, elongate, relatively straight ( Fig. 20 ); in ventral aspect broad, apical portion broad, evenly narrowed to somewhat rounded apex, orifice very large ( Fig. 19 ); operculum broad, flat, lateral margins broadly curved, apically deeply and broadly emarginate ( Fig. 19 ); lateral lobes short, broad, apically broadly rounded, without setae ( Figs. 19–20 ).

Female tarsi 5–4–4.

Distribution. This species has been collected from the states of Oaxaca, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, Vera Cruz, Tamaulipas and Chiapas, Mexico and from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.

Discussion. The holotype specimen is a female. However, we are confident that the male specimens and other females assigned to this species are conspecific with the holotype based on similarity in coloration, shape of the head, punctation, size and other characters. This species has been collected extensively from cloud forest or wet forest at low to intermediate elevations (100–1,900 m). The only host data indicate an association with a basidiomycete, Hohenbuehilia sp.

Figures

Figs. 13–20. Gelae spp., median and lateral lobes of aedeagus. Figs. 13–14) G. baen; 13) ventral; 14) lateral. Figs. 15–16) G. donut; 15) ventral; 16) lateral. Figs. 17–18) G. rol; 17) ventral; 18) lateral. Figs. 19–20) G. cognatum; 19) ventral; 20) lateral.

Figs. 24–32. Gelae and Decuria species, heads, dorsal. 24) G. fish; 25) G. belae; 26) G. parile; 27) G. parvulum; 28) G. baen; 29) G. donut; 30) G. rol; 31) G. cognatum; 32) D. newtoni. Bars ¼ 0.25 mm.