Ecarinosphaerula Hatch, 1993

Peck, Stewart B. & Cook, Joyce, 2013, Systematics and distributions of the genera Cyrtusa Erichson, Ecarinosphaerula Hatch, Isoplastus Horn, Liocyrtusa Daffner, Lionothus Brown, and Zeadolopus Broun of the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Leiodinae: Leiodini), Insecta Mundi 2013 (310), pp. 1-32 : 22

Ecarinosphaerula Hatch

Ecarinosphaerula Hatch, 1929: 2 (as a subgenus of Leiodes ). Type species: Anisotoma ecarinata Horn, 1880 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Body moderately flattened, oblong. Antenna with 11 antennomeres, with 5-antennomere club interrupted by small antennomere 8. Mandibles moderately long, without distinct teeth. Ventral side of head without antennal grooves. Pronotum transverse, about as wide as elytra. Elytra longer than wide. Prosternum short in front of procoxae. Mesosternum oblique, without median longitudinal carina. Metasternum longer than first two visible abdominal sternites combined. Abdomen with 6 visible sternites (sternites III–VIII) in both sexes. Legs moderately slender; all tibiae spinose on outer margin. Tarsal formula 5-5- 4 in both sexes. Males distinguished by weakly expanded protarsi and mesotarsi, and by toothlike expansion of lower margin of metafemur. The distribution of the genus is western Nearctic ( Newton 1998).

Discussion. We have examined five previously unreported specimens of Ecarinosphaerula . The label data of the specimens are as follows: “Pasadena/ Cal.// H.C. Fall Collection” (1 female, MCZC); “ UNITED STATES: Cal., Tulare Co. / Sequoia Nat. Park, 7000’/ Halstead Creek/ 29.V.1984 / R. Baranowski” (1 male, SBPC); “CA: Monterey Co. / 36˚04.33’N, 121˚34.95’W/ UC Big Creek Reserve/ vi.29-vii.6.2002/ M. Caterino, FIT(11)” (2 males, SBMN); “ UNITED STATES: CA: Marin Co., 2kmS/ Olema, N38˚00.5’W122˚46’/ Mixed ravine forest FIT, 20m / 9.V-11.VI.03, S. Peck, 03-20” (2 males, SBPC).

There are at least two distinct species among these specimens, based on examination of male genitalia. The original description of the species E. ecarinata ( Horn 1880: 292) was based on two specimens from western Nevada, with a label with the word “Morrison”, whom we assume was the collector, and which is not a locality. One of these specimens appears to be a female and bears a label as being the (unpublished?) lectotype (MCZC type 3012). An additional specimen, not seen by us, was reported by Hatch (1957) as E. ecarinata from Penticton, British Columbia. At this time, with the paucity of material of this genus, we cannot provide more information.