Eleodes (Promus) anachronus Triplehorn, 2010

Triplehorn, Charles A., 2010, Notes on Three Species ofEleodesEschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Description of a New Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (4), pp. 373-378 : 373-376

Eleodes (Promus) anachronus Triplehorn , new species

( Figs. 1, 2 ; Map 1)

Elaeodes [sic] blaptoides [sic]; Champion (1884: 78) [misidentification and unjustified emendation of Eleodes blapoides Eschscholtz, 1829 ]

The four Mexican species originally described by Eschscholtz were not well documented by Champion (1884), who had only the brief descriptions from which to draw his conclusions, and only Eleodes angusta Eschscholtz does he treat with confidence. He states (p. 85) that “it is a common species in Mexico and sent by Höge in good numbers”. He reported it from Jalapa and San Andres Tuxtla (Veracruz), Esperanza (Puebla), Toluca ( México), and the states of Oaxaca and Guanajuato. My major concern here is the identity of Eleodes blapoides Eschscholtz [original spelling], to which Champion (p. 78) somewhat doubtfully referred three female examples, without explanation, and used the spelling “ Elaeodes [sic] blaptoides [sic]”. Through the courtesy of Maxwell V. L. Barclay, I was able to study the three specimens mentioned by Champion under the name E. blaptoides . One is labeled “Yolos”, probably from Oaxaca, one is labeled “Oazaca”, and the third is labeled “Mex”.

In 2001, I borrowed a large number of specimens of Eleodes from the Berlin Museum, through the courtesy of Dr. Manfred Uhlig and Mr. Bernd Jaeger. Among them were 21 labeled E. angusta and 33 labeled E. blaptoides , which I decided all represented a single species. I was warned that these were not to be considered types, but were from the museum’ s “Historic Collection”, although some could be syntypes of Eschscholtz species. I believe that it is very probable that Eschscholtz described the male and female as two distinct species, i.e., E. blapoides and E. angusta . Upon examination and careful consideration, I find that the species Champion was calling E. blaptoides is actually

Maps 1–4. Eleodes spp. , distribution maps. 1) E. anachronus , square = state record only; 2) E. hepburni ;

3) E. spinipes with subspecies distributions indicated; 4) E. arcuatus .

undescribed, and I describe it herein. Eleodes blapsoides [sic] (in Dejean 1833: 189; Solier 1848: 253) and Elaeodes [sic] blaptoides [sic] (in Champion 1884: 78) are incorrect subsequent spellings of E. blapoides and unavailable as names. Prevailing usage of any of these spellings in the sense of ICZN Article 33.3 cannot be demonstrated, although it is clear that Eschscholtz misspelled Dejean’ s manuscript name. Similarly, E. angusta seems to be an altered Klug manuscript name, E. angustata (see Dejean 1833: 189).

Holotype, Female. Robust, somewhat ventricose, black, glossy. Head: 5/8 as wide as pronotum, clypeus truncate, surface alutaceous, finely and not very densely punctate, punctures subequal in size to eye facets, fronto-clypeal suture evident only laterally, sides not raised above antennal insertions, eyes narrow, elongate; antennae extending one antennomere beyond pronotal base. Pronotum: Transverse, length 3/4 width, anterior margin subtruncate, angles obtuse, slightly prominent, sides uniformly, strongly margined, widest at middle, basal margin rounded, angles obtuse, surface finely, rather sparsely punctate, punctures similar to those of head. Elytra: Somewhat ventricose, sides evenly rounded from base to apex, widest near middle, apex bifid, surface finely alutaceous, punctate- striate, punctures narrowly spaced, not deeply impressed, not in grooves, intervals slightly convex, minutely punctate. Ventral surface: Minutely alutaceous, hypomeron smooth, finely wrinkled, prosternal process with apex secondarily reflexed, prominent; abdominal sterna moderately muricately punctured; profemur distinctly notched subapically, all tibiae slender, tarsi with plantar surfaces clothed with stout setae; protibia with stout spurs subequal in size. Size: Length 24.5 mm, width 9.8 mm.

Allotype, Male. Slightly more slender than female, profemora strongly dentate, with apex of tooth curved downward, otherwise very similar to female; at least two basal protarsomeres with plantar surfaces clothed with fine, silky, golden setae (the right protarsus is missing and all that remains of the left one are the two basal tarsomeres). Size: Length 26.2 mm, width 11.4 mm.

Type Material. Holotype: Mexico, Oaxaca, Achazumba, 20 Oct., 1963, A. B. Lau; allotype: Puebla, Hwy 150, 5 km n of Tehuacan , N18°32′25″, W97°25′4″, 10-VI-2008, A. D. Smith, both in NMNH . Paratypes (15 females, 1 male): MEXICO. Hidalgo (2 mi n of Tasquillo, Río Tula , 5300 ft, R. S. Miller, 2, OSUC) ; Jalisco (agricultural area n. of Ajijic ), 12-VIII-1961, 6200 ft, W. L. Nutting and sons, syrup can trap ( UAIC) ; Oaxaca (Yolos, Sallé, TNMH, Champion material); Oazaca (sic), ( TNMH, Champion material); 7 mi n of Huajuapan de Leon , 6000 ft, 1-V11-1982, C. A. Triplehorn, R. S. Miller, 2, ( OSUC) ; 11 mi n of Miltipec , 3-III-1972, F. Parker, D. Miller, ( UAIZ) ; Puebla (8 mi e of Tlacotepec , 20-VIII-1965, A. Raske, ( CISC); env. Tehuacan, L. Diguet, 1903, MNHN) ; Queretaro (14.5 km n of Rt 45 and 45D intersection, 14- 1X-1980, S. Nichols, 2, OSUC) ; San Luiz Potosí (Río Verde, Media Luna , 1000 m, 19-VI-1982, C. A. Triplehorn, OSUC) ; Veracruz ( Cordoba , 11-II- 1965, A. B. Lau, NMNH) ; Tamaulipas, no exact location or collector (2, NMNH, Casey bequest) .

Variation. The type series is rather uniform in size and shape. The greatest variation is in the elytral striae. In some specimens, the punctures are large and in series, with a single row of smaller ones on the intervals. In others, the punctures are very small and shallow, so as to be scarcely discernable. It is difficult to study variation in such a small series, especially when no more than two were collected together. The variation does not appear to be geographic.

Etymology. An anachronism (from Greek) is a thing misplaced in time. This species certainly fits this criterion. The name is derived from Greek, ana = back, chronos = time.

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Eleodes spp., habiti. 1) E. anachronus, female; 2) E. anachronus, male; 3) E. hepburni, female; 4) E. hepburni, male; 5) E. spinipes spinipes, female; 6) E. spinipes spinipes, male; 7) E. spinipes ventricosus, female; 8) E. spinipes ventricosus, male; 9) E. spinipes macrurus, female; 10) E. spinipes macrurus, male; 11) E. arcuatus, female; 12) E. arcuatus, male.