Alaudes coloradoensis Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith, 2018

Aalbu, Rolf L., Caterino, Michael S. & Smith, Aaron D., 2018, Studies in the Cnemeplatiini I: A New Subtribe and Revision of the Genus Alaudes Horn (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Cnemeplatiini), with Descriptions of New Species from the Southwestern USA and Mexico, Including Notes on Distribution and Biology, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (2), pp. 249-268 : 255-256

Alaudes coloradoensis Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:18422FDA-8D92-4574-BC7F-29ED4012E95E ( Figs. 1B , 2E , 6 , 10 , 11F )

Diagnosis. Lateral aspect of pronotum with short, clavate setae. Elytral vestiture slender and hair-like throughout, never clavate-lanceolate, of two sizes, length of longest setae equal to or longer than apical three antennomeres combined, always much longer than twice width; punctures fine, distance between punctures distinctly longer than size of puncture, body wider, larger. Anterior margin of head deeply excavate, lateral, basal aspect of head with sublateral indentation, pronotum with lateral apical aspect strongly expanded subapically, Colorado Desert species.

Description. Length 1.7 mm. width 0.79 mm. Color dark brown, luster opaque. Head: Transverse, much broader behind, anterior margin broadly rounded, with central aspect concave. Laterally with indentation before eye level. Upper surface transversely shallowly rounded, except for 2 shallowly concave areas postero-laterally; upper and lower surface completely covered with short, appressed scales. Antenna 11-segmented, compact, first 2 antennomeres broader than next 6, last 3 forming compact club. Mentum short, transverse, covered with appressed setae; ligula barely visible with long, antero-laterally produced scales. Maxillary palpi short, apical segment elongate-oval. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex with small, shallow pore. Anterior margin nearly straight except 2 small, concave areas before lateral angles that are somewhat produced, lateral aspect anteriorly, broadly rounded, posteriorly concave before base. Posterior margin bearing longer, flattened setal clumps with long, appressed scales, clumps more pronounced in central bare area and on posterior lateral margin. Lateral aspect of pronotum with appressed scales. Elytra: Slightly inflated, surface punctate-striate, punctures small, set in even striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; punctures small but impressed, more so near lateral margins. Alternate intervals mostly bare, with 7 series of long, thin setae. Anterior margin concave with 2 bare, depressed areas laterally and 1 centrally and 2 more elevated areas of concentrated scales corresponding to areas on posterior margin of thorax. Venter: Prosternal process vertically convex between procoxae, mesosternum not excavate; Prosterum bare except central aspect with rounded scales, extending laterally on prosternal process; metasternum covered with appressed setae, with few scattered punctures, extending to sterna; first visible sternite with 2 deep grooves extending laterally from sternal base; sternal ratios (anterior to posterior midline) 1:0.8:0.6:0.3:0.7. Legs: Covered with short, appressed scales, with leg ratios (femur:tibia) pro- 1:0.7; meso- 0.8:0.5; meta- 0.9:0.7. Tarsal length ratios as follows (base to apex): protarsus 1:1:1:1:2.3; mesotarsus 1:1:1:1: 2.3; metatarsus 1.7:2:1.3:3.3. Genitalia: Male ( Fig. 2E ) with parameres longer than basal piece; basal piece and parameres broad. Basal piece nearly flat. Parameres only slightly curved basally and past midpoint.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male. CAL- IFORNIA: Riverside Co.: Lamb Cyn., 2 mi. NW Gilman Hot Springs, 1,520′, V-4-1987 to III-7- 1988, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, K. Cooper. Deposited in CASC. PARATYPES: (15 specimens from four localities) – CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co., Lamb Cyn., 2 mi. NW Gilman Hot Springs, 1520′, V-4-1987 to III-7-1988, Ethylene Glycol Pitfall Trap, K. Cooper (12) RLAC; same data except K. Cooper (2) RLAC; Painted Canyon, IX- 13-1978 to I-7-1979, Ethylene Glycol Pit Trap in desert wash, Fred G. Andrews (1) CDFA; same locality except 500′, IX-13-1978 to I-7-1979, Ethylene Glycol Can Trap, Sand Wash- Larrea - Paloverde, R. Aalbu (1) RLAC; same except data Ethylene Glycol pitfall trap at base of Opuntia parryi, Sand Wash- Larrea -Paloverde, Rolf Aalbu (1) RLAC; same localiy except 501′, I-1979 to XII-1979, Ethylene Glycol Can Trap, Sand Wash- Larrea -Paloverde, R. Aalbu (2) RLAC; Whitewater Cyn. Palm Oasis, 2100′, V-18-1978 to IX-13-1979, Ethylene Glycol Pit Trap, F. Andrews & K. Cooper (1) CDFA; same locality except 2200′, V-29 to IX-25-1976, Ethylene Glycol Can Trap: Dupont, trap 12, R. L. Aalbu (1) RLAC; same data except Ethylene Glycol Can Trap: Union Carbide, trap 16, R. L. Aalbu (1) RLAC.

Other Material Examined. CALIFORNIA, Riverside Co., Lamb Cyn., 2 mi. NW Gilman Hot Springs, 1520′, V-4-1987 to III-7-1988, ethylene glycol pitfall trap, K. Cooper (2) RLAC .

Distribution. Restricted to the Colorado Desert in southern California.

Collection Data. In pitfall traps in desert washes, hillsides, at the base of Opuntia parryi Engelm. Sand wash with creosote bush and paloverde. Elevation range 150–700 m.

Figures

Fig. 1. Alaudes species. A) A. californicus, head showing eye facet, B) A. coloradoensis, head showing eye facet, C) A. californicus, head, ventral view, D) A. vizcainensis, head, ventral view, E) A. californicus, pronotum, dorsal view, F) A. singularis, pronotum, dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Alaudes species, male genitalia. A) A. singularis, B) A. setigera, C) A. californicus, D) A. mojavensis, E) A. coloradoensis, F) A. moenkopii.

Fig. 6. Alaudes coloradoensis. A) Dorsal habitus, B) Lateral habitus, C) Ventral habitus.

Fig. 10. Distribution of Alaudes species. Purple circles = A. californicus; Green circles = A. mojavensis; Brown circles = A. coloradoensis; Blue circles = A. moenkopii; Black circles = A. vizcainensis; Yellow circles = A. singularis; Red circles = A. setigera; Tan circles = A. alternata.

Fig. 11. Alaudes species, habitus. A) A. setigera, B) A. singularis, C) A. alternata (type), D) A. californicus, E) A. moenkopii, F) A. coloradoensis.