Blaiseus mexicanus Douglas

Douglas, Hume, 2009, Revision of Blaiseus Fleutiaux, a Genus Now Known from Asia, Africa and North America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Cardiophorinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (1), pp. 86-100 : 96-97

Blaiseus mexicanus Douglas , new species

(Figs. 3, 5, 13, 24)

Material examined. One male.

Holotype: Male labeled: ‘‘Mex., 17 mi. N./ Hidalgo del Parral / 17.VIII.1967 ’’; [red] ‘‘ HOLOTYPE / Blaiseus / mexicanus/ Douglas 2006,’’ with aedeagus mounted on card ( CNCI), collector unknown .

Type locality: Mexico, Chihuahua State, 27 km north of Hidalgo del Parral (probably: 27.16 ° N, 105.65 ° W, elevation 1,600 m, if this distance is following road) .

Diagnosis. Pterothorax: Elytra with apices not upturned ( Fig. 11 ). Legs: Protibiae with posterior tooth at midlength (Fig. 5). Aedeagus: Free portion of median lobe convex laterally in dorsal profile.

Description. Male: Length 6.0 mm. Integument brown-black ( Fig. 13 ). Head: Antennae reaching to mesocoxae; labrum flat, nasale with ovoid pits anteromesad of antennal fossae. Prothorax: Hypomeron with hind edge weakly sinuate immediately meso-ventrad of hind angles ( Fig. 1 ). Prosternum with ventral surface of prosternal process surface not carinate laterally. Pterothorax: Scutellum with posterior apex pointed (Fig. 3). Elytra not upturned at apex; suture, epipleurae and interval 5 costate on apical half; epipleurae not serrate. Hind wings with CuA1 not forked at junction with MP3+4. Legs: Femora and tibiae expanded (fossorial); protibiae with posterior teeth at midlength and apex (Fig. 5); tarsomere 4 lobed. Male genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe nearly circular, broadest near midlength; parameres with ventral apices longer than dorsal (setose) apices and reaching beyond apex of median lobe ( Fig. 24 ). Female: Unknown.

Comments. To my knowledge this species, B. zamoranoensis , new species and an undescribed Australian species of Patriciella Van Zwaluwenburg are the only Elateridae with non-apical tibial digging teeth. Additional evidence of the nonconspecifity of this species and all congeners is that this is the only New World species without upturned elytral apices. This is the only Blaiseus species known from northern Mexico.

Figures

Figs. 8–16. Dorsal habitus of Blaiseus spp. 8) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 9) B. chiapasensis new species; 10) B. daklakensis new species; 11) B. daklakensis new species, side view; 12) B. malayensis new species; 13) B. mexicanus new species; 14) B. nothoafricanus new species; 15) B. zamoranoensis new species female; 16) B. zamoranoensis new species female, side view. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm. All photos are dorsal view of male specimens unless specified otherwise.

Figs. 1–2. Lateral view of pronotum of Blaiseus spp. 1) B. malayensis new species; 2) B. nothoafricanus new species. Arrows indicate concavity of hypomeron immediately mesoventrad of hind angles. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 3–4. Dorsal view of scutellum of Blaiseus spp. 3) B. mexicanus new species; 4) B. bedeli Fleutiaux. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 5– 6. Dorsal view of protibia of Blaiseus spp. 5) B. mexicanus new species; 6) B. guatemalensis new species. m 5 tooth at midlength; a 5 apical tooth. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Fig. 7. Wing of Blaiseus bedeli Fleutiaux. Arrows indicate forked vein CuA1. Scale bar 5 2 mm.

Figs. 17–26. Dorsal view of aedeagi of Blaiseus spp. 17) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 18) B. chiapasensis new species; 19) B. daklakensis new species; 20) B. fujianus new species; 21) B. guatemalensis new species; 22) B. laoensis new species; 23) B. malayensis new species; 24) B. mexicanus new species; 25) B. nothoafricanus new species; 26) B. zamoranoensis new species. d 5 dorsal apex of parameres; i 5 inner apex; v 5 ventral apex. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm.