Lathropus robustulus Casey

Thomas, Michael C., 2010, A review of Lathropus Erichson (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) in Florida and the West Indies, excluding the Lesser Antilles, Insecta Mundi 2010 (120), pp. 1-21 : 8-10

Lathropus robustulus Casey

Fig. 11 , 18 , 25 , 28 , 37 , 41-45

Lathropus robustulus Casey 1916: 120

Diagnosis. Length, 1.18mm - 1.72mm. This is one of two entirely dark species treated in this paper. It differs from the other, L. vernalis , in its more evenly rounded pronotum with the less prominent basal angle clearly situated outside of a line drawn through the apical angle ( Fig. 25 ). The surface sculpture of the pronotum is very coarse so that it appears dull, and there is no area of different sculpture ( Fig. 28 ). The armature of the internal sac ( Fig. 37 , 42 ) is quite different from that of L. vernalis but is very similar to that of L. parvulus , which it resembles in many other respects as well, differing primarily in L. parvulus having a color pattern and different pronotal sculpture.

Distribution. Southern and central U.S., from Indiana south to Florida and west to Texas.

Specimens examined. 61, USA: Alabama: Jefferson Co.: Rocky Ridge ; Walker Co.: Jasper ; Florida: Alachua Co.: 29 o 34.5’N 82 o 29’W ; Gainesville; Marion Co.: Village of Rainbow Springs ; Indiana: Marion Co.: Indianapolis ; Monroe Co.: Bloomington ; Posey Co.: Hovey Lake ; Kansas: Linn Co.: 4 mi. N

Pleasanton Hwy. 69, Wildlife Area Unit C, E 1350 Rd .; Mississippi: Noxubee Co.: Noxubee N. W. Refuge ; Oktibbeha Co.: Starkville T18 N R14 E sec. 2 ; Winston Co.: Norubee N.W. Refuge 33 o 16’05"N 88 o 48’53"W ; Oklahoma: Latimer Co.: 5mi. W. Red Oak .

Discussion. Described from a “...single specimen,

taken by Mr. Schwarz at Columbus, Texas.” ( Casey

1916). I have examined the female holotype in the

USNM, which has the following label data:

“Columbu [?]-8 Texa” [part of the data have been cut away on this label]/”CASEY bequest 1925"/

” robustulus Csy. ”/” Lathropus robustulus Csy ”.

Figures

Figure 9-12. Habitus, Lathropus spp. 9) L. pictus Schwarz. 10) L. chickcharnie Thomas, n. sp. 11) L. robustulus Casey. 12) L. vernalis Casey.

Figure 13-18. Surface sculpture of head, Lathropus spp. 13) L. jamaicensis Thomas, n. sp. 14) L. rhabdophloeoides Thomas, n. sp. 15) L. pictus Schwarz. 16) L. chickcharnie Thomas, n. sp. 17) L. vernalis Casey. 18) L. robustulus Casey.

Figure 25-26. Pronotum, Lathropus spp. 25) L. robustulus Casey. 26) L. vernalis Casey.

Figure 27-32. Pronotal detail, Lathropus spp. 27) L. parvulus Grouvelle (Panama). 28) L. robustulus Casey. 29) L. vernalis Casey. 30) L. chickcharnie Thomas, n. sp. 31) L. rhabdophloeoides Thomas, n. sp. 32) L. jamaicensis Thomas, n. sp.

Figure 34-37. Sclerotization of internal sac, Lathropus spp. 34) L. parvulus Grouvelle. 35) L. pictus Schwarz. 36) L. vernalis Casey. 37) L. robustulus Casey.

Figure 41-45. Lathropus robustulus Casey, male and female genitalia. 41) Aedeagus. 42) Sclerotization of internal sac (enlarged). 43) Tegmen. 44) Female genitalia. 45) Spermatheca (enlarged).