Paradonus beckeri Stibick, 1991: 117

Etzler Usa, Frank E., 2020, Review of the genus Paradonus Stibick, 1971 (Elateridae: Negastriinae), with three new North American species, Zootaxa 4750 (4), pp. 524-544 : 530-532

1. Paradonus beckeri Stibick, 1991: 117 .

Fig. 7.

Paradonus beckeri ; Bousquet et al. 2013: 189.

Diagnosis: See key above for diagnostic characters.

Material Examined: Over 80 specimens examined, including fifteen paratypes (INHS, USNM). Specimens were examined in the following collections: BWPC, INHS, LSAM, MCZC, MTEC, USNM. This species is represented in the LeConte collection under P. pectoralis by three specimens. These specimens are: #4, In[diana]; #5, Col[orado]; and #7, pale green disc [NE, KS, ND, SD, OK, CO, WY, MT] (MCZC handout).

FIG. 6. Paradonus pectoralis . Arrow, pubescent spot on the prosternum of males. FIG. 7. Dorsal habitus, P. beckeri , paratype, USNM. FIG. 8. Dorsal habitus, P. inops . FIG. 9. Dorsal habitus, P. jerseiensis , paratype, USNM. Scale bars equal 1 mm.

In addition to the localities given in Stibick (1991), I add the following: Illinois: Champaign; Havana; Homer; Muncie (18, INHS830091–INHS830107, INHS830134–INHS830138, INHS830140); Kankakee Co. (17, BWPC). Kansas: Ottawa; Stromberg (7, INHS830118–INHS830121, INHS830131–INHS830133, INHS830188). Missouri: Columbia; Lathrop (21, INHS830108–INHS830117, INHS830122–INHS830130, INHS830186–INHS830187); Montana: Carter Co., Ridge Road; Custer Co., 4mi S. Miles City (2, MTEC). Ohio: Warren Co., Ceaser [sic] Creek (3, MTEC). Oklahoma: Grady Co.; Payne Co (3, LSAM). It is a widespread species east of the Rocky Mountains, and has been collected in every month.

A second character that Stibick mentions is the presence of setose sensoral pits at the apex of antennomere 11.

In the majority of species, there is only a single dorsal pit, which gives the apex a blunt appearance (Fig. 6). Stibick (1991) states that P. beckeri has two sensorial pits, which gives the apex an acute, sharp appearance. However, I am unable to confirm this, with the specimens before me, including paratypes, all bearing a single dorsal pit.

Distribution (State and Provence only): CANADA: Quebec. USA: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas ( Stibick 1991).