Sugimotoa, HABU

Will, Kipling W., 2010, Synonymy in SugimotoaHabu (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (1), pp. 91-91 : 91

SYNONYMY IN SUGIMOTOA HABU ( COLEOPTERA : CARABIDAE : LEBIINI )

In 1967, Straneo described a new species which he hesitantly placed in the genus Pediomorphus Chaudoir. He indicated this uncertainty where he introduced the new species’ name –“ Pediomorphus (?) anthracoides ”– and in his discussion of its characteristics. He noted the absence of the elytral plica and the expanded mesotarsi, suggesting this could place the species near some Platynini , but added that he knew of no particular genus that would be fitting. He recognized that it deviates from Pediomorphus species in the relative size of the head, paramedial setigerous pores of the pronotum, and in the odd-numbered elytral intervals having setae. He continued that it seemed superficially similar to some Palearctic harpalines (“Aculpalpini”), but noted that this species, with two supraorbital setae over each eye, is at odds with the harpaline state of having a single seta over each eye. In the end he stated “Je me repromets de reprendre l’ examen de la position systhématique de cette espèce”, though this apparently never occurred. A very similar story is told by Ball et al. (1995) in regard to the “considerable reservation” Habu (1975) had in placing Sugimotoa parallela Habu, 1975 in Harpalini . Sugimotoa Habu is a rarely collected and extremely enigmatic taxon with a very peculiar assemblage of characteristics. Because of this, Ball et al. (1995) conducted a thorough study and analysis that decisively placed this taxon in Lebiini . My study of the holotype and 15 paratypes of Pediomorphus anthracoides Straneo, 1967 revealed that this is a senior synonym of Sugimotoa parallela Habu, 1975 (new synonymy). Two male paratypes were dissected and their aedeagi examined. All specimens were studied and compared to the detailed redescription provided by Ball et al. (1995); all specimens were found to be consistent with all aspects of the redescription. I have studied numerous species and specimens of Pediomorphus and this species is not a member of Pediomorphus as it shares no synapomorphies with members of this genus or any pterostichine-like species. Additionally, the defensive gland reservoirs of the two males were studied and found to have no dorsal lobe, which is present in Harpalini , but not Lebiini . Therefore, this name is newly combined as Sugimotoa anthracoides (Straneo) and maintained in Lebiini .

Specimens Examined. Male holotype and 13 paratypes: “ Philippines, Palawan, Brookes Point, Uring Uring, 14 August 1961, Noona Dan Exp. 61- 62”|| “Caught by mercury-light, 19.00-20.00”. One paratype: “ Philippines, Balabac, Dalawan Bay, 5. Oct.1961, Noona Dan Exp. 61-62”|| “Caught by mercury-light, 19.30-04.00”. One paratype: “Bismark Isl. Manus Lorengau, 24.June.1962, Noona Dan Exp. 61-62”|| “Caught by mercurylight”. All specimens are deposited in the Zoological Museum , University of Copenhagen , Denmark .

Records from the Philippines are nearly midway between the southeastern-most locality in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu and the northwestern-most in the Ryuku Islands, Japan (Ball et al. 1995). This reinforces the suggestion that the species is broadly distributed in the Pacific Southwest (Ball et al. 1995). Like previous published records for Sugimotoa , these are individuals attracted to lights at low elevation, but no other habitat information is known.

I thank Alexey Solodovnikov , Entomology Department, University of Copenhagen, for arranging the loan of the type series for me. Study of Pediomorphus was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation DEB-0444726 .