Vaniosus profana ( Kulzer, 1956 ) Flores, Gustavo E. & Aballay, Fernando H., 2015

Flores, Gustavo E. & Aballay, Fernando H., 2015, Two Evaniosomini Species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Associated with Decaying Carcasses in Argentina, with Remarks on the Tribal Assignment of Achanius Erichson, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 167-179 : 172-173

Vaniosus profana ( Kulzer, 1956) , new combination

( Figs. 2 , 6, 8 , 10 , 12, 21)

Thinobatis profana Kulzer 1956: 906 . Freude 1960: 31; Peña 1974b: 244.

Diagnosis. See Kulzer (1956).

Type Material. Holotype: Santiago del Estero, Forres, XII-1934 ( NHMB) ( Fig. 2 ). Paratype: Catamarca, Caspinchango, 12.III.21 ( NHMB). These and all localities mentioned in the original description correspond to Argentina and not to Peru, as stated by Kulzer (1956).

Other Material Examined. 237 specimens in IADIZA. ARGENTINA: Salta: Dto. Chicoana: 2 km E Escoipe, 1856 m, 7-XI-2004, G. Flores - G. Zalazar, 70; Dto. Cafayate: Tolombón, 1812 m, 8-XII-2003, G. Flores, 4. Tucumán: Dto. Tafí del Valle: Ruinas de Quilmes, 17-X-1997, S. Roig, 16. Catamarca: 2 km N Villa Vil, 2358 m, 16-XI- 2009, G. Flores, 1; Punta de Balasto, 3-5-II-2001, G. Arriagada, 1. La Rioja: Dto. Famatina: 2 km S Campanas, 10-XII-2003, G. Flores, 4, 10 km NE Pituil, 15-X-1997, S. Roig, 11; Dto. Gral. Belgrano: 20km N Olta, 21-X-1997,S.Roig,3. Córdoba: 15km N Capilla del Monte, 11-XII-2000, C. Domínguez - S. Roig, 2. San Juan: Dto. Valle Fértil: Astica, 13-V- 1979, S. Roig, 1, 10 km E Marayes, 23-X-1997, S. Roig, 1. Mendoza: Dto. La Paz: Desaguadero, 16-XI-1997, S. Roig, 2, 20 km E La Paz, 16-XI- 1997, S. Roig, 1; Dto. Santa Rosa: Reserva Ñacuñán, 560 m, pitfall: 13-IX-1997, S. Lagos, 1, 20-X-1997 to 22-XI-1997, S. Lagos, 1, 7-II- 1998, S. Lagos, 1, 15-V-1998, S. Claver, 1, 31-V- 1998, S. Lagos, 1, 12-XII-1998, S. Lagos, 4, VI-1999, S. Lagos, 2, 9-V-1999 to 11-VI- 1999, S. Lagos, 4, 24-III-2010 to 25-IV-2010, G. Arriagada, 1, 22-III-2011, F. Ocampo, 1, Campo Quemado, 7-II-1998, S. Lagos, 1; Dto. Lavalle, Reserva Telteca, 548 m, pitfall: 9-VIII-1994 to 6-IX-1994, G. Flores, 1, 15-XII-1994 to 3-II- 1995, G. Flores, 2, 15-II-1996 to 25-III-1996, G. Flores, 1, 15-IV-2008, L. Muñoz, 2, Campo Norte, 17-XI-1999, S. Roig, 2; Dto. Capital: CCT CONICET, 839 m, 91 specimens collected on pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.): 15-V-2007, F. Aballay, 1, 17-V-2007, F. Aballay, 1, 18-V-2007, F. Aballay, 2, 19-V-2007, F. Aballay, 1, 24-VII-2007, F. Aballay, 1, 8-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 12-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 18-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 21-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 24-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 5, 28-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 12, 30-IV-2008, F. Aballay, 5, 8-V-2008, F. Aballay, 5, 15-V-2008, F. Aballay, 6, 30-V-2008, F. Aballay, 4, 30-X-2008, F. Aballay, 9, 31-X-2008, F. Aballay, 9, 1-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 3, 2-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 3-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 4-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 4, 7-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 2, 10-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 11-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 4, 14-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 2, 15-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 3, 16-XI- 2008, F. Aballay, 2, 17-XI-2008, F. Aballay, 1, 17-XII-2008, F. Aballay, 2.

Distribution. Argentina: Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, San Juan, and Mendoza provinces.

Habitat. This species occurs in xerophilous warm steppes and dry forests east of the Andes, in the biogeographic provinces of Monte and Chaco ( Morrone 2014) at altitudes of 150 to 2,400 m. Specimens were collected throughout the year, even in the coldest months.

Biology. Specimens collected in Mendoza at the Science and Technology Center (91 individuals) were found feeding on decomposing pig carcasses, mainly on the carcass in direct sunlight (88 individuals) and very few on the carcass in the shade (3 individuals). These specimens were recorded in greatest abundance in autumn (46 individuals) and spring (44 individuals), with only one record in the winter and none in the summer. This species was associated with the Advanced Decay and Dry Remains stages of decomposition defined by Payne (1965).

Because of these three behavioral characteristics, 1) preference for carcasses under direct sun, 2) seasonality (autumn and spring), and 3) association with specific stages of decomposition (Advanced Decay and Dry Remains), this species should be considered for potential forensic importance for estimating time of death (PMI = Post Mortem Interval) in bodies found in arid environments.

Specimens that were collected using pitfall traps partly filled with water and propylene glycol in two reserves of Mendoza province, Telteca and Ñacuñán, could have been attracted by the smell of decomposition of propylene glycol, similar to the smell of a carcass.

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Dorsal habitus. 1) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes; 2) Vaniosus profana, holotype, (Image courtesy of Eva Sprecher, NHMB); 3) Vaniosus paradoxus, holotype (Image courtesy of Isabelle Züercher, NHMB); 4) V. paradoxus, holotype, pronotum and head (Image courtesy of Isabelle Züercher, NHMB). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs. 5–8. Head. 5) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes, frontal view; 6) Vaniosus profana, frontal view; 7) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes, mouthparts, ventral view; 8) Vaniosus profana, mouthparts, ventral view, white arrow indicates ventral fossa on mandible.

Figs. 9–10. Antennomeres 9–11.9) Thinobatis rufipes rufipes; 10) Vaniosus profana.