Eleodes (Eleodes) gracilis LeConte, 1858

Johnston, M. Andrew, Fleming, David, Franz, Nico M. & Smith, Aaron D., 2015, Amphidorini Leconte (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Arizona: Keys and Species Accounts, The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 27-54 : 47

Eleodes (Eleodes) gracilis LeConte, 1858

( Fig. 8C )

Diagnosis. Body elongate-oval. Pronotum widest anterior of middle, arcuate laterally, narrowing slightly posteriorly, anterior angles produced, acute, projecting anterolaterally. Elytra weakly convex, narrow, attenuate posteriorly, punctate–striate, striae not impressed or tuberculate. Profemora spined in both sexes. Tarsi never with tomentose pads beneath.

Distribution. Apache, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties, Arizona. Texas west to southern California. Sonora, Mexico.

Remarks. The nominate subspecies is the only one known from Arizona and can be found in grasslands throughout the eastern half of the state. This species is very similar in habitus to E. hispilabris and E. sponsus , but can be separated from the latter by the elytra not being sulcate or rugosely muricate.

Figures

Fig. 8. Eleodes species, dorsal habitus. A) E. hispilabris, female, B) E. sponsus, female, C) E. gracilis, D) E. grandicollis, male. Scale bars = 1 cm.