Agathidium hidalgoense Miller and Wheeler, 2005

MILLER, KELLY B. & WHEELER, QUENTIN D., 2005, Slime-Mold Beetles Of The Genus Agathidium Panzer In North And Central America, Part Ii. Coleoptera: Leiodidae, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (291), pp. 1-167 : 95-96

Agathidium hidalgoense Miller and Wheeler , new species Figures 124 , 192–195 , 360

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘ MEX:Hgo ; Tlanchinol 43 Km SW Huejutla , 1500 m 14. VI.83, S&J.Peck cloud forest litter/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium hidalgoense Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’ .

TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlanchinol, 43 km SW Huejutla, 1500 m.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this species have moderately large, finely faceted eyes, a small male metafemoral tooth that is located at about two­thirds distant from base of metafemur (fig. 124), and a very distinctive anteromedial prominent line or carina on the metasternum that forms a posteriorly directed lobe (as in fig. 113). The species is very similar to A. gomezae and A. oedema since they each possess this unusual modification to the metasternum. See the ‘‘Diagnosis’’ under A. oedema for characters to separate these species.

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately large (TBL = 3.22–3.64 mm), broad (PNW/TBL = 0.45–0.46), robust, rounded, strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum red­brown; elytra redbrown, iridescent on some specimens; venter yellow­brown to red­brown; antennae, palpi, and legs yellow.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.52–0.68), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, very lightly microreticulate; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes prominent, not strongly compressed; gula slightly convex medially; antennae moderately long (ratios: length I:II:III = 2.2:1.0: 2.2, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:2.2). Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.73– 0.77), strongly convex, anterolateral lobes strongly produced, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with fine, sparse punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, smooth. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 0.95–1.03); punctation and surface similar to pronotum; sutural stria absent. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum moderately broad, not declivitous; medial carina well developed. Metasternum narrow (MTL/MTW = 0.12– 0.20), flat medially, distinctly dorsally sloped anteriorly, with distinct curved line medially on surface; oblique femoral carinae moderately well developed, meeting medially in low carina.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres distinctly laterally expanded, protarsomeres more so and with large ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur broad, with small, sharp tooth submedially on posterior margin (fig. 124); metasternal fovea minute, with small pencil of fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect long, slender, strongly curved basally, apicomedially with lateral, lobelike carinate expansions between which fit the lateral lobes, apical portion prominent, moderately broad, straight, subapically expanded slightly, apex a sharply curved point (fig. 194); in ventral aspect moderately slender, lateral lobelike carina prominent, apical portion slender medially, apex prominently expanded, apically rounded (figs. 192, 193); operculum in lateral aspect long, slender, prominently expanded and curved at apex, in ventral aspect broad, lateral margins curved, with deep, narrow medial emargination, each ramus somewhat expanded apically and rounded (fig. 192); lateral lobes long, slender basally and curved, medially and apically expanded, sinuate with 2 stout setae (fig. 195).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: Named after the type locality of this species.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from the type locality in Hidalgo (fig. 360).

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Hidalgo: Tlanchinol, 43 km SW Huejutla, 14 Jun 1983, 1500 m, cloud forest litter, S and J Peck (3, PECK).

DISCUSSION: The type specimens were collected from cloud forest litter at 1500 m.

Figures

Figs. 118–144. Agathidium concinnum­ and A. oniscoides­group species, left male metafemur, ventral aspect: 118, A. concinnum. 119, A. kimberlae. 120, A. vaderi. 121, A. bituberculum. 122, A. oedema. 123, A. gomezae. 124, A. hidalgoense. 125, A. skoliosternum. 126, A. erythromelas. 127, A. rhamphastes. 128, A. megoniscoides. 129, A. grumum. 130, A. triangularum. 131, A. lobosternum. 132, A. potosii. 133, A. popocatepetlae. 134, A. hyle. 135, A. stenomma. 136, A. tribulosum. 137, A. tribulograndum. 138, A. invisitatum. 139, A. multidentatum. 140, A. sejunctum. 141, A. grandidentatum. 142, A. andersoni. 143, A. disgregum. 144, A. oaxacaense. Bars = 0.5 mm.

Figs. 173–202. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 173–176, A. vaderi: 173, ventral; 174, median lobe, apex, ventral; 175, median lobe, lateral; 176, left lateral lobe, lateral. 177–180, A. kimberlae: 177, ventral; 178, median lobe, apex, ventral; 179, median lobe, lateral; 180, left lateral lobe, lateral. 181–183, A. bituberculum: 181, ventral; 182, median lobe, lateral; 183, left lateral lobe, lateral. 184–187, A. oedema: 184, ventral; 185, median lobe, apex, ventral; 186, median lobe, lateral; 187, left lateral lobe, lateral. 188–191, A. gomezae: 188, ventral; 189, median lobe, apex, ventral; 190, median lobe, lateral; 191, left lateral lobe, lateral. 192–195, A. hidalgoense: 192, ventral; 193, median lobe, apex, ventral; 194, median lobe, lateral; 195, left lateral lobe, lateral. 196–198, A. skoliosternum: 196, ventral; 197, median lobe, lateral; 198, left lateral lobe, lateral. 199–202, A. erythromelas: 199, ventral; 200, median lobe, apex, ventral; 201, median lobe, lateral; 202, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Figs. 359, 360. Geographic distribution of Agathidium iota­ and A. oniscoides­group species: 359, A. bituberculum = ^; A. iota = •. 360, A. gomezae = ^; A. hidalgoense = •; A. oedema = -; A. skoliosternum = *.