Agathidium cortezi 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 : 125-126

Agathidium cortezi Miller and Wheeler ,

new species Figures 152 , 288–291 , 368

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘ MEX.: OAX.; 52 mi N Oaxaca, 9500̍ 17.v.71 S. Peck Ber 202, leaflit./HO­ LOTYPE Agathidium cortezi Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line bor­ der]’’. The only specimen examined of this species is the holotype.

TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico, Oaxaca, 52 mi N Oaxaca.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is nearly identical to A. aztec externally (see the ‘‘Diagnosis’’ under that species). However, A. aztec is generally not iridescent, whereas the single specimen of A. cortezi is distinctly iridescent on the elytra. The main difference is in the shape of the median lobe. In A. cortezi the apical portion of the median lobe in ventral aspect is narrowed for a greater portion of its length, the operculum is broader and with the lateral margins more strongly curved, and the apex is more shallowly emarginate (fig. 288). Nevertheless, given additional specimens, it may be found that these features are within the realm of variation exhibited by A. aztec , though we maintain these specimens in different species at this time.

DESCRIPTION: Body large (TBL = 3.87 mm), broad, robust (PNW/TBL = 0.46), strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum testaceous; elytra testaceous, iridescent; venter yellow­brown, an­ tennae and palpi yellow; legs yellow to yellow­brown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.55), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, smooth; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes prominent, not compressed; gula slightly concave anteriorly; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 1.6:1.0:1.8, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:1.9. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.75), strongly convex, anterolateral lobes strongly produced, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with very fine, sparse punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures smooth. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 1.19); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria present in apical onehalf of elytron. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, flattened; medial carina present, but low and not strongly developed. Metasternum moderately broad (MTL/MTW = 0.20), flattened, sloping dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae moderately prominent, low and convex medially.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres slightly laterally expanded, protarsomeres more so and with small ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad with posteroapical tooth and series of smaller teeth, apical margin rounded to truncate (fig. 152); metasternal fovea large, transversely oval, medial, with cluster of long, dense, fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect long, slender, strongly curved basally, with prominent lateral carinae at base of apical portion for reception of lateral lobe, apical portion directed at angle dorsad, curved, apex slightly expanded, rounded (fig. 290); in ventral aspect slender, narrowed medially, apical portion expanded basally, apex a long, slender process, very slightly expanded at apex (figs. 288, 289); operculum in lateral aspect long, slender basally, expanded in apical half, apex rounded and directed ventrad (fig. 290), in ventral aspect moderately broad with lateral margins rounded, apex slightly emarginate medially (fig. 288); lateral lobes slender, strongly curved basally, sinuate, expanded medially, apex curved and slender to narrow­ ly rounded apex, with 2 stout subapical setae (fig. 291).

Female not examined.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named after the great Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortez who explored much of Mexico, conquered the local regime, and whose deeds and motivations remain somewhat controversial.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from the type locality in Oaxaca (fig. 368).

DISCUSSION: The single known specimen was collected from leaf litter.

Figures

Figs. 145–172. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, left male metafemur, ventral aspect: 145, A. oculeum. 146, A. recurvatum. 147, A. impensum. 148, A. cheneyi. 149, A. tenangoense. 150, A. rumsfeldi. 151, A. hirsutum. 152, A. cortezi. 153, A. tumidiventre. 154, A. aztec. 155, A. iridescens. 156, A. dentigerum. 157, A. stephani. 158, A. akrogeneios. 159, A. appalachium. 160, A. pocahontasae. 161, A. carolinense. 162, A. gallititillo. 163, A. divaricatum. 164, A. bushi. 165, A. georgiaense. 166, A. chauliodoum. 167, A. microphthalmum. 168, A. nimbosilva. 169, A. oniscoides. 170, A. rubellum. 171, A.

Figs. 288–302. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 288–291, A. cortezi: 288, ventral; 289, median lobe, apex, ventral; 290, median lobe, lateral; 291, left lateral lobe, lateral. 292–295, A. tumidiventre: 292, ventral; 293, median lobe, apex, ventral; 294, median lobe, lateral; 295, left lateral lobe, lateral. 296–298, A. aztec: 296, ventral; 297, median lobe, lateral; 298, left lateral lobe, lateral. 299–302, A. iridescens: 299, ventral; 300, median lobe, apex, ventral; 301, median lobe, lateral; 302, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Figs. 367, 368. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: 367, A. hirsutum = -; A. tenangoense = •; A. iridescens = ^; A. rumsfeldi = *. 368, A. aztec = ^; A. cortezi = *; A. tumidiventre = •.