Agathidium divaricatum 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 : 142-143

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1206/0003-0090(2005)291<0001:SBOTGA>2.0.CO;2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038387B3-37C0-B98A-FD73-5400FB190AFB
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Agathidium divaricatum Miller and Wheeler
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Agathidium divaricatum Miller and Wheeler View in CoL , new species Figures 163 View Figs , 326–328 View Figs , 374 View Figs

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘N. CAR: Avery Co. Linville Falls, 3500̍ BlueRidge Pkwy, mi 317 16.VIII.1981 S. Peck rhodo. litter at log/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium divaricatum Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: United States, North Carolina, Avery Co., Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway mi 317, 3500̍.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is very similar to other members of the A. dentigerum subgroup that lack a process on the gula. The metasternum is very narrow and the oblique metasternal carinae are indistinctly present and meet medially in a small, indistinct triangular process. The shape of the median lobe is diagnostic. In lateral aspect it is relatively robust with the apical portion short, relatively straight, and continuing apically in approximately the same line as the medial portion of the lobe (fig. 327). The rami of the operculum extend nearly to the apex of the median lobe (fig. 326).

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately small (TBL = 2.57–2.66 mm), rounded (PNW/TBL = 0.48–0.51), robust, strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum red to dark red; elytra dark red; venter, antennae, palpi, and legs yellow to yellowbrown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.55–0.64), 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, protruding, slightly dorsoventrally compressed, large faceted; gula concave, somewhat swollen medially; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 1.4:1.0:1.0, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0: 2.1. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.71), 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, shiny. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 0.90–1.03); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria absent. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, broadly convex; medial carina obscured, at least anteriorly. Metasternum narrow (MTL/MTW = 0.12), medial area slightly convex, slightly sloped dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae obscured, low, rounded, medially with broad, flat, subtriangular, posteriorly directed flange.

Male tarsi 554; pro and mesobasotarsomeres somewhat laterally expanded, with small ventral region of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad, with acuminate, sharp, large tooth on posterior margin (fig. 163); metasternal fovea posterior, moderately large, transverse, with dense brush of long fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect robust, broad, especially medially, bent basally, relatively straight thereafter, expanded medially, apical portion short, straight, apically slightly curved dorsally, apex sharply pointed (fig. 327); in ventral aspect robust, broad, lateral margins diverging to base of apical portion, apical portion abruptly narrowed basally, slen der and with lateral margins parallel or slightly expanded medially, apex slender, narrowly rounded (fig. 326); operculum divided, rami long, nearly as long as apical portion of median lobe, broad, expanded apically and diverging laterally (fig. 326); endophallic armature comprised of long, flat, truncate lobe with a lateral, hyaline lobe on each side; lateral lobes long, slender, apically somewhat expand ed in some specimens, apex narrowly rounded with 2 stout subapical setae (fig. 328).

Female tarsi 544.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named from the Latin word divaricatus, meaning ‘‘diverging’’, for the divergent rami of the operculum of the median lobe.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is found in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky (fig. 374).

PARATYPES: UNITED STATES: Kentucky: Edmonson Co.: Mammoth Cave Natl Park, 24 Apr 1961, leaf litter, W Suter (1, FMNH). North Carolina: Black Mts (1, AMNH) ; Black Mts , Jun 1902 (1, CASC) ; Valley of Black Mts , 16 Sep 1906, W Beutenmuller (2, AMNH) ; Black Mts , Sep (8, AMNH) ; Valley of Black Mts , 28 Jul 1906, W Beutenmuller (1, AMNH) ; Black Mts , 2 Jul (3, CASC) ; Avery Co.: Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway mi 317, 16 Aug 1981, Rhododendron litter, S Peck (5, PECK) ; Yancy Co.: Black Mts, Blue Ridge Parkway mi 352, 15 Aug 1981, 4900̍, logleaf litter, S Peck (1, PECK) ; Black Mts Blue Ridge Parkwy mi 352, 15 Jul 1981, 4900̍, leaf litter, S Peck (1, PECK). Tennessee: Sevier Co.: Gt. Smoky Mts. NP Elkmont, 8 Jun 1960, 2250̍, leaf litter, W Suter, J Wagner (1, FMNH) ; Unocol Co.: Unaka Mtn , 5 Jul 1953 (1, CMNC) .