Agathidium stephani 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 : 131-133

Agathidium stephani Miller and Wheeler ,

new species Figures 157 , 306–308 , 369

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘ALA:Walker Co. Jasper, 12.X.80 T. King, litter [handwritten]/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium stephani Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: United States, Alabama, Walker Co., Jasper.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is similar to other

A. dentigerum group members that have a large, acute, male metafemoral tooth (fig. 157), very narrow metasternum with the oblique metasternal carinae relatively prominent and meeting medially in a large, posteriorly directed triangular lobe, large male metasternal fovea and somewhat reduced eyes. However, this species has a very prominent lobelike tubercle medially on the gula, making it most similar to A. akrogeneios and A. dentigerum . From these species it may be distinguished by the shape of the median lobe, which is nearly straight in lateral aspect from near the base to the sharply pointed apex (fig. 307).

DESCRIPTION: Body small (TBL = 1.90– 2.22 mm), rounded, robust (PNW/TBL = 0.43–0.48), strongly contractile.

Head, pronotum and elytra yellow to yellow­red; venter yellow to yellow­red; antennae, palpi, and legs yellow.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.62–0.63), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, very finely microreticulate; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes moderately reduced, protruding, large­facet­ ed, dorsoventrally somewhat compressed; gula broad, flattened, with small but prominent median lobelike tubercle; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 1.2:1.0:1.0, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:2.1. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.77–0.82), 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 = 0.87–1.09); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria absent. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, broadly convex; medial carina very prominent, anteriorly obscured on some specimens. Metasternum very narrow medially (MTL/MTW = 0.08–0.11), medially slightly concave, distinctly sloping dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae not prominent laterally, medially meeting in very prominent, posteriorly directed triangular flange.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotar­ someres slightly laterally expanded, with small ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur slender, with large acute tooth subapically on posterior margin (fig. 157); metasternal fovea posteri­ or, prominent, round with large brush of long, fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect slender, basally bent, straight thereafter, apical portion tapered, straight to slightly dorsally bent, pointed apex (fig. 307); in ventral aspect moderately broad, lateral margins broadly curved, apex rounded (fig. 306); operculum divided into two long, slender rami, apices slightly divergent and each narrowly rounded (fig. 306); lateral lobes moderately broad, evenly curved in lateral aspect, apex pointed or narrowly rounded with 2 long subapical setae (fig. 308).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named in hon­ or of K. Stephan, the collector of some of the type specimens.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is found in south­central North America from Oklahoma to Kentucky and south to Louisiana and Alabama (fig. 369).

PARATYPES: UNITED STATES: Alabama: Jackson Co.: McAllister Sink Cave , 10 Aug 1980, cave litter, T King (1, CNCI) ; 6 mi N Princeton outside Horseshoe Cave , 30 Jun 1967, Berlese, S Peck, A Fiske (1, CNCI) ; Walker Co.: Jasper , 12 Oct 1980, litter, T King (1, CNCI) ; Jasper , 12 Oct 1980, litter, T King (2, PECK). Arkansas: Garland Co.: 3 mi W Crystal Springs, 1 Jun 1984, 800̍, hardwood litter, J Pakaluk (1, AMNH) ; Logan Co.: Cove Lake RA, 16 Jun 1990, Berlese, CE Carlton (3, LSAM) ; 1 km E Lookout, Mt Magazine , 23 May 1986, JM Campbell (11, CNCI) ; Mt Magazine Lookout , 26 May 1986, deciduous litter, JM Campbell (9, CNCI) ; Brown Springs, Mt Magazine , 23 May 1986, leaf litter along stream, JM Campbell (4, CNCI) ; Mt Magazine, Cameron Bluffs , 27 May 1986, leaf litter, JM Campbell (3, CNCI) ; Madison Co.: Withrow Spr. St Park , 27 Oct 1974, 1400̍, mixed harwood forest ground litter, Berlese, AF Newton (5, CNCI) ; Montgomery Co.: 1.5 mi E Crystal Rec. Area , slopes along FS 177K, 6 Jul 1991, deciduous forest, Berlese, CE Carlton (5, LSAM) ; 2 mi NW Mount Ida , 1 Jun 1984, 800̍, hardwood litter, J Pakaluk (4, AMNH) ; 1 mi SE Joplin , 1 Jun 1984, 700̍, litter, J Pakaluk (1, AMNH) ; E Crystal Rec. Area at FS 177K, 24 Mar 1992, deciduous forest, Berlese, CE Carlton (1, LSAM) ; 1 mi SE Joplin , 1 Jun 1984, 700̍, litter near stream, J Pakaluk (2, QDWC) ; Newton Co.: Ozark NF, FSR 92096B, 6 km NE Pelsor , 13 May 1986, oak hickory leaf litter, JM Campbell (2, CNCI) ; Ozark NF, Alum Cove Natl Br. 4 km NW jct Hwy 7 and 16, 13 May 1986, JM Campbell (1, CNCI) ; Ozark NF, Buck Br. FSR 1209 , 3 mi N Hwy 123, 14 May 1986, flood debris on bank, JM Campbell (1, CNCI) ; Polk Co.: Rich Mt Pioneer Cemetary , 17 Feb 1988, Berlese, RT Allen (1, LSAM) ; Shady Lake Rec. Area , 13 Oct 1974, 1200̍, mixed hardwood­pine forest ground litter, Berlese, AF Newton (2, CNCI) ; Rich Mt Eagleton Overlook , 17 Feb 1988, Berlese, RT Allen (1, LSAM) ; Pope Co.: Ozark NF jct Hwy 7 and FSR 1828 , 12 May 1986, JM Campbell (1, CNCI) ; Pulaski Co.: Pinnacle Mt St Park NE Face near top, 11 Nov 1987, decid., Berlese, CE Carlton (9, LSAM) ; Scott Co.: 14 mi SE Waldron , 31 May 1984, forest litter, J Pakaluk (2, AMNH) ; Washington Co. : 3 mi S Devils Den St Park, 28 May 1979, oak hickory, S and J Peck (1, CNCI) ; Devils Den St Park, 8 Jun 1969, litter, Berlese, S and J Peck (8, QDWC). Kentucky: Edmonson Co.: Mammoth Cave Natl Park. , Cabin Woods , 11 Apr 1979, W Suter (5, CNCI) ; Mammoth Cave Natl Park, Doyle Valley , 30 Aug 1967, log litter, Berlese , S Peck, A Fiske (1, CNCI). Louisiana: Rapides Par. Magnolia Rec. Area , 15 mi SW Alexandria, 4 Oct 1973, pine/ hardwood leaf litter forest floor, A Newton (1, CNCI). Oklahoma: Clayton, 21 Jun 1983, leaves and pine needles, BF and JL Carr (3, CARR) ; Laflore Co.: 10 mi SW Heavener winding stair watch tower, 10 Jun 1969, 1600̍, log litter, S Peck (1, CNCI) ; Latimer Co.: 5 mi W Red Oak , Dec 1980, K Stephan (1, KSIC) ; Apr 1983, K Stephan (20, QDWC) ; Robbers Cave St Park, Lost Lake , 3 Jul 1987, rotten pine, DS Chandler (1, CNCI) ; Nov 1983, K Stephan (4, KSIC) ; 25 Feb 1985, litter, grass, FIT, K Stephan (48, KSIC) ; Mc­ Curtain Co.: Beaver Bend St Park , 27 Jul 1968, dry rivulet, W Suter (1, PECK) .

DISCUSSION: Agathidium stephani has been collected in a wide variety of habitats, including leaves and pine needles, oak, hickory, pine, grass and various other litter types, cave litter, and debris on a river bank. Elevation records are from 800 to 1200 ft.

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. 303–328. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 303–305, A. dentigerum: 303, ventral; 304, median lobe, lateral; 305, left lateral lobe, lateral. 306–308, A. stephani: 306, ventral; 307, median lobe, lateral; 308, left lateral lobe, lateral. 309–310, A. akrogeneios: 309, ventral; 310, lateral. 311–313, A. framea: 311, ventral; 312, median lobe, lateral; 313, left lateral lobe, lateral. 314–316, A. appalachium: 314, ventral; 315, median lobe, lateral; 316, left lateral lobe, lateral. 317–319, A. pocahontasae: 317, ventral; 318, median lobe, lateral; 319, left lateral lobe, lateral. 320–322, A. carolinense: 320, ventral; 321, median lobe, lateral; 322, left lateral lobe, lateral. 323–325, A. gallititillo: 323, ventral; 324, median lobe, lateral; 325, left lateral lobe, lateral. 326–328, A. divaricatum: 326, ventral; 327, median lobe, lateral; 328, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Fig. 369. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: A. akrogeneios = ^; A. stephani = •.