Alaudina Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith, 2018

Aalbu, Rolf L., Caterino, Michael S. & Smith, Aaron D., 2018, Studies in the Cnemeplatiini I: A New Subtribe and Revision of the Genus Alaudes Horn (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Cnemeplatiini), with Descriptions of New Species from the Southwestern USA and Mexico, Including Notes on Distribution and Biology, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (2), pp. 249-268 : 250-251

Subtribe Alaudina Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new subtribe

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Description. Cnemeplatiini . Mentum small to very small ( Fig. 1C, D ), trapezoidal. Mandible with prostheca, mandibular mola very weakly sclerotized. Eye reduced to single facet, positioned along lateral margin of head. Elytron with 10 striae and bearing setae or scales. Epipleura gradually narrowing from apex to base. Aedeagal tegmen with apicale longer or shorter than basale ( Fig. 2 ). Sternite 8 of male not emarginate. Male with penis ventral. Female ( Fig. 3 ) lacking external genitalia. Internal tract with bursa, spermatheca multiple, lateral; spermathecal accessory gland apical.

Type Genus. Alaudes Horn, 1870 .

Diagnosis. At present, Alaudina is monotypic, containing only its type genus. Alaudes differs from other Cnemeplatiini by the following: 1) Eye reduced to single facet; 2) Male genitalia with penis ventral and parameres longer or shorter than basal piece; 3) Female internal tract with multiple subapical spermathecae and apical spermathecal accessory gland. In Cnemeplatiina , the eyes are large and composed of many facets, the male genitalia have the aedeagal tegmen with the apicale not longer than the basale, and the female internal tract has a small spermatheca positioned at or near the apex of a large bursa and the spermathecal accessory gland is lacking. It is clear from the above characters that Alaudes does not fit into the subtribe Cnemeplatiina or in any other currently existing subtribe, thus necessitating description of a new subtribe.

Figures

Fig. 1. Alaudes species. A) A. californicus, head showing eye facet, B) A. coloradoensis, head showing eye facet, C) A. californicus, head, ventral view, D) A. vizcainensis, head, ventral view, E) A. californicus, pronotum, dorsal view, F) A. singularis, pronotum, dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Alaudes species, male genitalia. A) A. singularis, B) A. setigera, C) A. californicus, D) A. mojavensis, E) A. coloradoensis, F) A. moenkopii.

Fig. 3. Alaudes moenkopii, female genitalia. SAG = spermathecal accessory gland; S = spermathecae; B = bursa; O = oviduct; V = vagina; G = gut; T8 = tergite 8; S8 = sternite 8.