Eleodes letcheri Blaisdell, 1909

Triplehorn, Charles A. & Thomas, Donald B., 2015, A Revision of Eleodes Subgenus Litheleodes Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 11-21 : 19-20

Eleodes letcheri Blaisdell, 1909

( Fig. 2, 3 , 17 , Map 5 )

Eleodes (Litheleodes) letcheri Blaisdell 1909: 133 .

Diagnosis. Elongate-ovate, black-alutaceous. Elytron dense with long, dark setae; elytral surface asperate with most papillae separate. Short decumbent bristles dense on pronotum and dorsum of head. Pronotal punctures coarse, dense, confluent. Pronotum subcordate in dorsal view, widest anterior of middle with sides arcuate but narrowing and constricted basally. Prosternal process robust, weakly declivent. Profemoral margin sinuate in males. Ental protibial spur much larger than ectal.

Measurements. Males: length 12.5–14.5 mm. Females: length 13–15 mm.

Types. Holotype, female ( CASC No. 2825) (dissected) and allotype, male ( CASC No. 2826): Nevada, Verdi, April (no year given). The description states that they were collected at 6,000 feet elevation, “beneath stones in level land above the town” by Blaisdell. He collected 15 specimens. Specimens with identical data are in MCZC and OSUC, determined by Blaisdell, and most likely from the type series.

Material Examined. In addition to the type locality, we have seen specimens from Lovelock and Gerlach (Washoe County), Nevada ; Roosevelt, Wasatch Mts. , and Monument Butte (Duchesne Co), Utah ; Tetonia, Twin Falls , Idaho .

Distribution. Known from Nevada, Utah, and Idaho ( Map 5 ). Boddy (1965) reported it from southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. It remains very rare in collections.

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Litheleodes species. 1) E. hirtipennis, dorsal plates; 2) E. letcheri, prosternum, lateral view; 3) E. letcheri, elytron, lateral view; 4) E. subtuberculatus, elytral surface, dorsal view.

Figs. 17–19. Litheleodes species, dorsal habitus. 17) E. letcheri ♂; 18) E. subtuberculatus ♂; 19) E. subtuberculatus ♀.

Maps 1–5. Distributional records for Eleodes species. 1) E. arcuatus; 2) E. asperus and E. granulatus; 3) E. corvinus, E. hirtipennis, and E. subtuberculatus; 4) E. extricatus; 5) E. letcheri and E. papillosus.