Pinodytes chandleri Peck & Cook, 2011

Peck, Stewart B. & Cook, Joyce, 2011, Systematics, distributions and bionomics of the Catopocerini (eyeless soil fungivore beetles) of North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Catopocerinae) 3077, Zootaxa 3077 (1), pp. 1-118 : 22-23

Pinodytes chandleri Peck & Cook , new species

( Figs. 8 , 87 , 96–103 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( FMNH). UNITED STATES. California: Teh. Co., 6miW Log Springs, Mendocino Nat. For., 5200’, XI-29-1986, D.S. Chandler, sift maple, Avens & oak leaf litter. Paratypes (164). UNITED STATES. California: same data as holotype, 35 ( UNHC); Del Norte Co., 45miNW Crescent City, Redwood Quarantine Stn., 2.IV.1980, T.R. Haig, Ber. Douglas fir duff, 3, CSCA; Humboldt Co., 2kmN Miranda, 23.III.1981, R.E. Nelson, 16 ( SBPC); Humboldt Co., along Redwood Creek, 27.XI.1976, 650–700’, A.K. Johnson, 37 ( EMEC); Humboldt Co., Bair’s Rch., Redwood Crk., 11.6.03, H.S. Barber, 6 ( USNM); Humboldt Co., Kneeland School, 2.V.1973, T.R. Haig, 29 ( CSCA); Humboldt Co., Weott, 17.III.1976, T.R. Haig, Ber. redwood duff, 15 ( CSCA); Humboldt Co., Willow Creek, 15.III.1979, T.R. Haig, Ber. oak duff, 2 ( CSCA); Tehama Co., 10miSW Paskenta, 30.XI.1991, 2500’, D.S. Chandler, sift laurel litter, 3 ( UNHC); Tehama Co., 6miW Log Springs, Mendocino Nat. For., 29.XI.1986, 4850’, D.S. Chandler, sift Cornus , Quercus , Acer leaf litters, 6 ( UNHC); Tehama Co., Mendocino Nat. For., 3miNE Log Springs, Lantz Ridge, 3.XII.1991, 4400’, D.S. Chandler, sift black oak litter, 9 ( UNHC); Tehama Co., Shasta-Trinity NF, 3miNW Rat Trap Gap, USFS Rd. 35, 26.V.2000, 5200’, D.S. Chandler, maple & Douglas fir litter, 2 ( UNHC); Trinity Co., 4miW Forest Glen, 1.VII.1975, 3300’, A. Newton, berl. litter, mixed conifer-hdwd. for., 2 ( FMNH).

Material examined. We have examined 165 specimens.

Distribution. Specimens ( Fig. 87 ) are known from Del Norte, Humboldt, Tehama, and Trinity counties, in northwestern California. This is one of the few species which may occur in volcanic soils in southeastern Shasta County and eastern Tehama County, CA.

Diagnostic description. Total length 1.38–1.54 mm; greatest width 0.80–0.90 mm. Reddish brown; oval in shape ( Fig. 8 ). Head. Scattered fine punctures and a transverse row of 4 larger punctures, 2 on each side of stem of epistomal suture; shining, with faint transverse microsculpture on vertex. Eyes absent. Antenna ( Fig. 96 ) with antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length; antennomere 5 wider than 4, longer than 6; antennomere 7 longer but not wider than 8; antennomeres 9 and 10 each with a single sensory vesicle indicated apically by a protruding flange.

Pronotum. Finely punctate, punctures separated by 2–4 diameters; shining, with transverse substriate microsculpture. Widest at base, sides curving to narrower apex; apical margin weakly emarginate, basal margin with angles slightly extended posteriorly; apical angles broadly rounded, basal angles weakly acute. Elytra. Moderately fine punctures arranged in longitudinal rows; rows not impressed; punctures joined by widely spaced, fine transverse strioles. Joined elytra slightly wider than pronotum, widest at base, roundly narrowing to apex. Legs. Protibia ( Fig. 97 ) slender; apex spinose; outer margin with a few small spines; apical two-thirds of inner margin finely, densely spinose. Mesotibia ( Fig. 98 ) slender, strongly spinose on outer margin, apically, and apical two-fifths of inner margin; elongate spine at middle of outer margin. Metatibia ( Fig. 99 ) slender, straight; apex spinose; apical threefourths with small spines; larger spine two-fifths from apex on outer margin. Metafemur ( Fig. 99 ) slender. Male protarsomeres ( Fig. 97 ) weakly expanded, bearing elongate setae laterally and broad, thin, colorless phanerae ventrally. Mesotarsomeres without phanerae. Venter. Mesoventrite ( Fig. 103 ) carinate; longitudinal carina with transverse ridge and toothlike expansion near middle; not excavated behind transverse carina. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs. 100, 101 ) elongate, broad, narrowing slightly to flat apex. Inverted internal sac ( Fig. 101 ) with a pair of elongate structures and a cluster of spines in apical one-half, and a series of elongate spines at base of median lobe. Parameres ( Figs. 100, 101 ) moderately slender, extending to near apex of median lobe; each with flat, deflexed apex and bearing two closely spaced setae before apex. Spermatheca. Elongate ( Fig. 102 ), curved, tubular; entire surface finely ribbed.

Etymology. This species is named in rccognition of Dr. D.S. Chandler, University of New Hampshire, who collected a large number of specimens of several species of Pinodytes in California.

Figures

FIGURE 87. Distributions of species in the Pinodytes pusio species group in the southwestern United States. P.pusio, closed circles in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range mountains of central and southern California. P. ovatus, closed triangles in the Coast Range mountains of southwestern Oregon. P. chandleri, open triangles in the Coast Range mountains of northern California. P. constrictus, open circle in the transverse mountain ranges north of Los Angeles, California. P. contortus, closed square in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. P. eldorado, open squares in the the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California.

FIGURES 2–10. Pinodytes habitus photos. 2. P.newtoni, total length 1.38 mm. 3. P. borealis, total length 2.10 mm. 4. P. punctatus, total length 1.36 mm. 5. P.colorado, total length 1.66 mm. 6. P.pusio, total length 1.54 mm. 7. P. ovatus, total length 1.34 mm. 8. P. chandleri, total length 1.54 mm. 9. P. constrictus, total length 1.48 mm. 10. P.contortus, total length 1.16 mm.

FIGURES 96–103. Pinodytes chandleri. 96. Male right antenna, dorsal. 97. Male right protibia and protarsus. 98. Male right mesotibia. 99. Male right metafemur and metatibia. 100. Aedeagus, lateral. 101. Aedeagus, dorsal. 102. Spermatheca. 103. Mesoventrite, lateral. Scale bar = 0.2 mm (Fig. 102), 0.3 mm (Figs. 96–101, 103).