Haroldiataenius lucanus (Horn) Stebnicka & Skelley, 2009

Stebnicka, Z. Teresa & Skelley, Paul E., 2009, A revision of the genus Haroldiataenius Chalumeau (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), Insecta Mundi 2009 (62), pp. 1-16 : 11-12

Haroldiataenius lucanus (Horn) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 3, 6 , 19, 25)

Ataenius lucanus Horn 1871: 288 – Horn 1887: 70-71; Cartwright 1974: 5 (nota); Dellacasa, 1988: 155 (catalogue).

Ataenius sabinoi Cartwright 1974: 38-39 . New synonymy.

Diagnosis. Clypeal margin angulate to dentate each side of middle; surface finely punctate, some weakly wrinkled. Pronotal coarse punctures evenly distributed, separated by less than 1 diameter, larger laterally, becoming small at medial anterior margin; basal marginal line distinct, narrow, width less than diameter of coarse punctures. Elytral intervals weakly tectiform. Pronotum and elytron lateral margin with fringe of short setae. Haroldiataenius lucanus is found in southern Arizona, USA, and Baja California, Mexico, where it appears to live in pack rat middens.

Description. Length 3.3-3.5 mm. Dark red-brown, shining ( Fig. 6 ). Clypeal margin finely dentate each side of moderately deep median emargination, genae almost right angled; surface narrowly concave above emargination and weakly transversely wrinkled with fine, scattered punctures above wrinkles and band of close vertical punctures. Pronotum convex, lateral margin crenate-fimbriate, setae moderate in length; surface everywhere closely coarsely punctate, punctures separated by about one their diameter. Elytron convex, striae strongly impressed, strial punctures weak, intervals with margins crenulate; intervals more or less strongly carinately convex to tectiform, interval 10 flattened, each interval with row of coarse, setigerous punctures, setae are more noticeable laterally and on apical declivity; lateral margin of elytra posteriorly noticeably crenate. Intercoxal carina sharply defined; metasternum shining, finely punctate on disc, punctate-rugose at extreme sides; abdominal sternites with increasingly longer fluting along sutures and punctate from side to side, punctures finer at middle; sternite 5 and eroded disc of pygidium with row of stiff moderate setae. Profemur rough posteriorly; meso- and metafemora smooth, posterior line deep, complete ( Fig. 3 ); metatibia apically with short setae and strong accessory spine; basal tarsomere of metatarsus equal in length to upper tibial spur and slightly longer than next three tarsomeres combined. Epipharynx as in Fig. 19. Male genitalia shortened, acutely rounded apically ( Fig. 25 ).

Type data. Ataenius lucanus : holotype (examined on-line at the MCZ type database, see Perkins 2006; sex not determined), “ Cape S. Lucas, Baja California, Mexico ”, in MCZC .

Ataenius sabinoi : holotype (examined; male), “ Arizona Tucson (Cat. Foothills)”, “ Den 2, Neotoma sp.”, “ Berlese funnel 2.VIII.1962, W.L. Nutting, P Mehringer”, “ Ataenius sabinoi O.L. Cartw. ”, No 71739 in NMNH .

Specimens examined (holotypes + 15). Mexico – (2 ex) Baja Sur , 10 km S La Paz, 28.VIII.1994, R. Turnbow ( ISEA, RHTC); (1 ex) Baja Calif. Sur, 3.3 mm. [sic] S. El Cien , 26.IX.1981, D. Faulkner & F. Andrews coll., blacklight ( PESC); (2 ex) Baja Calif. , 10 mi. SW San Jose del Cabo, 1.IX.1959, R. K. Radford & F. G. Werner, light trap ( FSCA) . USA – (4 ex) Arizona, Pima Co , 8 mi NNE Tucson, 15.VII.1980, P. K. Lago ; Maricopa Co, Phoenix Salt River at Coon’s Bluff , 19.VII.1985, P.K. Lago ( ISEA, PKLC); (1 ex) Arizona, Pima Co, Madera Canyon , mv + bl, 24.VII.1989, R. Turnbow ( RHTC); (2 ex) Arizona, Pima Co, Tucson , 17.VIII.1968, K. Stephan leg ( FSCA); (1 ex) Arizona, Pima Co., W of Tucson, ‘A’ Mts , 6.IX.1990, P. E. Skelley, packrat nest ( PESC); (1 ex) Arizona, [Yavapai Co.] Castle Hot Spgs. , 4.VIII.1941, L H. Banke ( PESC) .

Remark. Haroldiataenius lucanus appears most similar to the partially sympatric H. semipilosus . However, H. lucanus appears to occur in low desert areas (W. B. Warner, pers. comm. 2007), while H. semipilosus appears to occur more in the high desert areas. Haroldiataenius lucanus is distinguished by its more tectiform elytral intervals with scattered short setae and in having a complete posterior marginal line on the meso- and metafemora.

The types of both A. lucanus and A. sabinoi were studied and no notable difference could be found. Thus, they are here synonymized.

Figures

Figures 1-7. Haroldiataenius spp. 1) H. mariarum, lateral habitus. 2) H. hintoni lateral habitus. 3) H. lucanus, mesotibia. 4) H. semipilosus, mesotibia. 5) H. saramari, lateral habitus. 6) H. lucanus, lateral habitus. 7) H. limbatus, lateral habitus.

Figures 22-28. Haroldiataenius spp., male genitalia. 22) H. mariarum. 23) H. limbatus. 24) H. hintoni. 25) H. lucanus. 26) H. griffini. 27) H. saramari. 28) H. semipilosus.