Atholus minutus Ross, 1940

Connior, Matthew B., Kovarik, Peter W., Iii, Stephen Chordas, Robison, Henry W. & Skelley, Paul E., 2014, Coleoptera (Histeridae, Leiodidae and Scarabaeidae) inhabiting the burrows of Baird’s pocket gopher (Rodentia: Geomyidae: Geomys breviceps) in Arkansas, Insecta Mundi 2014 (389), pp. 1-27 : 3-4

Atholus minutus Ross

Distribution. Restricted to the southern United States ( Fig. 3 ).

New Arkansas Records. Calhoun Co.: 2 km W Harrell ; 2.III.2011 (2); burrow excavation. Cleburne Co.: Heber Springs, jct. SR-25 & SR-5 ; 14-27.IV.2008 (5); pitfall. Franklin: 3 km N of Altus off AR 186, Wiederkehr vineyard ; 3-4.IV.2009 (3); burrow excavation. Jefferson Co.: Pine Bluff, Prison ; 10- 16.IV.2010 (5); pitfall. Johnson Co.: vic. Ludwig, Co Rd. 3536 ; 31.X-1.XI.2008 (2); burrow excavation. Lafayette Co.: Bradley, 0.5 km W jct. AR St Hwy 160 and Co. Rd. 9 ; 15-25.IV.2012 (3); pitfall. Logan Co: 3 km N of Magazine , 5.IV.2009 (2) ; burrow excavation. Saline Co.: vic. East End ; Jct. N Sardis Rd. and Wilson St .; 5-IV-4.V.2013 (2); pitfall. Scott Co.: ~ 2 km E of Mansfield , 0.5km S. on Harp Rd .; 5.IV.2009 (1); burrow excavation. Union Co.: vic. Smackover ; Jct. AR St. Hwy 7/ 7 Spur ; 3-5.IV.2010 (1); pitfall trap White Co.: ~ 2 km W of Center Hill ; Junc. AR 36/Tater Hill Rd.; 25.IV.2009 (2); burrow excavation. 9-23.IV.2010 (22); pitfall. 9.IV.2010 (4); burrow excavation.

Published Arkansas Records. Izard Co. (Kovarik et. al 2008).

Published Records. ( Ross 1940; Godwin 2000; Tishechkin and Cline 2008; Connior 2011a) FLORIDA: Lake Co. LOUISIANA: DeSoto, Grant , Natchitoches and Webster Pars. TEXAS: Wood Co .

Remarks. Atholus minutus seems to be associated with pocket gopher burrows and was relatively common within the dung chambers of pocket gophers in Arkansas.

Atholus nubilus (J. L. LeConte)

Distribution. Throughout the central United States.

New Arkansas Records. Cleburne Co.: Heber Springs, jct. SR-25 & SR-5 ; 14-27.IV.2008 (1); pitfall. Saline Co.: vic. East End ; Jct. N Sardis Rd. and Wilson St .; 5-IV-4.V.2013 (1); pitfall traps. Johnson Co.: vic. Ludwig ; Co Rd. 3536 ; 31.X-1.XI.2008 (1); burrow excavation.

Published Arkansas Records. Izard Co. ( Kovarik et al. 2008).

Published Records. No other records associated with pocket gopher burrows.

Remarks. Atholus nubilus is generally not collected in association with pocket gophers. However, Kovarik et al. (2008) reported six specimens from the Ozark pocket gopher ( Geomys bursarius ozarkensis ) in Izard County, Arkansas. The current study found an association between A. nubilus and G. breviceps ,

however only three specimens were collected and each during a separate collection event. Therefore, the association between A. nubilus and pocket gophers remains unclear.

Figures

Figure 3. Collection locations for Atholus minutus. Note: Gray shading represents Geomys spp. distribution. Circles represent published pocket gopher records. Stars represent new Arkansas records.