Alaudes californicus 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 : 253-254

Alaudes californicus Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:636C2BB0-5078-4E3E-92D3-E279AE409996 ( Figs. 1A, C, E , 2C , 4 , 10 , 11D )

Diagnosis. Elytral vestiture always much longer than twice width, composed of thick, strongly recumbent posterior setae ( Fig. 4 ).

Description. Length 1.47 mm, width 0.63 mm. Color dark brown, luster opaque. Head: Transverse, broader behind, anterior margin broadly rounded, with central aspect straight. Laterally with indentation at eye level. Upper surface transversely, shallowly rounded, upper and lower surfaces completely covered with short, appressed scales. Mentum short, transverse, ligula visible. Maxillary palpi short, apical segment elongate oval. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex of bare area lacking a small pore. Anterior margin slightly concave, lateral aspect with anterior angles broadly rounded, posteriorly narrowing, very slightly concave before base. Posterior margin bearing 2 pairs of longer, flattened setal clumps, 1 positioned around central bare area with very long, appressed scales and 1 on posterior lateral margin with moderately long, appressed scales. Lateral aspect of pronotum with short, appressed scales. Elytra: Slightly inflated, surface strongly punctate, punctures set in uneven striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; punctures large, impressed near lateral margins, deeply perforate centrally. intervals mostly bare, with 7 series of moderately long, appressed scales. Anterior margin concave with 2 bare, depressed areas mid-laterally and 1 centrally and 4 alternately elevated areas of concentrated scales corresponding to areas on posterior margin of thorax. Venter: Prosternal process vertically convex between procoxae, mesosternum not excavate; Prosterum bare except central aspect with rounded scales, extending laterally on prosternal process; metasternum with few scattered punctures, extending to first 3 visible abdominal sterna; first visible sternite with 2 shallow groves extending laterally from sternal base; sternal ratios (anterior to posterior midline) 1:0.8: 0.6:0.4:0.7. Legs: Covered with short appressed scales, leg ratios (femur:tibia) pro– 1:0.6; meso– 0.8:0.6; meta– 0.8:0.6. Tarsal length ratios as follows (base to apex): protarsus 1:1:1:1:2; mesotarsus 1:1:1:1:1.7; metatarsus 1.7:1:1.3:3. Genitalia: Male ( Fig. 2C ) with basal piece longer and broader than parameres, gradually curved basally. Parameres strongly curved basally at midpoint.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male. CALIFORNIA: Kern Co.: Ft. Tejon SP, 34.8756°N,

118.8953°W, II-9-2008, Caterino & Chatzimanolis. Deposited in SBMN. PARATYPES: (39 specimens from 13 localities) – CALIFORNIA: Fresno Co.: 1 mi. N Cedar Brook , VI-4-1961, manzanita duff, D. J. Burdick (1) CASC ; 10 mi. NE Auberry , I/31/ 1966, berlese Arctostaphylos duff, J. Prince (2) FSCA ; 15 mi. E Squaw Valley , II-26-1977, A. J. Gilbert (3) RLAC ; same data except (13) CDFA ; Italian Creek , 6 mi. NE Auberry, V-29 to XI-13-1982, A. J. Gilbert & N. Smith (1) CASC ; Kern Co.: 5 mi. SE Tehachapi , XI-8-1984, berlese Ceanothus duff, A. J. Gilbert (1) CDFA ; Sequoia NF Breckenridge Mt. Rd ., 35.4644°N, 118.6475°W, XI-8-2007, Caterino & Short (1) SBMN ; Sequoia NF, Water Cyn. Rd., 35.0899°N, 118.4941°W, XII- 6-2005, Quercus litter, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (1) SBMN ; Los Angeles Co.: Angeles NF, Hideaway Cyn ., 34.6993°N, 118.5465°W, V-14- 2007 to V-28-2007, cantharidin pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (1) SBMN ; same locality except VI- 13-2007 to VI-23-2014, unbaited pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (1) SBMN ; same locality except V- 14-2007 to VI-28-2007, cantharidin pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (4) SBMN ; same locality except unbaited pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (3) SBMN ; same locality except VI-13-2007 to VI-23- 2007, unbaited pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (1) SBMN ; Mariposa Co.: 1977, A. J. Gilbert (1) CDFA ; San Benito Co.: 1.8 mi. SW Idria , III-25 to VI-8- 1981, A. J. Gilbert & N. Smith (1) CDFA ; San Luis Obispo Co.: Carrizo Plain NM, Selby Campg ., 35.1227°N, 119.8288°W, IV-2-2004 to IV-25-2004, FIT, Caterino (1) SBMN ; Tulare Co.: 5 mi. SW Badger , II-26-1977, Berlese deciduous oak litter, A. J. Gilbert (1) CDFA .

Other Material Examined. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Co.: Angeles NF, Hideaway Cyn., 34.6993°N, 118.5465°W, VI-23-2007 to VII-2-2007, cantharidin pitfall, Caterino & Chatzimanolis (1) SBMN .

Distribution. Restricted to the hills along the mid- and lower San Joaquin Valley in California.

Collection Data. Mainly Berlesed oak litter and from Arctostaphylos (manzanita) and Ceanothus duff or in pitfall traps. Elevation range 450–1,524 m.

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. 4. Alaudes californicus. A) Dorsal habitus, B) Lateral habitus, C) Ventral habitus.

Fig. 10. Distribution of Alaudes species. Purple circles = A. californicus; Green circles = A. mojavensis; Brown circles = A. coloradoensis; Blue circles = A. moenkopii; Black circles = A. vizcainensis; Yellow circles = A. singularis; Red circles = A. setigera; Tan circles = A. alternata.

Fig. 11. Alaudes species, habitus. A) A. setigera, B) A. singularis, C) A. alternata (type), D) A. californicus, E) A. moenkopii, F) A. coloradoensis.