Laemophloeus shastanus Casey, 1916

Thomas, Michael C., 2015, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 3. Nearctic species, Insecta Mundi 2015 (450), pp. 1-35 : 11-12

Laemophloeus shastanus Casey

Fig. 14 , 40-42

Laemophloeus shastanus Casey, 1916:123

Types: Casey (1916) did not designate a type specimen but mentioned only one specimen in his description of this species. In the USNM is a single specimen labeled as follows: “Cal.”/”Casey bequest 1925”/ ” TYPE USNM 49157"/” shastanus Csy. ” In the original description, Casey (1916) recorded “ California (Redwood Creek, Humboldt Co.)” as the type locality.

Diagnosis. Very similar to L. apache but smaller (2.0- 3.2mm vs. 2.5-3.6mm) and generally less robust (compare Fig. 14 with Fig. 8 ). Also similar to L. biguttatus but possessing streak-like elytral fascia. Male genitalia ( Fig. 41-42 ) differ from all other Nearctic Laemophloeus species in the parameres lacking lateral primary setae and the basal primary setae being highly reduced, and the basal plates reduced to rod-like structures. The small, protuberant eyes ( Fig. 40 ) also are distinctive. Length, 2.0mm - 3.2mm.

Distribution. Northwestern North America, from Alaska south to northern California and east to Montana.

Specimens examined. 74 from the following collections: BYUC, CDFA, FSCA, MCZC, MTEC, UAMC, UGAC, WSUC.

CANADA: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Columbia-Shuswap Co. Mt. Revelstoke.

USA: ALASKA: Fairbanks North Star Co.: Manchu Lk. 135m el. 64.70133 o - 147.0239 o ; Yukon Koyukuk Co.: Eliot Hwy. 294m el 65.3997 o - 148.90802 o ; CALIFORNIA: Marin Co.: Samuel P. Taylor

St. Pk .; Napa Co.: Angwin ; MONTANA: Flathead Co.: Glacier National Park , N. Fork Flathead Area ; Gallatin Co.: Bozeman ; Madison Co.: Hidden Lake Beach ; Yellowstone Co.: Huntley ; OREGON: Curry Co.: 6.7 mi. NE Brookings 100 '; UTAH: Utah Co.: Mt. Timpanogos , American Fork Canyon ; Pole Canyon; foothills E of Salem ; Hobble Creek ; Rock Canyon; Hope Forest Camp ; WASHINGTON: King Co.: Seattle ; Thurston Co.: Olympia .

Discussion. This species has gone unrecognized since its description ( Casey 1916). Hatch (1961) recorded L. biguttatus from the Pacific Northwest, although his description “...elytra with a prominent elongate oval spot in basal half...” suggests he was referring to L. shastanus . I long misapplied this name to specimens of the new species described above. Discovering that biguttatus group specimens from northern and southern California had different male genitalia and that neither matched those of L. apache led both to the recognition of L. shastanus and that L. californicus is a junior synonym of L. biguttatus .

Figures

Figure 8. Laemophloeus apache, n. sp., male habitus.

Figure 14. Laemophloeus shastanus, male habitus.

Figures 40-42. Laemophloeus shastanus. 40) Head and pronotum. 41) Aedeagus. 42) Parameres.