Agathidium aztec Miller and Wheeler, 2005

MILLER, KELLY B. & WHEELER, QUENTIN D., 2005, Slime-Mold Beetles Of The Genus Agathidium Panzer In North And Central America, Part Ii. Coleoptera: Leiodidae, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (291), pp. 1-167 : 127-128

Agathidium aztec Miller and Wheeler ,

new species Figures 105 , 154 , 296–298 , 368

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘ MEX ; Pue; 24 km N Xicotepec de Juarez 17. VI.83, 1070 m R.Anderson.oak forest litter/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium aztec Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’ .

TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico, Puebla, 24 km N Xicotepec de Juarez, 1070 m.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this species have a relatively small, anteapical male metafemoral tooth (fig. 154), moderately broad metasternum with a low posterior carina where the oblique metasternal carinae meet medially, relatively large, finely faceted eyes and undifferentiated gula. Specimens are generally not dorsally iridescent, though a few are. This is one of several clearly closely related species that are positively identifiable only by dissection of male genitalia. In this species the median lobe has moderately developed dorsal and lateral carinae for reception of the lateral lobes, and the apical portion of the median lobe is evenly curved in lateral aspect (fig. 297) and relatively evenly nar­ rowed to a slightly expanded apex in ventral aspect (fig. 296). The operculum is fairly long and slender and has the apex rounded with a prominent, but shallow, apical emargination (fig. 296). The species is nearly identical to A. tumidiventre , including genitalic shape, except for the presence in that species of a distinct tumidity medially on the gula.

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately large (TBL = 3.29–3.64 mm), broad, robust (PNW/TBL = 0.47–0.48), strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum testaceous; elytra testaceous, not or only faintly iridescent; venter yellow­brown, antennae and palpi yellow; legs yellow to yellow­brown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.50–0.53), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, smooth; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes prominent, not compressed; gula flat to slightly concave; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 2.1:1.0:2.2, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:1.7. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.80–0.81), strongly convex, anterolateral lobes strongly produced, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with very fine, sparse punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures smooth. Elytra broad (SEL/ ELW = 0.97–1.12); lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded; punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria present in apical one­fifth to one­half of elytron. Flight wings strongly reduced to absent. Mesosternum broad, flattened; medial carina present, but low and not strongly developed. Metasternum relatively narrow (MTL/MTW = 0.14– 0.16), flattened, sloping dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae moderately prominent, low and convex medially.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres somewhat laterally expanded, with small ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad with posteroapical tooth and series of smaller teeth, apical margin rounded to truncate (fig. 154); metasternal fovea large, transversely oval, medial, with cluster of long, dense, fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect moderately slender, moderately long, strongly curved basally, moderately expand­ ed submedially on dorsal margin, apical por­ tion directed slightly dorsally, straight, slightly expanded medially, apex pointed (fig. 297); in ventral aspect slender, slightly constricted medially, distinctly expanded submedially, apical portion narrowed to constricted neck, thereafter expanded and apex rounded (fig. 296); operculum long and slen­ der in lateral aspect, apically pointed (fig. 297), in ventral aspect long with lateral margins subparallel, apex emarginate (fig. 296); lateral lobes slender, strongly curved basally, sinuate, expanded medially, apex curved and slender to narrowly rounded apex (fig. 298).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for the Aztecs, a group of people who engaged in human sacrifice, dominated central Mexico through military subjugation of their enemies, and were slaughtered and forced to serve Spain by the conquistador Cortez.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known from central and southern Mexico (fig. 368).

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Chiapas: 8 km SE San Cristobal, 28 Sep 1986, 2400 m, litter at logs, fungus, pine­oak forest, on fungus, R Baranowski (3, LUND). Oaxaca: 40.5 km S Suchixtepec , 25 Jul 1992, 1300 m, cloud forest leaf litter, Berlese, RS Anderson (3, CNCI) ; 6 mi S Valle Nacional , 19 May 1971, 2000̍, leaf litter, S Peck (1, PECK) ; 40 km SW Valle Nacional km 93, 26 Jul 1992, 1900 m, oak forest leaf litter, RS Anderson (2, CNCI) ; 5 mi S Valle Nacional, 19 May 1971, 2000̍, leaf litter, S Peck (1, PECK). Puebla: 24 km N Xicotepec de Juarez , 17 Jun 1983, oak forest litter, R Anderson (1, PECK). Vera Cruz : 4.4 mi N Huatusco, 29 Jul 1973, 4200̍, cloud forest, Newton (1, FMNH) ; 5 km NE Coscomatepec , 22 Jun 1983, 1130 m, cloud forest litter, Anderson and Peck (9, PECK) ; 5 km NE Coscomatepec , 22 Jun 1983, 1130 m, cloud frest litter, Anderson and Peck (1, PECK) ; 6 mi NE Catemaco , 7 Jul 1976, 1500̍, rain forest leaf litter, Newton (1, FMNH) ; 7 km E Huatusco , 22 Jun 1983, cloud forest litter, Anderson and Peck (2, PECK) ; Lake Catemaco , 1 May 1969, JM Campbell (1, CNCI) .

DISCUSSION: This species has been collect­ ed from cloud forest litter and litter in pine and oak forests. Elevation records are from 1500 to 4200 ft.

Agathidium iridescens Miller and Wheeler ,

Figures

Fig. 105. Agathidium aztec, dorsal habitus.

Figs. 145–172. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, left male metafemur, ventral aspect: 145, A. oculeum. 146, A. recurvatum. 147, A. impensum. 148, A. cheneyi. 149, A. tenangoense. 150, A. rumsfeldi. 151, A. hirsutum. 152, A. cortezi. 153, A. tumidiventre. 154, A. aztec. 155, A. iridescens. 156, A. dentigerum. 157, A. stephani. 158, A. akrogeneios. 159, A. appalachium. 160, A. pocahontasae. 161, A. carolinense. 162, A. gallititillo. 163, A. divaricatum. 164, A. bushi. 165, A. georgiaense. 166, A. chauliodoum. 167, A. microphthalmum. 168, A. nimbosilva. 169, A. oniscoides. 170, A. rubellum. 171, A.

Figs. 288–302. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 288–291, A. cortezi: 288, ventral; 289, median lobe, apex, ventral; 290, median lobe, lateral; 291, left lateral lobe, lateral. 292–295, A. tumidiventre: 292, ventral; 293, median lobe, apex, ventral; 294, median lobe, lateral; 295, left lateral lobe, lateral. 296–298, A. aztec: 296, ventral; 297, median lobe, lateral; 298, left lateral lobe, lateral. 299–302, A. iridescens: 299, ventral; 300, median lobe, apex, ventral; 301, median lobe, lateral; 302, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Figs. 367, 368. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: 367, A. hirsutum = -; A. tenangoense = •; A. iridescens = ^; A. rumsfeldi = *. 368, A. aztec = ^; A. cortezi = *; A. tumidiventre = •.