Alaudes moenkopii 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 : 256-258

Alaudes moenkopii Aalbu, Caterino, and Smith , new species

Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EAF48E82-E38B-4541-8525-9342E0A1ED7D ( Figs. 2F , 3 , 7 , 10 , 11 )

Diagnosis. Elytral vestiture composed of extremely short, recumbent and apically expanded setae with length subequal to twice width, giving a “string of pearls” aspect to the elytral intervals ( Fig. 7 ).

Description. Length 2.04 mm. width 0.94 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 surface completely covered with short, appressed scales. Eye reduced to single facet, positioned dorso-laterally but usually not visible from above. Antenna 11- segmented, compact, first 2 antennomeres broader than next 6, last 3 forming compact club. Mentum short, transverse, covered with appressed setae; ligula barely visible with laterally produced scales. Gular region with sides strongly produced anteriorly around mentum, anterior angles acute, apex between angles arcuate, concave, laterally depressed, forming groove for antenna. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, nearly rectangular, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex with a small pore. Anterior margin straight, lateral aspect with anterior angles broadly rounded, only very slightly produced, sides nearly straight. Posterior margin bearing 2 pairs of longer, flattened setal clumps, 1 positioned around central bare area and 1 on posterior lateral margin, both with moderately long, appressed scales. Scutellum: Small, visible, transverse, narrowly triangular. Elytra: Slightly inflated; surface punctate-striate, punctures set in uneven striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; punctures contiguous, moderate in size, impressed near lateral margins. Surface appearing bare except for alternate intervals which have series of short, tear dropshaped, appressed scales giving appearance of “string of pearls”. Anterior margin concave with 2 bare, depressed areas midlaterally and 1 centrally and 4 alternately elevated areas of short scales corresponding to areas on posterior margin of thorax. Venter: Prosternal process vertically convex between procoxae, mesosternum not excavate; Prosternum bare except central aspect with rounded scales extending on prosternal process; metasternum with few scattered punctures, extending to first 3 visible sterna; first visible sternite with 2 deep grooves extending laterally from sternal base; sternal ratios (anterior to posterior midline) 1:0.7:0.6:0.3:0.5. Legs: Leg ratios (femur:tibia) pro- 1:0.8; meso- 1:0.7; meta- 1.1: 0.8; Tarsal length ratios (base to apex): protarsus 1:1:1:1:3; mesotarsus 1:1:1:1:4; metatarsus 2:1.7: 1.3:5. Genitalia: Male ( Fig. 2F ) with parameres longer than basal piece; basal piece slightly broader than parameres, nearly flat. Parameres curved basally at midpoint. Female ( Fig. 3 ) lacking external genitalia. Internal tract with bursa, spermatheca multiple, lateral; spermathecal accessory gland apical.

Type Material. HOLOTYPE: Male. ARIZONA: Coconino Co.: Hwy 264, 2.3 km SE Moenkopi, 36°05 ʹ 58 ʹʹ, 111°12 ʹ 01 ʹʹ W, 4,700’, IV-20-2012, found crawling on sand of sand dunes at night, J. P. Gruber. Deposited in CASC . PARATYPES: (15 specimens from seven localities) – ARIZONA: Coconino Co.: Hwy 264, 2.3 km SE Moenkopi, 36°05 ʹ 58 ʹʹ, 111°12 ʹ 01 ʹʹ W, 4700’, IV-20-2012, found crawling on sand of sand dunes at night, J. P. Gruber (8) JPGC ; Moenkopi dunes, 2.4 mi. S Moenkopi, VII-17-1975, F. G. Andrews & A. R. Hardy (1) CDFA ; 2 mi. S. Moenkopi , VII-3-1972, F. G. Andrews & E. A. Kane (1) CDFA . UTAH: Emery Co.: 17 mi. N Hanksville, dunes nr. Glison Butte Well , VII-26- 1978, F. G. Andrews & A. R. Hardy (1) RLAC ; San Rafael Desert , 14 mi. N Hanksville, 5200’, III-IX- 1985, Antifreeze Pitfall Trap, D. Giuliani (1) CDFA ; San Rafael Desert, Little Flat Rock Mesa , 18 mi. NE Hawkville, 6000’, IX-1986 to IX-1987, Antifreeze Pitfall Trap, D. Giuliani (1) RLAC ; Washington Co.: Sand Hollow Rd. E entrance State Park , 27°06′06″N, 113°21′13″W, IV-3-2012 to V-19-2012, barrier pitfalls, W. B. Warner (1) WBWC .

Other Material Examined. ARIZONA: Coconino Co.: Hwy 264, 2.3 km SE Moenkopi, 36°05 ʹ 58 ʹʹ N, 111°12 ʹ 01 ʹʹ W, 4,700’, IV-20-2012, J. P. Gruber (2) JPGC .

Distribution. Restricted to the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and southern Utah.

Collection Data. Mainly collected in pitfall traps, although some were found crawling on sand dunes at night. Elevation range 1,400–1,850 m.

Figures

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. 3. Alaudes moenkopii, female genitalia. SAG = spermathecal accessory gland; S = spermathecae; B = bursa; O = oviduct; V = vagina; G = gut; T8 = tergite 8; S8 = sternite 8.

Fig. 7. Alaudes moenkopii. 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.