Laemophloeus megacephalus Grouvelle, 1876

Thomas, Michael C., 2015, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 3. Nearctic species, Insecta Mundi 2015 (450), pp. 1-35 : 10-11

Laemophloeus megacephalus Grouvelle

Fig. 1,2 , 13 , 36-39

Laemophloeus megacephalus Grouvelle, 1876: 495

Laemophloeus floridanus Casey, 1884: 85 ; synonymy by Thomas 1993: 60

Laemophloeus distinguendus Sharp, 1899: 518 ; synonymy by Thomas 2014: 11

Types: Thomas (2014) discussed the type material of this species.

Diagnosis. In males, the antennal scapes ( Fig. 13 ) with tufts of hair dorsally and broad emarginations above the antennal insertions ( Fig. 36, 39 ) are diagnostic. Coloration is unusually variable, with southern Florida specimens being mostly unicolorous testaceous with the elytral base and suture infuscate ( Fig. 1 ), while more northern specimens are darker, with dark elytra and distinct pale basal maculae ( Fig. 2 ). Females generally may be distinguished from other Nearctic species by coloration and surface sculpture, but where their ranges overlaps in southern Florida, they may be indistinguishable from females of L. suturalis . The male genitalic characters ( Fig. 37-38 ) are discussed under L. fasciatus . Length, 2.3mm - 3.4mm.

Distribution. In the U.S., L. megacephalus ranges from Delaware west to Indiana, south to Arizona and Florida. Elsewhere, it ranges from Mexico throughout Central America south to Bolivia and in Jamaica in the Caribbean.

Specimens examined. 361 from the following collections: FSCA, TAMU, UGAC.

USA: ALABAMA: Baldwin Co.: Weeks Bay Reserve ; Dale Co.: Level Plains ; Jefferson Co.: Vestavia ; Lawrence Co.: Joe Wheeler State Park ; Monroe Co.: Haines Island Park ; ARIZONA: Pima Co.: Mt. Lemon, Bear Wallow Area ; ARKANSAS: Garland Co.: Ouachita National Forest , Camp Clearfork ; Pulaski Co.: Camp Robinson ; DELAWARE: Kent Co.:. 5mi. S Dinahs Corner ; FLORIDA: Alachua Co.: [county only] ; Gainesville ; Clay Co.: Camp Blanding ; Columbia Co.: O’Leno State Park ; Dixie Co.: 3.5mi. N Old Town ; Duval Co.: Jacksonville ; Flagler Co.: 2mi. S I-95 on US-1 ; Highlands Co.: Highlands Hammock State Park ; Indian River Co. Oslo area ; Leon Co.: Tallahassee ; Levy Co.: Manatee Springs State Park ; Liberty Co.: Torreya State Park ; Marion Co.: Citra ; Ocala ; Miami-Dade Co.: Camp Mahachee , nr. Matheson Hammock ; Miami ; Orange Co.: Apopka ; Polk Co.: Peace River , 5mi. S Ft. Meade ; Union Co.: Hwy 241 at Santa Fe River ; GEORGIA: Clarke Co.: nr. Brooklyn Creek ; nr. Memorial Park; Meriwether Co.: Greenville ; Rabun Co.: Black Rock Mountain State Park ; INDIANA: Monroe Co.: Bloomington ; MARYLAND: Baltimore Co.: Butler ; MISSIS- SIPPI: Winston Co.: Tombigbee National Forest ; NORTH CAROLINA: Wake Co. : [county only] ; TEXAS: Hardin Co.: [county only] ; Grayburg ; Montgomery Co.: Conroe ; Sabine Co.: Mill Creek Cove, “Beech Bottom,” 8.8mi. NE Hemphill ; San Augustine Co.: Piney Woods Conservation Center , 14mi. SE Broaddus ; Shelby Co.: Snyder’s Boat Ramp, Sabine National Forest .

Discussion. This is the most widely distributed species of Laemophloeus , ranging throughout much of South America north to the southern half of the U.S. As may be expected, it exhibits considerable color variation throughout its tremendous range, but surprisingly little structural variation. Neotropical specimens tend to be pale, with infuscate elytral sutural and basal margins, much as in L. suturalis . Southern Florida specimens follow that same pattern, but progressing northwards, specimens become darker and at their most extreme closely resemble the color pattern of L. fasciatus .

Figures

Figure 13. Laemophloeus megacephalus, male habitus.

Figures 1-7. Variation in Laemophloeus elytral fasciae. 1-2) L. megacephalus. 3-4) L. biguttatus. 5-6) L. fervidus (5, Arkansas; 6, paratype of L. woodruffi, Florida). 7) L. fasciatus.

Figures 36-39. Laemophloeus megacephalus, male. 36) Head and pronotum. 37) Aedeagus.38) Parameres. 39) Antennal scape.