Discoderus discoderoides (Schaeffer) Rajab, 2021

Rajab, Abubakarsidiq Makame, 2021, Indoor Radio Map localization WiFi fingerprint datasets, The Coleopterists Bulletin 75 (1), pp. 9-55 : 20

Discoderus discoderoides (Schaeffer) , new combination

( Fig. 74 )

Selenophorus discoderoides Schaeffer 1910: 404 . Type locality: Texas (Esperanza Ranch, near Brownsville , Cameron Co.) . Types: USNM #42512.

Descriptive Notes. This species is transferred from Selenophorus to Discoderus based on females exhibiting external characteristics typical of female Discoderus including the diagnostic apicomedian thickening of ventrite 6. However, the secondary sexual characteristics of male D. discoderoides are similar to the males of typical Selenophorus as follows. The mesotibia is relatively straight whereas in Discoderus the mesotibia is often arched. The dilated protarsi and mesotarsi are each with tarsomeres 2–4 biseriately squamulose beneath whereas in male Discoderus the tarsi are typically not modified. In both sexes of D. discoderoides the protibia bears six spines along the outer ridged margin, a number greater than seen in Selenophorus but characteristic of Discoderus .

Additional Description. Dorsum black; elytra with faint greenish metallic luster; legs dark brown or black, except for some tarsi paler. Pronotum moderately to strongly convex; sides evenly arcuate; disc convexity extends evenly to posteriolateral margin; deplanate areas absent; hind angles broadly rounded; disc and basal impressions impunctate. Microsculpture mesh on pronotum and elytra irregularly isodiametric to slightly transverse. Elytral intervals impunctate or with inconspicuous micropunctules. Sexual dimorphism + ♂ 1 — ♀ 2. Median lobe with prominent transverse lip apically on dorsoapical plate. Endophallus featureless. ABL 6.0– 7.8 mm.

Range. Bousquet (2012) reported that this rare species is known only from southeastern Texas. We examined specimens from the southeastern counties of Cameron , Hidalgo, Jim Wells , and Nueces. Additional specimens extend the species range to northeastern Texas (Tarrant Co.) and western Texas ( Ward Co. ) .

Remarks. Casey (1914) included this species in his key to Hemisopalus . However, with the dorsum impunctate and distinctly microsculptured, it would have been better placed by Casey near S. pedicularius in his key to Selenophorus . The combination with Discoderus was originally suggested to us by G. E. Ball (personal communication, 2015). Analogously, four precinctive West Indian species historically assigned to Selenophorus were treated as Discoderus by Shpeley et al. (2017). These additions to Discoderus increase the checklist in Lorenz (2005) to 33 species.

Figures

Figs. 72–75. Habitus images of Selenophorus and related genera, dorsal aspect: 72) S. maritimus; 73) Athrostictus punctatulus; 74) Discoderus discoderoides. 75) Sabal Palm Sanctuary, old-growth “core”.