Atheta (crassicornis group) modesta ( Melsheimer, 1844 )

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, Revision of some types of North American aleocharines (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), with synonymic notes, Zootaxa 353 (1), pp. 1-134 : 50-54

Atheta (crassicornis group) modesta ( Melsheimer, 1844)

( Figs. 56–69 )

Homalota modesta Melsheimer, 1844: 31 .

Atheta (Acrotona) modesta: Bernhauer, 1907: 398 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) crassicornis var. virginica Bernhauer, 1907: 393 , syn. nov.

Atheta virginica: Blatchley, 1910: 356 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) rhodeana Casey, 1910a: 24 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) capella Casey, 1910a: 24 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) ducens Casey, 1910a: 25 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) temperans Casey, 1910a: 27 , syn. nov.

Atheta (Delphota) logica Casey, 1911a: 86 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) tradita Casey, 1911a: 101 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) fenisex Casey, 1911a: 102 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) vierecki Casey, 1911a: 103 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) auguralis Casey, 1911a: 104 , syn. nov.

Atheta (s. str.) bifaria Casey, 1911a: 104 , syn. nov.

Atheta (Acrotona) modesta: Fenyes, 1920: 225 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) virginica: Fenyes, 1920: 213 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) rhodeana: Fenyes, 1920: 213 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) capella: Fenyes, 1920: 213 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) ducens: Fenyes, 1920: 213 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) temperans: Fenyes, 1920: 214 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) logica: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) tradita: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) fenisex: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) vierecki: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) auguralis: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) bifaria: Fenyes, 1920: 215 (as valid species).

Atheta (Acrotona) modesta: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 675 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) virginica: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 652 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) rhodeana: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 649 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) capella: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 639 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) ducens: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 642 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) temperans: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 650 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) logica: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 645 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) tradita: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 651 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) fenisex: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 642 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) vierecki: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 651 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) auguralis: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 638 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) bifaria: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 639 (as valid species).

Atheta (Acrotona) modesta: Moore & Legner, 1975: 366 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) virginica: Moore & Legner, 1975: 377 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) rhodeana: Moore & Legner, 1975: 372 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) capella: Moore & Legner, 1975: 356 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) ducens: Moore & Legner, 1975: 359 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) temperans: Moore & Legner, 1975: 366 (as valid species; misspelled as temporans). Atheta (s. str.) logica: Moore & Legner, 1975: 365 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) tradita: Moore & Legner, 1975: 376 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) fenisex: Moore & Legner, 1975: 360 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) vierecki: Moore & Legner, 1975: 377 (as valid species).

Atheta (s. str.) auguralis: Moore & Legner, 1975: 354 (as valid species; misspelled as angularis ). Atheta (s. str.) bifaria: Moore & Legner, 1975: 355 (as valid species).

Acrotona (s. str.) modesta: Seevers, 1978: 256 (as valid species).

Xenota virginica: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

Xenota rhodeana: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

Xenota capella: Seevers, 1978: 268 (as valid species).

Xenota ducens: Seevers, 1978: 268 (as valid species).

Xenota temperans: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

Xenota logica: Seevers, 1978: 268 (as valid species).

Xenota tradita: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

Xenota fenisex: Seevers, 1978: 268 (as valid species).

Xenota vierecki: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

Xenota auguralis: Seevers, 1978: 267 (as valid species).

Xenota bifaria: Seevers, 1978: 267 (as valid species).

Type material. Lectotype of Homalota modesta (here designated): ♂, “U.[nited] S.[tates]”, “ modesta Melsh. ”, “Melsh.[eimer]”, “ modesta ”, a red piece of paper, “MCZ TYPE 34936” (red label) ( MCZ) (Two paralectotypes of H. modesta (with labels “ modesta ”, “Melsh.”, “ MCZ TYPE 34936”) are not conspecific with the lectotype and belong to Stethusa spuriella ( Casey, 1910a) (MCZ)) .

Lectotype of Atheta crassicornis var. virginica (here designated): ♂, “White Sulphur W.[est] Va. [Virginia]”, “Aug.[ust]”, yellow circle, “ pacifica Bh. Fenyes det. Bernhauer”, “ v. virginica Brh. Typus” (yellow label), “Chicago NHMus M.Bernhauer Collection” ( FMNH) (The paralectotype of this species (♂, “E. Machias, Me.[Maine]”, “June”, white circle, “ crassicornis Gvh. Fenyes det. Bernhauer”, “ v. virginica Brh. Cotypus ” (yellow label), “Chicago NHMus M.Bernhauer Collection” ( FMNH)) is not conspecific with the lectotype. It belongs to At. crenuliventris Bernhauer, 1907 ).

Lectotype of Atheta rhodeana (here designated): ♂, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ rhodeana ­2 PARATYPE USNM 39215” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotypes: ♂, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ ♂ ”, “ Atheta rhodeana Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39215” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) ; 6♀♀, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ rhodeana PARATYPE USNM 39215” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta capella (here designated): ♂, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ capella ­2 PARATYPE USNM 39216” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotypes: ♂ (with the aedeagus missing), “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ Atheta capella Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39216” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) ; 2♂♂, ♀, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ capella PARATYPE USNM 39216” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta ducens (here designated): ♂, “N.[ew] Y.[ork, Catskill Mts. ]”, “ ducens Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39218” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotypes: 17 specimens, “N.[ew] Y.[ork, Catskill Mts. ]”, “ ducens PARATYPE USNM 39218” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta temperans (here designated): ♀, “D.[istrict of] C.[olumbia]”, “ Atheta temperans Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39225” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH).

Lectotype of Atheta logica (here designated): ♀, “Penn.[sylvania, near Philadelphia]”, “ logica Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39489” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotype: ♀, “ Penn.[sylvania, near Philadelphia]”, “ logica PARATYPE USNM 39489” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta tradita (here designated): ♀, “N.[ew] Y.[ork, Catskill Mts. ]”, “ tradita Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39253” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotype: ♂, “N.[ew] Y.[ork, Catskill Mts. ]”, “ tradita PARATYPE USNM 39253” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta fenisex (here designated): ♀, “R.[hode] I.[sland, Boston Neck]”, “ fenisex Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39256” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH).

Lectotype of Atheta vierecki (here designated): ♂, “Double Beach, Ct. [Connecticut] 19 Aug. 1905 H.L.Viereck ”, “Fungus”, “ vierecki Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39255” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) . Paralectotypes: 2♂♂, ♀, “Double Beach, Ct. [Connecticut] 19 Aug. 1905 H.L.Viereck ”, “Fungus”, “ vierecki PARATYPE USNM 39255” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH) .

Lectotype of Atheta auguralis (here designated): ♂, “N.[ew] Y.[ork, Catskill Mts. ]”, “ auguralis Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39257” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH).

Lectotype of Atheta bifaria (here designated): ♀, “D.[istrict of] C.[olumbia]”, “ bifaria Csy. ”, “TYPE USNM 39258” (red label), “CASEY bequest 1925” ( NMNH).

Additional material. UNITED STATES: Michigan: Newaygo Co.: ♂, 2♀♀, 16 km SEE White Cloud, Newaygo State Park, 43º29.84'N 85º34.85'W, 150 m, in forest litter, Pinus , Quercus , 16.vii.1999 (V.I.Gusarov) ( SPSU); New York: Orange Co.: ♀, 8 km S New Windsor, Black Rock Forest, 9.v.1998 (V.I.Gusarov); ♀, ditto but 23–25.v.1998; ♂, ditto but pitfall traps, vi.1998 (V.Ovcharenko) ( SPSU); Sullivan Co.: ♀, Jeffersonville, 11–12.ix.1999 (A.Berkov) ( SPSU); Pennsylvania: 3♂♂, 4♀♀, “Penn.[sylvania, near Philadelphia]”, ( NMNH (Casey collection)); Vermont: Windsor Co.: 2♀♀, 8 km SEE Springfield, Hwy. I­91, 43º14.00'N 72º26.81'W, 250 m, in forest litter, Acer , Betula , Tsuga , Quercus , 21.ix.1998 (V.I.Gusarov) ( SPSU). CANADA: New Brunswick: Sunbury Co.: ♂, ♀, Acadia Research Forest, pitfall traps, 4.viii.1999 (G.Gesner); ♀, ditto but 13.vii.1999 ( SPSU); Ontario: ♂, ♀, 22 km NNE Gananoque, env. of Charleston Lake Prov. Park, 44º30.03'N 76º03.96'W, 0 m, in forest litter, Acer , Ulmus , Quercus , Pinus , ferns, 15.vii.1999 (V.I.Gusarov) ( SPSU); Québec: ♂, Parc de la Gatineau, Lac Lapêche, 9 km SWW Sainte­François­de­Masham, 26.ix.1998 (V.I.Gusarov); ♂, St.­Jaques­de­Leeds, 46º16'N 71º23'W, maple forest, 2.viii.1993 ( SPSU); 5 specimens, ditto but 15.vii.1994 ( LFC); ♀, ditto but 15.vii.1994; ♀, ditto but 19.vii.1994; ♂, 170 km NE Québec­City, Pohénégamook, 47º28'N 69º14'W, maple forest, 19.vii.1994 ( SPSU).

Diagnosis. Atheta modesta is closely related to the Palaearctic At. crassicornis ( Fabricius, 1793) but differs in having the pronotal setation pattern of the type III, the distinct shape of the male tergum 8 ( Fig. 56 ) and in the shape of the aedeagus ( Figs. 60– 68 ). The spermathecae of the two species are very similar ( Fig. 69 ).

Discussion. Bernhauer (1907) described At. virginica as a variety of At. crassicornis . He noted the similarity between the examined North American specimens and the European specimens, but listed several differences between the two. He also noted that when additional Nearctic specimens become available they might prove to represent a distinct species and not a variety of At. crassicornis .

The types of H. modesta , At. crassicornis var. virginica , At. rhodeana , At. capella , At. ducens , At. temperans , At. logica , At. tradita , At. fenisex , At. vierecki , At. auguralis and At. bifaria are similar in external characters and in the shape of the aedeagus and spermatheca. All these names are considered to be synonyms.

Distribution. Atheta modesta is widely distributed in the eastern United States (Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and District of Columbia) and Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario and Québec).

Figures

FIGURES 56–59. Abdominal segment 8 of Atheta modesta (Melsheimer) (male, Lac Lapêche, Québec (56–57); and female, 8 km SEE Springfield, Vermont (58–59)). 56 — male tergum 8; 57 — male sternum 8; 58 — female tergum 8; 59 — female sternum 8. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 60–63. Aedeagus of Atheta modesta (Melsheimer) (male, Lac Lapêche, Québec). 60 — median lobe, parameral view; 61— apex of median lobe, parameral view; 62 — median lobe, lateral view; 63 — apex of median lobe, lateral view. Scale bar 0.1 mm (61, 63), 0.2 mm (60, 62).

FIGURES 64–69. Genitalia of Atheta modesta (Melsheimer) (male, Lac Lapêche, Québec (64– 66); male, paralectotype of At. vierecki Casey (67–68); and female, 8 km SEE Springfield, Vermont (69)). 64 — median lobe with retracted internal sac, parameral view; 65 — median lobe with retracted internal sac, abparameral view; 66 — median lobe with retracted internal sac, lateral view; 67 — apex of median lobe with everted internal sac, parameral view; 68 — median lobe with everted internal sac, lateral view; 69 — spermatheca. Scale bar 0.2 mm.