Atheta texana Casey, 1910

Gusarov, Vladimir I., 2003, A revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Stethusa Casey, 1910 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), Zootaxa 239, pp. 1-43 : 33-34

Atheta texana Casey, 1910

( Figs. 84­87 )

Atheta (Stethusa) texana Casey, 1910: 6 .

Atheta (Stethusa) mendosa Casey, 1910: 8 , syn. nov.

Atheta (Hypatheta) texana: Fenyes, 1920: 207 (as valid species). Atheta (Hypatheta) mendosa: Fenyes, 1920: 208 (as valid species). Atheta (Hypatheta) texana: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 654 (as valid species). Atheta (Hypatheta) mendosa: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 654 (as valid species). Atheta (Stethusa) texana: Moore & Legner, 1975: 375 (as valid species). Atheta (Stethusa) mendosa: Moore & Legner, 1975: 366 (as valid species). Xenota texana: Seevers, 1978: 269 (as valid species).

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

Type material. Lectotype of Atheta texana (here designated): Ψ, "Tex. [Texas, Austin]", " texana Csy. ", " TYPE USNM 39444" (red label), " CASEY bequest 1925" ( NMNH).

Holotype of Atheta mendosa : Ψ, "Va. [Virginia, Fort Monroe]", " mendosa Csy. ", " TYPE USNM 39453" (red label), " CASEY bequest 1925" ( NMNH).

Diagnosis. Atheta texana can be recognized by the pronotal setation of type I, antennal articles 4­5 quadrate, articles 6­10 transverse, mesothoracic process narrow, tergum 7 with microsculpture consisting of transverse waves and very transverse cells; and the distinct shape of the spermatheca ( Figs. 86­87 ). Body length 2.7­3.0 mm, pronotal width 0.69­0.70 mm.

Discussion. The types of At. texana and At. mendosa are very similar in external characters and the shape of the spermatheca. Based on this similarity, the second name is placed in synonymy with the first. The systematic position of this species is not clear until the males are discovered.

Distribution. Atheta mendosa is known from Virginia and Texas. Natural History. No information is available.

Figures

FIGURES 84 ­ 87. Abdominal segment 8 and spermatheca of Atheta texana (Casey) (holotype of At. mendosa Casey (84 ­ 86), lectotype of At. texana (87 )). 84 – female tergum 8; 85 – female sternum 8; 86 ­ 87 – spermatheca. Scale bar 0.2 mm (86 ­ 87), 0.4 mm (84 ­ 85).