Scotochroa basalis LeConte, 1874

Johnston, M. Andrew, Warner, William B. & Pollock, Darren A., 2024, New Records and a Checklist of Melandryidae and Tetratomidae Known from Arizona, USA (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea), The Coleopterists Bulletin 78 (1), pp. 53-60 : 55

Scotochroa basalis LeConte, 1874 ( Figs. 2A, B )

Scotochroa basalis LeConte 1874: 275 .

Literature Records: None.

Digital Records: One record for the state only ( GBIF 2023).

Specimens Examined: “ USA:AZ: Coconino Co. // FS300, 2.4 km NW jct. // with FS105; 34.3321 // -110.9633; vii.30-viii. // 17.2019; VFlight inter- // cept trap; WB Warner” (1 ASUHIC).

Notes. New state record. A second specimen from Arizona is deposited in the American Museum of Natural History and was determined by DAP before this project was started. Non-verbatim label data were recorded as follows: “AZ, Apache Co., Alpine Divide Camp, 4 mi. N. Alpine, 8500 ft., 17.vii.1965, F., P. & M. Rindge”. The specimens examined by us, along with most specimens from western North America , adequately key out to the current species ( Mank 1939a) and match images of the type. However, Scotochroa buprestoides Kirby, 1837 , which is typically recorded from more eastern localities, apparently differs only by the strength of the elytral sculpturing. These two should be investigated more closely to confirm their status as distinct species and elucidate better diagnostic characters .

Figures

Fig. 2. Melandryidae spp., all scale bars = 1 mm. Scotochroa basalis: A) Dorsal habitus, B) Lateral habitus. Serropalpus substriatus: C) Dorsal habitus, D) Lateral habitus. Rushia californica: E) Dorsal habitus, F) Lateral habitus. Xylita laevigata: G) Dorsal habitus, H) Lateral habitus.