Renclasea cazieri Tishechkin & Caterino

Tishechkin, Alexey K. & Caterino, Michael S., 2009, A new North American genus of Hetaeriinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae), with descriptions of six new species from the U. S. A. and Mexico, Zootaxa 2311, pp. 1-18 : 15-16

Renclasea cazieri Tishechkin & Caterino , n. sp.

( Figs. 2 , 13 )

Material examined: Holotype male: "Portal, Ariz. Cochise Co. 4700 ft. at light VI-28-64 / Collectors Jean H. Puckle M. A. Mortenson M. A. Cazier / PROPERTY OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY / HOLOTYPE Renclasea cazieri sp. n. A. K. Tishechkin & M. S. Caterino des. 2008" (ASU).

Diagnosis: This is one of three species without alutaceous background microsculpture on dorsal surface ( Fig. 2 A). It can be easily distinguished from other species in this group by the total lack of traces of dorsal and sutural striae on elytra as well as the presence of sharp medial longitudial keel on meso- and anterior part of metaventrite ( Fig. 2 B).

Description: L: 2.34; W: 1.91; E/Pn L: 1.86; E/Pn W: 1.19; Pn W/L: 1.76; E L/W: 0.88; Pr/Py: 1.08; Sterna: 0.53, 0.22, 0.45; Tibiae: 0.52, 0.63, 0.78 (n=1). Body rufescent, shiny, smooth, short inconspicuous setae present on antennae, frons, legs, prosternal lobe, lateral parts of sterna and elytra. Frons and clypeus ( Fig. 2 E) weakly depressed at middle between lateral carinae; labrum narrowly rectangular, its apical margin weakly inwardly arcuate, unmodified. Prosternal sides convergent, much more strongly in anterior fourth, above antennal cavities, straight, with the anterior angles blunt, almost rectangular; marginal stria present along lateral edge, extending around anterolateral corner, interrupted at middle of anterior emargination of pronotum; pronotal lateral sides narrowly flattened and weakly reflexed; median angle of pronotal posterior margin about 110º. Prosternum with anterior margin of prosternal lobe almost straight; prosternal keel moderately elevated and narrow, its base in male not excavated; carinal striae absent, though with weak basal fragments marked between procoxae.

Scutellum elongate triangular, small; elytra convex, widest around midpoint, smooth and shiny; any traces of dorsal elytral and sutural striae absent.

Mesoventrite in males with sharply delimited median longitudinal keel ( Fig. 2 B) extending onto anterior part of metaventrite; mesoventral projection short, broadly triangular, its apex slightly elevated, continuous with anterior part of longitudinal keel; mesometaventral suture obsolete; disc of metaventrite in males flat, in addition to posterior part of longitudinal keel of mesoventrite bears short, sharp tooth on midline around posterior third.

Propygidium weakly convex, smooth; marginal stria of propygidium abbreviated along posterior margin; pygidium in males smooth, convex. Male genitalia as illustrated ( Fig. 13 ); females are unknown.

Etymology. We name this species in honor of Mont A. Cazier (1911–1995), collector of the type and founding director of the Southwest Research Station, who facilitated and inspired generations of entomological exploration in the American desert southwest.

Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality, on the edge of the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona ( Fig. 14 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Generic appearance and characters. A. Renclasea cazieri, dorsal habitus; B. R. cazieri, ventral habitus; C. R. cazieri, lateral habitus; D. R. cazieri, antennal scape and club; E. R. cazieri, frons.

FIGURE 13. Male genitalia, Renclasea cazieri. A. Abdominal segments 8 – 9, dorsal view; B. Abdominal segments 8 – 9, lateral view; C. Abdominal segment 8, apical view; D. Abdominal segments 8 – 9, ventral view; E. Apex of parameres, dorsal view; F. Aedeagus, lateral view; G. Ninth sternite (spiculum gastrale), ventral view.

FIGURE 14. Map of southern North America, showing all known collecting localities for Renclasea spp. The question mark in west Texas represents specimens of uncertain identity (discussed under R. occidentalis).