2. Adota gnypetoides (Casey, 1910)

(Figs. 17, 31­41)

Atheta (Adota) gnypetoides Casey, 1910: 69 .

Adota gnypetoides: Fenyes, 1920: 176 (as valid species).

Atheta (Adota) gnypetoides: Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926: 659 (as valid species). Atheta (Adota) gnypetoides: Moore & Legner, 1975: 362 (as valid species). Xenota gnypetoides: Seevers, 1978: 270 (as valid species).

Type material. Holotype of Atheta gnypetoides:, "Redondo, Cal.[ifornia] 4/7/94 [7.iv.1894 (Fall)]", " gnypetoides Csy. ", " TYPE USNM 39366" (red label), " CASEY bequest 1925" (NMNH).

Additional material. UNITED STATES: Alaska: Kenai Peninsula Co.: 5 specimens, Homer, S shore of Homer spit, 59º36.33'N 151º25.71'W, sandy seashore, in seaweed (V.I.Gusarov), 22.vii.1998 (AMNH, SPSU); California: San Mateo Co.:,, Montara Beach, under seaweed on sand beach (K.J.Ahn & J.S.Ashe), 16.v.1991 (KSEM); Monterey Co.: 2, 2, Pacific Grove, under seaweed (K.J.Ahn), 4.vi.1991 (KSEM);,, Hopkins Marine Station, West Beach (J.B.Evans), 19.v.1968 (KSEM); 10 specimens, Sonoma Co.: 34.5 km SWW Santa Rosa, Bodega Head, University of California Marine Laboratory, 38º19.013'N 123º04.254'W ± 10m, seashore, in seaweed (V.I.Gusarov), 4.vi.2002 (KSEM); Santa Cruz Co.: 2, 10.5 km NW Davenport, nr. Hwy. 1, nr. Greyhound Rock, 37º04.821'N 122º16.062'W ± 6m, seashore, in seaweed (V.I.Gusarov), 19.vi.2002 (SPSU).

Diagnosis. Adota gnypetoides is very similar to Ad. maritima, but differs in having smaller body size, shorter antennal segments (Figs. 17; 18), narrower apex of median lobe (Figs. 35­36; 23­24), posterior margin of male tergum 8 convex medially (Fig. 31) and smaller spermatheca (Figs. 40­41; 29­30).

Adota gnypetoides differs from Ad. colpophila by having matte body, posterior margin of male tergum 8 with three blunt projections (Fig. 31), median lobe with blunt apex (Figs. 35­36; 46­47) and the distinct shape of spermatheca (Figs. 40­41).

Description. Length 2.2­2.8 mm. Body black with dark brown legs and light brown tarsi.

Head surface matte, with strong and dense isodiametric microsculpture, with fine punctation, distance between punctures equals their diameter. Frons with sparser punctation, in both sexes with weak impression. Temple length to eye length ratio 0.8­1.0. Antennal article 2 is 1.2 times as long as article 3, articles 4 slightly elongate (length to width ratio 1.1), articles 5 as long as wide, articles 6­10 slightly transverse (length to width ratio 0.7­0.9) (Fig. 17).

Pronotum slightly transverse, 1.1 times as wide as head, width 0.43­0.50 mm, length 0.33­0.44 mm, width to length ratio 1.1­1.4; matte, with strong and dense isodiametric microsculpture; punctation finer than on head, poorly visible on matte background, distance between punctures equal to ½­1 times their diameter. Elytra much wider (0.54­0.71 mm) and longer (0.54­0.70 mm; measured from humeral angle) than pronotum (elytral length to pronotal length ratio 1.6), as wide as long, surface matte, with strong and dense isodiametric microsculpture; punctation as on pronotum.

Abdominal terga matte, with strong and dense isodiametric microsculpture; with fine punctation, distance between punctures equals 1­2 times their diameter on terga 3­5 and 2­ 4 times on terga 6­7. Apical margin of tergum 7 with white palisade fringe.

Posterior margin of male tergum 8 with two blunt lateral projections and wide semicircular medial projection (Fig. 31).

Aedeagus as in Figs. 35­39, apex of median lobe narrower than basal part (Figs. 35­ 36).

Spermatheca as in Figs. 40­41.

Distribution. Known from the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to California (Fig. 52).

Natural History. Adota gnypetoides is a littoral species, common in decomposing seaweed on a beach.