Platyceroides (Platyceroides) aeneus (Van Dyke)

Paulsen, M. J., 2017, Correction of existing generic and species concepts in Platyceroidini (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae) and the description of four new species of Platyceroides Benesh, Zootaxa 4269 (3), pp. 346-378 : 360-362

Platyceroides (Platyceroides) aeneus (Van Dyke)

Platycerus aeneus Van Dyke, 1928: 109 , original combination.

Type series. Holotype male ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Cannon Beach / Oregon / June 18, 1927 ”; b) “ EC Van Dyke / Collector ”; c) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”; d) handwritten,“ Platycerus / aeneus / Van Dyke ”, with “ Holotype ” on red left margin; e) handwritten, “ Platycerus / aeneus / Van D. ”, with “ Type 2535” on red left margin; f) “ Collection of the / California Academy / of Sciences, San / Francisco , California ” . Allotype female ( CASC) labeled: a) “ Cannon Beach / Oregon / June 9, 1927 ”; b) “ EC Van Dyke / Collector ”; c) “ Van Dyke / Collection ”; d) handwritten,“ Platycerus / aeneus / Van Dyke ”, with “ Allotype ” on red left margin; e) handwritten, “ Platycerus / aeneus / Van D. ”, with “ Type 2536” on red left margin; f) “ Collection of the / California Academy / of Sciences, San / Francisco , California ”. Five male, one female paratypes ( CASC) labeled a–d as holotype, except dates ranging from 12–17 June 1927, and with “ Paratype ”. One male paratype described in Van Dyke (1928) is present at CASC, but Van Dyke’s paratype label is lacking.

Distribution ( Fig. 27 ). OREGON: CLATSOP: Astoria; Cannon Beach; Necanicum; Saddle Mountain. POLK: W of Falls City; Rickreall Ridge/Dixie. TILLAMOOK: Boyer; Manzanita; Sandlake; Tillamook. WASHINGTON: Dilley; Timber. YAMHILL: Bald Mountain; Carlton Meadow Lake. WASHINGTON: CLALLAM: Forks; Olympic Hot Springs; Sol Duc Hot Springs. GRAYS HARBOR: Hoquiam; Humptulips. JEFFERSON: Brinnon; Olympic National Park. LEWIS: Centralia. MASON: Lake Cushman; Spillman Camp; Stimson Creek. PACIFIC: Ilwaco; South Bend. THURSTON: Tenino. YAKIMA: Bench Lake/Mount Adams.

Remarks. This species displays the most obtuse hind pronotal angle, which in the remaining species is rightangled or less, and often subacute. Most specimens are coastal, making the Mount Adams (Washington) specimens in the OSAC interesting outliers, but with relatively recent and detailed labels I have no other reason to doubt them. Conversely, an old specimen labeled as originating from ‘Crater Lake, OR’ is from so far outside the known range that I consider it to be erroneous. The northern distribution, coloration ( Fig. 8 A), and the apex of the genitalia with a strong bifurcate extension ( Fig. 8 C) are diagnostic.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 28. Distribution of Platyceroides species. 27, Platyceroides californicus species group: P. aeneus (orange triangles); P. umpquus (blue circles); P. californicus (orange squares); P. thoracicus (blue triangles). 28, Platyceroides opacus species group: P. marshalli (blue squares); P. potax (orange squares); P. barrae (blue circles); P. opacus (orange circles).

FIGURES 8 – 11. Platyceroides californicus species group, males: A, dorsal habitus; B, flagellum of male genitalia, lateral view; C, apex of flagellum of male genitalia, ventral view. 8, Platyceroides aeneus, arrow indicates large bifurcate process. 9, Platyceroides californicus. 10, Platyceroides thoracicus, arrow indicates small bifurcate process. 11, Platyceroides umpquus new species.