Agathidium multidentatum Miller and Wheeler, 2005

MILLER, KELLY B. & WHEELER, QUENTIN D., 2005, Slime-Mold Beetles Of The Genus Agathidium Panzer In North And Central America, Part Ii. Coleoptera: Leiodidae, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2005 (291), pp. 1-167 : 112-113

Agathidium multidentatum Miller and Wheeler , new species Figures 139 , 244–247 , 364

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘ MEX.:OAX.; 3.5 mi S Suchixtepec , 8000̍ 3.vi.1971 S. Peck Ber 208, leaflitter/

HOLOTYPE Agathidium multidentatum Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico, Oaxaca, 3.5 mi S Suchixtepec.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of this species are recognizable by the multidentate metafemur (fig. 139) and the very unique median lobe with the operculum long and slender and apically with lateral hooks (fig. 244). The metasternum is moderately narrow and the metasternal fovea is transverse and moderately large.

DESCRIPTION: Body relatively large (TBL = 3.52–3.74 mm), broad, robust (PNW/TBL = 0.46), strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum testaceous; elytra testaceous, not iridescent; venter dark brown; antennae and palpi yellow­brown; legs dark brown to red brown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.51–0.53), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, smooth; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eye slightly compressed, but not strongly reduced; gula convex anteriorly; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 1.7:1.0: 1.4, width VII:VIII:IX = 0.9:1.0:2.1. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.80– 0.82), strongly convex, anterolateral lobes strongly produced, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with very fine, sparse punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures smooth. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 1.07–1.08); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria absent. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum moderately broad, not declivitous; medial carina present, but not strongly developed. Metasternum moderately narrow (MTL/MTW = 0.12–0.13), flattened, sloping dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae well developed, meeting medially in very low carina.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres slightly laterally expanded, with small ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad, posteroapical margin with conspicuous, curved tooth and series of smaller teeth, apical margin irregularly excavated (fig. 139); metasternal fovea linear, transverse with line of dense, fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect long, slender, moderately curved, dorsal margin bisinuate, apex long, slender, straight with apical reflexed hook (fig. 246); in ventral aspect slender, with medial abrupt expansion consisting of laterally directed carina which together with the dorsal carinae form a sulcus in which fits the lateral lobe, apex slender, slightly expanded medially tapering to narrowly rounded apex (figs. 244, 245); operculum long, apex laterally produced into conspicuous laterally and dorsally directed hooks, apex distinctly emarginate (fig. 244); lateral lobes very long, slender, medially expanded and sinuate, apex slender to very narrowly rounded, with 2 long apical setae (fig. 247).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named from the Latin words multus, meaning ‘‘much’’, and dentatus, meaning ‘‘tooth’’, for the multiple teeth present along the posterior margin of the male metafemur in this species.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from Oaxaca (fig. 364).

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Oaxaca: 5.1 km S Suchixtepec , 25 Jul 1992, 2150 m, oak­alder­pine leaf litter, Berlese, RS Anderson (1, CNCI) ; 4.6 km S Suchixtepec , 23 Jul 1992, wet riparian alder forest, leaf litter, RS Anderson (1, CNCI) ; 3.5 mi S Suchixtepec , 3 Jun 1971, 8000̍, leaf litter, S Peck (9, PECK) .

DISCUSSION: The species has been collect­ ed from oak, alder, pine, and ‘‘wet riparian’’ forest litter. Elevation records are from about 2400 m.

Agathidium sejunctum Miller and Wheeler ,

Figures

Figs. 118–144. Agathidium concinnum­ and A. oniscoides­group species, left male metafemur, ventral aspect: 118, A. concinnum. 119, A. kimberlae. 120, A. vaderi. 121, A. bituberculum. 122, A. oedema. 123, A. gomezae. 124, A. hidalgoense. 125, A. skoliosternum. 126, A. erythromelas. 127, A. rhamphastes. 128, A. megoniscoides. 129, A. grumum. 130, A. triangularum. 131, A. lobosternum. 132, A. potosii. 133, A. popocatepetlae. 134, A. hyle. 135, A. stenomma. 136, A. tribulosum. 137, A. tribulograndum. 138, A. invisitatum. 139, A. multidentatum. 140, A. sejunctum. 141, A. grandidentatum. 142, A. andersoni. 143, A. disgregum. 144, A. oaxacaense. Bars = 0.5 mm.

Figs. 232–260. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 232–235, A. tribulosum: 232, ventral; 233, median lobe, apex, ventral; 234, median lobe, lateral; 235, left lateral lobe, lateral. 236–239, A. tribulograndum: 236, ventral; 237, median lobe, apex, ventral; 238, median lobe, lateral; 239, left lateral lobe, lateral. 240–243, A. invisitatum: 240, ventral; 241, median lobe, apex, ventral; 242, median lobe, lateral; 243, left lateral lobe, lateral. 244–247, A. multidentatum: 244, ventral; 245, median lobe,

Figs. 363, 364. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: 363, A. popocatepetlae = -; A. potosii = •; A. stenomma = *; A. tribulosum = ^. 364, A. hyle = *; A. grandidentatum = O; A. multidentatum = •; A. sejunctum = ^; A. tribulograndum = •.