Agathidium popocatepetlae 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 : 105-106

Agathidium popocatepetlae Miller and Wheeler , new species Figures 133 , 222–224, 363

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CNCI labeled ‘‘ MEX. Km. 10,000̍ V. Popocatepetl Mex., V­9­1971 J.M. Campbell / HOLO­ TYPE Agathidium popocatepetlae Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line bor­ der]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico, State of Mexico, Popocatepetl, 10,000̍.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this species can be distinguished from others by the combination of a small male metafemoral tooth that is lo­

cated about two­thirds to three­fourths distant from the base of the metafemur (fig. 133), the moderately large eyes, and the unmodified gula and the male genitalia, which are relatively simple and undifferentiated (figs. 222–224). The species is somewhat similar to A. grumum but lacks the distinct tumidity on the gula and has a smaller and more proximally located male metafemoral tooth.

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately small (TBL = 2.47–2.55 mm), broad (PNW/TBL = 0.44–0.48), robust, strongly contractile.

Head, pronotum, and elytra yellow to yellow­red; venter, antennae, and palpi yellow.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.54–0.69), 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; eyes prominent with large facets, not reduced; gula concave; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 2.4:1.0:1.8, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:2.2. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.73), strongly convex, anterolateral lobes strongly produced, lateral margin broadly curved, not angulate; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, smooth. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 1.06–1.13); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria extending from apex for about two­thirds of elytral length. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, convex; medial carina prominent. Metasternum moderately broad (MTL/MTW = 0.15), medial surface flattened, gently sloping dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae moderately developed, meeting medially in low, broad flange.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres moderately laterally expanded, with moderately large ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad, with prominent, acute tooth submedially on posterior margin (fig. 133); metasternal fovea small, slightly transversely oval, with small, dense brush of fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect stout, robust, evenly curved, apical portion short, broadly triangular, apically narrowed and abruptly curved ventrad, apex sharply point­ ed (fig. 223); in ventral aspect broad, apically narrowed, apex abruptly narrowed and with medial, rounded prominence (fig. 222); operculum flat, broad, apex rounded with medial prominence (fig. 222); lateral lobes moderately broad, evenly curved basally, straight distally, apices rounded with 2 stout setae (fig. 224).

Female tarsi 5­4­4.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for the mountain where the type series was collect­ ed.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from the type locality high on Popocatepetl, Mexico (fig. 363).

PARATYPES: MEXICO: Mexico: km 10, V. Popocatepetl, 9 May 1971, 10,000̍, JM Campbell (3, QDWC).

DISCUSSION: The type series was collected at 10,000 ft.

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. 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 = •.