Agathidium georgiaense 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 : 144-145

Agathidium georgiaense Miller and Wheeler , new species Figures 165 , 332–334 , 373

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in CMNC labeled ‘‘GA: Dade Co., Cloud land Canyon St. Prk. 16.v.1972, S.&.J.Peck Rhodo. litter,B236/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium georgiaense Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: United States, Georgia, Dade Co., Cloudland Canyon State Park.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is very similar to several species in this subgroup. It is nearly identical to A. gallititillo (see ‘‘Diagnosis’’ under that species) from which it differs mainly in the shape of the male genitalia. Whereas the apical portion of the median lobe is deflected ventrad in A. gallititillo (fig. 324), it continues in approximately the same line as the medial portion of the median lobe in A. georgiaense (fig. 333). The pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres are relatively broadly expanded in males of this species.

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately large (TBL = 2.31–2.68 mm), rounded, robust (PNW/ TBL = 0.50–0.51), strongly contractile.

Head and pronotum red to dark red; elytra dark red; venter, antennae, palpi, and legs yellow to yellow­brown.

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.52–0.54), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punc­ tures shiny, with fine microreticulation; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes prominent, protruding, slightly dorsoventrally compressed, large­faceted; gula concave anteriorly, slightly swollen medially; antennomere ratios: length I:II:III = 1.3:1.0:1.0, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0:1.0:1.9. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/PNW = 0.63–0.68), 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 shiny, with fine microreticulation. Elytra broad, lateral margins strongly rounded, apically rounded (SEL/ELW = 0.99–1.07); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria absent. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, broadly convex; medial carina well developed. Metasternum very narrow medially (MTL/MTW = 0.09– 0.10), medial area slightly convex, slightly sloped dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae obscured, low, rounded, medially with broad, flat, subtriangular, posteriorly directed flange.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres somewhat laterally expanded, with small ventral field of spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur slender, subapical posterior tooth moderately large, triangular, acutely pointed (fig. 165); metasternal fovea large, transversely oval, with large brush of long fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect long, slender, curved basally, moderately straight thereafter, apical portion long, slender, tapered, in same line of curvature as medial portion, apically bent dorsad, very finely pointed, without small dorsal prominence (fig. 333); in ventral aspect slen­ der, somewhat expanded medially, apical portion slightly constricted, expanded apically, apex broadly rounded (fig. 332); operculum divided, rami long but ending well short of apex of median lobe, slender, relatively straight through most of length, with apices narrowly rounded and divergent (fig. 332); lateral lobes slender, long, bent basally, straight in apical portion (fig. 334).

Female not examined.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named after the state of origin of the type specimens.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from the type locality in Georgia (fig. 373).

PARATYPES: UNITED STATES: Georgia: Dade Co.: Cloudland Canyon St. Park, 16 May 1972, Rhododendron litter, S and J Peck (8, PECK).

DISCUSSION: The type series was collected from Rhododendron litter.

Figures

Figs. 145–172. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, left male metafemur, ventral aspect: 145, A. oculeum. 146, A. recurvatum. 147, A. impensum. 148, A. cheneyi. 149, A. tenangoense. 150, A. rumsfeldi. 151, A. hirsutum. 152, A. cortezi. 153, A. tumidiventre. 154, A. aztec. 155, A. iridescens. 156, A. dentigerum. 157, A. stephani. 158, A. akrogeneios. 159, A. appalachium. 160, A. pocahontasae. 161, A. carolinense. 162, A. gallititillo. 163, A. divaricatum. 164, A. bushi. 165, A. georgiaense. 166, A. chauliodoum. 167, A. microphthalmum. 168, A. nimbosilva. 169, A. oniscoides. 170, A. rubellum. 171, A.

Figs. 329–356. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 329–313, A. bushi: 329, ventral; 330, median lobe, lateral; 331, left lateral lobe, lateral. 332–334, A. georgiaense: 332, ventral; 333, median lobe, lateral; 334, left lateral lobe, lateral. 335–337, A. chauliodoum: 335, ventral; 336, median lobe, lateral; 337, left lateral lobe, lateral. 338–340, A. microphthalmum: 338, ventral; 339, median lobe, lateral; 340, left lateral lobe, lateral. 341–343, A. nimbosilva: 341, ventral; 342, median lobe, lateral; 343, left lateral lobe, lateral. 344–347, A. oniscoides: 344, ventral; 345, apex of median lobe, ventral, specimen from Macon City, NC; 346, median lobe, lateral; 347, left lateral lobe, lateral. 348–350, A. rubellum: 348, ventral; 349, median lobe, lateral; 350, left lateral lobe, lateral. 351–353, A. exiguum: 351, ventral; 352, median lobe, lateral; 353, left lateral lobe, lateral. 354–356, A. fawcettae: 354, ventral; 355, median lobe, lateral; 356, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Figs. 372, 373. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: 372, A. gallititillo.