Agathidium carolinense 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 : 139-140

Agathidium carolinense Miller and Wheeler , new species Figures 161 , 320–322 , 375

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype, Ƌ in AMNH labeled ‘‘N.C.: Macon Co., 8 mi W Franklin 19­III­1976 /sift rhododendron litter along stream LEWatrous/ HOLOTYPE Agathidium carolinense Miller and Wheeler, 2003 [red label with black line border]’’.

TYPE LOCALITY: United States, North Carolina, Buncombe Co., Blue Ridge Parkway, 5 mi W Craggy Gardens.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is similar to other members of the A. dentigerum group with unmodified gulae, especially A. georgiaense and A. gallititillo , but differs in the shape of the median lobe. In lateral aspect the apical portion is long and moderately slender and is strongly curved dorsad apically (fig. 321). In ventral aspect the apical portion is slender and evenly tapered to a narrowly rounded apex (fig. 320).

DESCRIPTION: Body moderately large (TBL = 2.52 mm), rounded, robust (PNW/TBL = 0.46), strongly contractile.

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

Head broad (MDL/OHW = 0.55), dorsal surface flattened, dorsoventrally compressed; with very fine punctures, each with a short, very fine seta, surface between punctures shiny, with fine microreticulation; frontoclypeal suture obsolete medially; eyes somewhat reduced, dorsoventrally compressed; gula concave; antennomere ratios: length I: II:III = 1.3:1.0:1.3, width VII:VIII:IX = 1.0: 1.0:2.1. Pronotum very large, broad (PNL/ PNW = 0.76), 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 = 1.05); punctation similar to pronotum; sutural stria obscurely present only at extreme apex. Flight wings strongly reduced. Mesosternum broad, broadly convex; medial carina well developed. Metasternum narrow (MTL/MTW = 0.14), medially slightly convex, distinctly sloped dorsad anteriorly; oblique femoral carinae obscured, rounded, but present, medially with broad subtriangular, posteriorly directed flange.

Male tarsi 5­5­4; pro­ and mesobasotarsomeres moderately expanded laterally, with moderately large field of ventral spatulate setae; mandibles not modified; metafemur moderately broad, subapical tooth on posterior margin broad, triangular, large, brush of long, fine setae sharply pointed (fig. 161); metasternal fovea large, transversely oval, with large brush of long fine setae. Median lobe in lateral aspect long, slender, bent basally, relatively straight thereafter, apical portion long, slender, apex strongly curved dorsally, sharply pointed (fig. 321); in ventral aspect slender, slightly expanded medially, apex long, slender, parallel­sided to slender, narrowly pointed apex (fig. 320); operculum divided, rami relatively short, each ramus slender and apically narrowly rounded (fig. 320); endophallic armature comprised of very long, flat, truncate, parallel­sided lobe with a lateral, hyaline lobe on each side; lateral lobes long, bent basally, slender basally, expanded and flattened apically, apex narrowly rounded with two long, stout setae (fig. 322).

Female not examined.

ETYMOLOGY: Named after the state in which this species was collected.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from North Carolina (fig. 375).

PARATYPE: UNITED STATES: North Carolina: Buncombe Co.: Blue Ridge Parkway 5 mi W Craggy Gardens, 22 Jul 1967, 3500̍, chestnut stump, Berlese, S Peck, A Fiske (1, PECK).

DISCUSSION: This species has been collect­ ed from a chestnut stump and Rhododendron litter along a stream. A single elevation record is from 3500 ft.

Agathidium gallititillo Miller and Wheeler ,

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. 303–328. Agathidium oniscoides­group species, aedeagus: 303–305, A. dentigerum: 303, ventral; 304, median lobe, lateral; 305, left lateral lobe, lateral. 306–308, A. stephani: 306, ventral; 307, median lobe, lateral; 308, left lateral lobe, lateral. 309–310, A. akrogeneios: 309, ventral; 310, lateral. 311–313, A. framea: 311, ventral; 312, median lobe, lateral; 313, left lateral lobe, lateral. 314–316, A. appalachium: 314, ventral; 315, median lobe, lateral; 316, left lateral lobe, lateral. 317–319, A. pocahontasae: 317, ventral; 318, median lobe, lateral; 319, left lateral lobe, lateral. 320–322, A. carolinense: 320, ventral; 321, median lobe, lateral; 322, left lateral lobe, lateral. 323–325, A. gallititillo: 323, ventral; 324, median lobe, lateral; 325, left lateral lobe, lateral. 326–328, A. divaricatum: 326, ventral; 327, median lobe, lateral; 328, left lateral lobe, lateral.

Figs. 374, 375. Geographic distribution of Agathidium oniscoides­group species: 374, A. divaricatum. 375, A. carolinense = -; A. bushi = •.