Alaudes Horn, 1870

Aalbu, Rolf L., Caterino, Michael S. & Smith, Aaron D., 2018, Studies in the Cnemeplatiini I: A New Subtribe and Revision of the Genus Alaudes Horn (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Cnemeplatiini), with Descriptions of New Species from the Southwestern USA and Mexico, Including Notes on Distribution and Biology, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (2), pp. 249-268 : 252

Alaudes Horn, 1870

Alaudes Horn 1870: 362 . Type species: Alaudes singularis Horn, 1870 .

Redescription. Length 1.4–2.2 mm. width 0.6–1.0 mm. color dark brown, luster opaque to slightly shiny. Body: Compact, subrectangular, apterous. Head: Transverse, slightly broader behind, emarginate anteriorly; upper surface transversely shallowly rounded, sometimes slightly concave and reflexed laterally; upper and lower surface completely covered with short, appressed scales. Eye reduced to single facet, positioned dorso-laterally but usually not visible from above. Antenna 11-segmented, compact, first 2 antennomeres broader than next 6, last 3 antennomeres forming compact club. Mandibles with mandibular mola very weakly sclerotized. Mentum short, transverse, ligula often obscured by large setal scales on mentum. Maxillary palpi short, apical segment elongate oval. Gular region with sides strongly produced anteriorly around mentum, anterior angles acute, apex between angles arcuate, concave, laterally depressed forming groove for antenna. Pronotum: About as broad as elytra, transverse. Surface covered with short, appressed scales except on central aspect of base, which is bare and forms a broad hexagon, apex often bearing a small pore. Anterior margin nearly straight to slightly concave, lateral aspect variable. Posterior margin bearing 2 trichomes, comprising pairs of longer, flattened setal clumps, 1 positioned around central bare area and 1 on posterior lateral margin. Scutellum: Visible, transverse triangular. Elytra: Slightly inflated, surface punctate-striate; punctures, setal shapes, and patterns variable; middle of basal margin of each elytron typically with small patch of scale-like setae opposing trichome of posterior pronotal margin; laterally nearly parallel to slightly inflated at midpoint; surface mostly bare, punctures variable, set in more or less even striae on disc, laterally becoming more confused; with variable setal patterns; anterior margin concave. Venter: Epipleura gradually narrowing from apex to base; prosternal process vertically convex between procoxae, mesosternum not excavate; Prosternum bare except central aspect with rounded scales, extending laterally on prosternal process; first visible sternite with more or less pronounced grooves extending laterally from sternal base. Legs: Moderate in length, slender, not inflated; femur similar in length to or slightly longer than tibia; tibiae and tarsi densely setose, femora sparsely setose; tarsi with ventral surface bearing numerous, short, stiff, black setae. Basal 3 or 4 tarsomeres similar in length, the distalmost about twice as long. Genitalia: Male ( Fig. 2A–F ) with penis ventral, basal piece and parameres similar in length, though somewhat variable among species, often curved basally or recurved. Female ( Fig. 3 ) lacking distinct ovipositor. Internal tract with bursa, spermathecae multiple, lateral; spermathecal accessory gland apical.

Figures

Fig. 2. Alaudes species, male genitalia. A) A. singularis, B) A. setigera, C) A. californicus, D) A. mojavensis, E) A. coloradoensis, F) A. moenkopii.

Fig. 3. Alaudes moenkopii, female genitalia. SAG = spermathecal accessory gland; S = spermathecae; B = bursa; O = oviduct; V = vagina; G = gut; T8 = tergite 8; S8 = sternite 8.