Aritaerius Kovarik and Tishechkin

Kovarik, Peter W. & Tishechkin, Alexey K., 2004, A New Genus and Species of Hetaeriinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae) from Southwestern North America, The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (3), pp. 317-327 : 319-326

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1649/617

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A5F725-FFA5-2E5F-8320-FAA2FC79FD77

treatment provided by

Tatiana

scientific name

Aritaerius Kovarik and Tishechkin
status

gen. nov.

Aritaerius Kovarik and Tishechkin View in CoL , new genus

( Figs. 1, 3 View Figs , 5–28 View Figs View Figs View Figs View Figs )

Description. Head: About as long as wide. Antenna ( Figs. 7, 8 View Figs ): Slightly longer than width of head capsule. Scape: Petiolate basally, abruptly expanded distally with dorsal surface anteriorly imbricate and posteriorly substrigulate; ventral surface with uniform imbricate texture; minute to relatively long pectinate setae present mainly on anterior surface. Funicle: Antennomeres imbricately textured and with basal antennomere about as long as combined length of next 4 antennomeres and bearing several pectinate setae on posterior surface; subsequent antennomeres gradually expanding with 3 terminal antennomeres bearing distal whorl of short pectinate setae. Club ( Figs. 9, 10 View Figs ): Oval, with imbricate surface somewhat sparsely covered with sensilla trichodea; terminal sensor plaque of sensilla basiconica present at antennal apex. Eyes ( Figs. 1, 3 View Figs ): Large with large ommatidia. Epipharynx ( Figs. 5, 6 View Figs ): Somewhat trapezoidal in outline; lateral area (LA) margin with inconspicuous fringe of long setae; lateral area broad, glabrous, and with mesal sensilla cluster; inner brush (IB) a mat of short dorsally oriented setae; medial area entirely covered with setae and bearing an elaborate comb-like structure at midline; medial brush setae short, robust, and thorn-like. Mandibles ( Figs. 11, 12 View Figs ): Anterolateral area (AL) imbricate, basally constricted and apically expanded, and with numerous minute discal setae and several short to relatively long lateral contact chemoreceptors; anteromedial area (AM) largely glabrous with some imbricate texture at apex; prostheca setae short to medium length; posterior surface of mandible largely untextured. Maxilla ( Figs. 13–15 View Figs ): Galea (GA): Elongate and nearly parallel-sided, only slightly expanded distally; dorsal surface sclerotized except for membranous areas along apical and mesal margins bearing brush of short to long hooked setae; ventral surface sclerotized and bearing comb of short setae and multiple pores near apex. Lacinea (LC): Anterior surface with several discal setae; lacinial tooth ( Fig. 15 View Figs ) robust, with basal portion about as long as teeth; brush setae short and slender and covering most of dorsal lacineal surface. Mediostipes (ME): Slightly textured, about as long as wide, and with a short seta, 2 pores, and small internal cuticular cavity. Basistipes (BA): Untextured, and with medium-length slender, primary seta and 2 pores. Cardo (CA): Much wider than long and with single pore. Palpifer (PF): Slightly textured and with several short, slender setae near lateral margin and single ventral pore. Dististipes (DI): Small and well sclerotized. Palp: Proximal palpomere about half as long as wide; with ventral pore and lateral minute setal cluster; second palpomere about 1.5 3 as long as wide and bearing 2 medium-length distolateral setae and usually 2 lateral pores; third palpomere about as long as wide and with single distolateral seta; terminal palpomere about 3 3 as long as wide; with 2 or 3 lateral pores and several pores and sensilla near apex; palpal organ ( Fig. 14 View Figs ) extending nearly to apex. Labium ( Figs. 16–18 View Figs ): Mentum ( Fig. 16 View Figs ): Rectangular in outline and with 2 long robust pectinate setae and 2 pores. Prementum ( Fig. 17, 18 View Figs ): Paraglossae (PA): Lobes elongate, narrow and fringed with minute setae; glossal lobes undifferentiated. Palp: Palpigers (PG) fused with 2 minute basal setae, several longer apical setae, and 2 pores on ventral surface; basal extension (BE) extremely short; proximal palpomere about half as long as wide; second palpomere about as long as wide and with 2 short distomesal setae; terminal palpomere nearly 3 times as long as wide, dorsal surface with 2 pores, ventral surface with 2 mesal and 1 lateral setae; palpal organ located in basal half of segment. Substructure: Pair of transversely pigmented sclerites subtending basal extensions of palpigers; cupule about as long as wide and overlying alae (AL); legs (SL) relatively short and parallel sided. Prothorax: Subcylindrical and laterally inwardly arcuate in dorsal view; apical angles expanded to receive antennae. Elytra: About as wide as long and wider than prothorax. Hind wings ( Fig. 28 View Figs ): R4 and RP separate; RP relatively long; RA 3 þ 4 stigma more than 2 3 longer than wide; RA3 absent; RA4 and RP1 dark and distinct with RP1 appearing vein-like; RP connected to but not fused with MA 1 þ 2; RP2 and RP 3 þ 4 complete, extending to wing margin as veins; Mp 3 þ 4 absent; CUA 2 þ 3 þ 4 absent; CUA and AA 1 þ 2 represented by pigmented membranes and separated along their length; AP 3 þ 4 absent; jugal lobe reduced. Propygidium and pygidium: Convex and variably setose. Prosternum: Anteriorly and posteriorly emarginated. Legs: Very long, femora and tibiae sub-cylindrical. Male Terminalia ( Figs. 19–21 View Figs ): Eighth segment ( Figs. 19–21 View Figs ) with tergite obtusely emarginate proximally; coxites plate-like with apical velum. Ninth segment ( Figs. 22–24 View Figs ) deeply emarginated proximally; ventral processes present; coxal carapace triangular and membranous, about as long as wide, and not extending much beyond apex of tergite; spiculum gastrale elongate and expanded distally. Aedeagus ( Figs. 25–27 View Figs ) with parameres relatively long and strongly curved; phallobase short, tubular, and flaring distally.

Aritaerius pallidus Kovarik and Tishechkin , new species ( Figs. 1–4 View Figs , 19–27 View Figs )

Description. Length: 1.34 mm, range 1.50–1.20; width 0.81 mm, range 0.7–0.9; (n ¼ 17) Body outline (dorsal) ( Fig. 3 View Figs ): Somewhat pear-shaped. Color: cuticle light to dark amber; setae golden. Head: Frons and vertex with areas of pustulate setose cuticle, one forming inverted ‘‘Y’’ on frons ( Fig. 1 View Figs ) while another pair span area from antennal insertion to roughly middle of eye. Setae on head short to relatively long. Pronotum ( Fig. 2 View Figs ): Disk with bilaterally symmetrical pattern of patches of pustulate setose cuticle; apical angles produced and broadly truncate. Elytra ( Fig. 3 View Figs ): Broader than pronotal base; cuticle smooth except for regularly-spaced pustulate cuticular dots representing four dorsal, a sutural and subhumeral striae. A few additional spots of pustulate setose cuticle also present in humeral region. Propygidum: Structure approximately 1.5 as wide as long, mostly smooth, but with sparse and uniform covering of spots of pustulate setose cuticle.Pygidium:Similar to propygidium but with fewer pustulate setal patches. Prosternum ( Fig. 2 View Figs ): Anterior margin of prosternal lobe produced and medially emarginate, marginal stria of lobe complete, though shallow medially; lobe cuticle mostly setose and areolate-rugose in texture; carinal striae appear as twin rows of setose and areolate-rugose cuticle that may appear widely spaced, parallel, slightly convergent, or reduced; lateral prosternal stria convergent between procoxae, then diverging apically; lateral marginal prosternal stria cariniform and diverging near apex; hypomera cuticle areolate-rugose. Mesosternum ( Figs. 2, 4 View Figs ): Acutely produced to fit prosternal emargination; meso-metasternal stria absent; cuticle anterior to marginal metasternal stria mostly setose and areolate-rugose in texture. Mesepimeron: Cuticle mostly untextured. Metasternum ( Fig. 4 View Figs ): Cuticle smooth except for scattered patches and transverse row of patchy setose and areolate-rugose cuticle bordering the posterior margin of sternite. Metepisternum and metepimeron: Cuticle smooth but with smattering of pustulate setal patches.Abdominal sternites: First apparent sternite ( Fig. 4 View Figs ) about 4 3 as wide as long with transverse band of setose and areolate-rugose cuticle starting at the coxal bases and extending medially to posterior margin of sternite; remaining sternites extremely short, each with lateral row of regularly-spaced setose and areolate-rugose cuticular patches. Legs: Procoxa with reticulate cuticle. Profemur roughly rectangular in outline; cuticle of anterior and posterior surfaces reticulate; anterior and posterior ventral margins fringed with setae; entire dorsal surface of femur setose; anterior and posterior surfaces sparsely setose subapically and becoming dense towards apex. Protibia about 4 3 as wide as long; anterior cuticle smooth along midline and areolate-rugose along margins; inner and outer margins setose both anteriorly and posteriorly; distal 1/3 of outer margin bearing 9–12 regularly-spaced stout amber spines increasing in length proximally. Tarsi always laterally compressed and about 0.5 the length of corresponding tibia; 1 st –4 th tarsomeres with a pair of long setae ventrally, tarsal claws slightly longer than 5th tarsomere. Mesofemur slightly bowed, proximally slender, distally expanded, and about 1.3 3 longer than profemur; vestiture rather long and dense dorsally and becoming sparse ventrally. Metafemur about 1.7 3 longer than profemur, more strongly curved than metafemur, but otherwise resembling the latter structure.Mesotibia about 1.4 3 as long as protibia and with 3 longitudinal setal rows on anterior surface; posterior surface densely setose. Metatibia nearly twice as long as protibia and with dorsal and ventral row of setae on anterior surface and dense covering of longer setae on posterior surface. Male Terminalia ( Figs. 19– 27 View Figs ): Eighth segment ( Figs. 19–21 View Figs ) with tergite dorsum slightly longer than broad, somewhat truncate distally, with minute setae dorsolaterally and laterally; coxites somewhat rectangular, slightly longer than 0.5 tergite length, and bearing distal cluster of short and minute spines. Ninth segment ( Figs. 22–24 View Figs ) about 2 3 as long as broad and with minute dorsolateral and lateral setae and lateral pores; ventral processes narrowly ovoid; coxal carapace triangular and membranous, about as long as wide, and not extending much beyond apex of tergite; pair of minute setae present on disc. Spiculum gastrale proximally lobed, with remainder somewhat flattened and slightly expanded distally. Aedeagus ( Figs. 25–27 View Figs ) with parameres more than 2 3 as long as phallobase, parallel sided, and superficially bisected just distad to median lobe; minute pores present on dorsal, lateral and ventroapical surfaces.

Diagnosis. Aritaerius pallidus is the only long-legged and pilose hetaeriine without any modifications of the pronotal disc. The pronotum of this species is truly subcylindrical, lacking carinate margins and lateral pronotal striae. While species of Chrysetaerius and Latronister bear a superficial resemblance to A. pallidus , the pronotal margins of these taxa are carinate. Aritaerius pallidus further differs from Chrysetaerius in having a smooth metasternal disc without any microsulpture. The eyes of A. pallidus with their large ommatidia are quite different from those of other similarly looking longlegged hetaeriine species. The aedeagal phallobase of both Latronister and Chrysetaerius is longer than the parameres whereas the opposite holds true for A. pallidus .

Type Series. Holotype #: Deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History Collection labeled: Sabino Cn. W. sl. Sta Catalina Mts. Pima Co., ARIZ. 2500 ft VII– 26–1948 sycamore-oak-mesquite, at light F. Werner W. Nutting . Paratypes (28) United States: Arizona: Pima Co., IBP site, Sta. Rita Rng. Res. , UV trap VII–12/15– 73 W. L. Nutting (2, PWKC) ; VII–16/19–73 (1, UAIC); VII–27/29–73 (1, ATC); VII–30/VIII–2–73 (2, ATC); VIII–6/9–73 (1, UAIC); VIII–10/13–73 (4, PWKC); VIII–13/16–73 (3, ATC); VIII–27/30–73 (1, ATC); VIII–31/ IX–2–1973 (1, UAIC) ; IX–27/30–1973 (1, UAIC); Sta. Rita Exp. Range 3–5 Aug. 1973 W. Nutting (2, FMNH; 1, NDC; 1, SMC) ; 31 Aug–3 Sep 1973 (1, ATC) ; Tucson 4 Aug 1968 K. Stephan leg (1, FMNH) Cochise Co. Portal, 22: VIII 1963 leg. M. Cazier, at black light (1, FMNH) ; Cochise Stghld. Dragoon Mts. VIII.13.1958, light trap C. W. O’Brien (1, UAIC) . Douglas 7–14 July 1969 Vincent D. Roth collector (1, AMNH) . Mexico: Nuevo Leon: Apodaco VII: 13: 1960 R. B. Selander ‘‘at light’’ (1, FMNH) .

Tamaulipas: Sta. Engracia at light 200 m. 20.II.1936 C. Plummer MF#53/0 FMNH Orlando Park Pselaphidae Clln. (1, SMC) .

Etymology. The name represents a combination of the words ‘‘Arid’’ (this is a desert species) and ‘‘ Chrysetaerius ’’ (the genus to which A. pallidus was erroneously ascribed).

Biology/Ecology. Almost nothing is known about the biology of A. pallidus except that it is attracted to ultraviolet light, indicating that this species is occasionally active at night. The large ommatidia of the eyes are characteristic of nocturnal insects. The nocturnal habits of A. pallidus suggest that its ant host might also be nocturnally active. A possible candidate is the army ant Neivamyrmex . These army ants are mainly subterranean and most above-ground activities occurs from dusk to dawn, especially under hot desert conditions ( Gottwald 1995). Dispersing A. pallidus would likely have a higher rate of success encountering a new host colony at night when Neivamyrmex are foraging.

Remarks. The collection localities of A. pallidus are shown in Figure 29 View Fig .

UAIC

University of Alabama, Ichthyological Collection

FMNH

Field Museum of Natural History

SMC

Sedgwick Museum

AMNH

American Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Histeridae

Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF