Pinodytes sequoia Peck & Cook, 2011

Peck, Stewart B. & Cook, Joyce, 2011, Systematics, distributions and bionomics of the Catopocerini (eyeless soil fungivore beetles) of North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Catopocerinae) 3077, Zootaxa 3077 (1), pp. 1-118 : 34-35

Pinodytes sequoia Peck & Cook , new species

( Figs. 23 , 216–224 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( SBPC). UNITED STATES. California: Tulare Co., Carmoe Crevice , 18.XI.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, JKK331B3 . Paratypes (62). UNITED STATES. California: with same data as holotype, 20 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Carmoe Crevice , 5.VII.2004, J. Krejca, A. Gluesenkamp, JKK1D4, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Carmoe Crevice , 5.VII.2004, J. Krejca, A. Gluesenkamp, JKK5D2, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Hurricane Crawl Cave , 16.VII.2003, J. Krejca, A. Snow, V. Loftin, S. Fryer, JKK17A4, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 23.VII.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, JKK80A7, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 6.VII.2004, J. Krejca, A. Gluesenkamp, N. Barth, JKK13D2, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 9.XI.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, K. Despain, JKK232B4, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 9.XI.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, K. Despain, JKK232B5, 5 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 21.VII.2003, J. Krejca, S. Fryer, C. Walck, JKK52A2, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 23.VII.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, JKK80A5, 2 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Lost Soldier’s Cave , 9.XI.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, K. Despain, JKK230B2, 2 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Palmer’s Cave , 27.VII.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, JKK081A4, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Palmer’s Cave , 28.VII.2003, J. Krejca, V. Loftin, S. Fryer, D. Bolano, JKK087A1, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Pet Cemetery Cave , 11.V.2004, J. Krejca, S. Fryer, J. Snow, P. Sprouse, JKK123C2, 2 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Soldier’s Cave , XII.1977, A.G. Grubbs, 19 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Three Rivers, N36.35° W118.77°, Lost Soldier’s Cave , 20.II.2010, 1212m, Graening, Audisio, 1 ( SBPC) ; Tulare Co., Weiss Raum Cave , 10.V.2004, J. Krejca, P. Sprouse, S. Fryer, C. Walck, E. Olmbeck, JKK115C12, 2 ( SBPC) .

Material examined. We have examined 63 specimens.

Distribution. Specimens ( Fig. 224 ) are known only from Tulare County, on the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California.

Diagnostic description. Total length 2.20–3.08 mm; greatest width 1.02–1.28 mm. Dark reddish brown; elongate-oval in shape ( Fig. 23 ). Head. Finely, sparsely punctate; with up to four large punctures on vertex; microsculpture of vertex reticulate to substriate. Eyes absent. Antenna ( Fig. 216 ) with antennomere 3 longer than 2; antennomeres 4–6 subequal; antennomere 7 longer but not wider than 8; antennomeres 9 and 10 each with a single sensory vesicle indicated apically by a protruding flange. Pronotum. Finely punctate with several larger punctures near apical margin; microsculpture moderately strong, substriate. Widest at base, sides roundly tapering to apex; apical margin emarginate, basal margin straight; apical angles rounded, basal angles rectangular. Elytra. Punctation moderately strong and dense, in longitudinal rows, some rows weakly impressed; punctures joined transversely by fine strioles. Joined elytra slightly narrower than pronotum, nearly parallel in basal one-half, narrowing to apex; basal one-third serrate laterally. Legs. Protibia ( Fig. 217 ) narrow, straight; apex and outer margin spinose; inner margin with dense, fine spines on apical one-half. Mesotibia ( Fig. 218 ) narrow, straight, with strong spines on entire outer margin and apically; inner margin with fine spines on apical one-half. Metatibia ( Fig. 219 ) elongate, narrow, straight, spinose apically; apical two-thirds of outer margin with fine spines, a stronger spine at about onefourth from apex; fine spines on apical two-fifths of inner margin. Metafemur ( Fig. 219 ) moderately slender in both sexes. Male protarsomeres ( Fig. 217 ) not expanded, bearing elongate setae laterally and thin, broad, colorless phanerae ventrally. Mesotarsomeres without phanerae. Venter. Mesoventrite ( Fig. 223 ) carinate; longitudinal carina irregularly serrate posteriorly, expanded in anterior one-half, depressed but not excavated behind transverse carina. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs. 220, 221 ) broad, abruptly narrowed before flattened apex. Inverted internal sac ( Fig. 221 ) with a transverse dentate sclerite and a cluster of short, broad spines. Parameres ( Figs. 220, 221 ) broad, elongate, with thin, deflexed apices; each bearing two setae before apex; apices extending beyond apex of median lobe. Spermatheca. Globose ( Fig. 222 ).

Notes. All specimens are known from caves but this does not mean that the species can be categorized as a specialized cave inhabitant (troglobite). At best it would be classed as a troglophile, because it shows modifications only for soil habitats, as do all other species in the genus. Caves are a secondary habitat for the collection of soil beetles. This shows that sampling has been extensive in cave habitats and that no sampling has been done in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains for soil inhabiting beetles.

Etymology. The name sequoia , a noun in apposition, refers to the distribution of this species in Sequoia

National Park, Tulare Co., California .

Figures

FIGURE 224. Distributions of species in the Pinodytes pusio species group in the southwestern United States. P. sequoia, open triangles in the southern Sierra Nevada of central California. P.shasta, closed triangles in Trinity Alps mountains in north western California. P.spinus, solid square, in western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. P. tehama, open circles at the northern end of the Central Valley and on both sides of the Sacramento River, California. P. tuolumne, closed circles on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park.

FIGURES 19–27. Pinodytes habitus photos. 19. P.minutus, total length 1.08 mm. 20. P. monterey, total length 1.52 mm. 21. P. parvus, total length 1.22 mm. 22. P. sanjacinto, total length 1.60 mm. 23. P. sequoia, total length 2.92 mm. 24. P.shasta, total

FIGURES 216–223. Pinodytes sequoia. 216. Male right antenna, dorsal. 217. Male right protibia and protarsus. 218. Male right mesotibia. 219. Male right metafemur and metatibia. 220. Aedeagus, lateral. 221. Aedeagus, dorsal. 222. Spermatheca. 223. Mesoventrite, lateral. Scale bar = 0.2 mm (Fig. 222), 0.3 mm (Fig. 223), 0.5 mm (Figs. 216–221).