Pinodytes minutus 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 : 31

Pinodytes minutus Peck & Cook , new species

( Figs. 19 , 184–192 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( FMNH). UNITED STATES. California: Amador Co., 4.9 mi. W. Pine Grove, 1600’, 19.V.1976, Berl. litter, mixed hdwd. & pine forest, A. Newton, M. Thayer. Paratypes (55). UNITED STATES. California: same data as holotype, 7 ( FMNH); Amador Co., 1miW Pine Grove, 24.VI.1975, A. Newton, Ber. litter, mixed hdwd. & conifer for. in ravine, 4 ( FMNH); Amador Co., 1miW Pine Grove, 14.II.1971, R.F. Wilkey, ex. rotten wood, 1 ( CSCA); Amador Co., Tiger Creek, 26.VI.1975, 3500’, A. Newton, M. Thayer, Ber. litter, mixed conifer for., 1 ( FMNH); Calaveras Co., 3.0miNW West Point, 20.V.1976, 2250’, A. Newton, M. Thayer, Ber. litter, mixed hdwd. Pinus-Libocedrus-Abies for., 4 ( FMNH); Calaveras Co., 3miNE Glencoe, 25.VI.1975, 2000’, A. Newton, M. Thayer, Ber. litter oak-conifer for. away from stream, 2 ( FMNH); Napa Co., 2miN St. Helena, White’s Cave entr., 26.IV–19.VIII.1981, R. Aalbu, Antifreeze pit trap, 3 ( CSCA); Solano Co., Gates Canyon, 2.XI.1947, A.T. McClay, leaf mold, 1 ( UCDC); Solano Co., Lake Solano, 12.XII.1977, DSC, sift Sambucus & oak litter, 26 ( CUIC); Yolo Co., Capay, Willow Ck. at Hwy. 16; 27.II.1981, S. Kuba, Neotoma nest in Rhus , rocks on bank; 4 ( CSCA); Yolo Co., Capay, Willow Ck. at Hwy. 16, 27.II.1981, S. Kukba, Neotoma nest in Rhus , Rubus on bank, 2 ( CSCA).

Material examined. We have examined 56 specimens.

Distribution. Specimens ( Fig. 184 ) are known from Amador, Calaveras, Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties, on both sides of the Central Valley, in central California.

Diagnostic description. Total length 1.00– 1.20 mm; greatest width 0.55–0.61 mm. Reddish brown; oval in shape ( Fig. 19 ). Head. Finely, sparsely punctate; a larger puncture on each side of stem of epistomal suture; shining, with transverse substriate microsculpture. Eyes absent. Antenna ( Fig. 185 ) with antennomere 2 slightly longer than 3; antennomeres 5 and 6 subequal; antennomeres 7 and 8 subequal; antennomeres 9 and 10 each with a single sensory vesicle indicated apically by a protruding flange. Pronotum. Finely punctate, punctures separated by 2–4 diameters; shining, with transverse substriate microsculpture. Widest near base, sides roundly narrowing to apex; apical margin weakly emarginate, basal margin nearly straight; apical angles rounded, basal angles narrowly rounded. Elytra. Moderately finely punctate; punctures in longitudinal rows anteromedially; punctures joined by fine transverse strioles. Joined elytra slightly wider than pronotum; widest at base, roundly narrowing to apex.

Legs. Protibia ( Fig. 186 ) slender; spinose on apical one-half of outer margin and apically; apical one-half of inner margin finely, densely spinose. Mesotibia ( Fig. 187 ) slender; strongly spinose on outer margin and apically; exceptionally long spine at middle of outer margin. Metatibia ( Fig. 188 ) slender, straight; outer margin with fine spines and a strong spine near apex; apex strongly spinose. Metafemur ( Fig. 188 ) slender. Male protarsomeres ( Fig. 186 ) weakly expanded, bearing elongate setae laterally and thin, colorless, transverse phanerae ventrally. Mesotarsomeres without phanerae. Venter. Mesoventrite ( Fig. 192 ) carinate; longitudinal carina with toothlike expansion near middle; depressed but not excavated behind transverse carina. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs. 189, 190 ) broad, moderately flat; apex flat with narrow, rounded tip. Inverted internal sac ( Fig. 190 ) with distinctive hourglass-shaped sclerite apically and two rows of inwardly directed spines basally. Parameres ( Figs. 189–190 ) elongate, extending beyond apex of median lobe, moderately wide, somewhat constricted before flat apices; each bearing two closely spaced setae before apex. Spermatheca. Elongate ( Fig. 191 ), sinuate, tubular.

Etymology. The name minutus, Latin , small, refers to the small size of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 184. Distributions of species in the Pinodytes pusio species group in the southwestern United States. P.marinensis, open squares in the Coastal Ranges northwest of San Francisco Bay. P. minutus, open circles in the Coast and Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California, on both sides of the Napa River Valley. P. monterey, closed circles in the coastal Santa Lucia Mountains. P. parvus, closed triangles of the Coastal Ranges of northwest California., with disjunct populations west of San Francisco Bay. P. sanjacinto, open triangles in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California.

FIGURES 185–192. Pinodytes minutus. 185. Male right antenna, dorsal. 186. Male right protibia and protarsus. 187. Male right mesotibia. 188. Male right metafemur and metatibia. 189. Aedeagus, lateral. 190. Aedeagus, dorsal. 191. Spermatheca. 192. Mesoventrite, lateral. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (Fig. 191), 0.3 mm (Figs. 185–190, 192).

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