Pocadius basalis Schaeffer 1911

Cline, Andrew R., 2008, Revision of the sap beetle genus Pocadius Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae, Zootaxa 1799 (1), pp. 1-120 : 36-40

Pocadius basalis Schaeffer 1911

(Figs. 6, 47, 89, 132, 175, 214)

Specimens examined. HOLOTYPE (USNM) ♂: Huach Mts.; VIII-29, Ariz. / Brooklyn; Museum; Coll. 1929 / Type No.; 42564; U.S. N.M. / Pocadius ; basalis ; Type, Schffr. Specimen in average condition but lacking both antennal clubs, and right metatarsi. PARATYPES (USNM) ♀, 3 specimens with same label data as Holotype. PARATYPES (USNM), 2 specimens with the following labels: Douglas, Ariz.; 20-VIII-1960; J. H. Rus-

sell / ex. puffball; 61-24953 / Pocadius ; basalis; Schaeffer. Additionally> 200 specimens total examined including: 5 ( ARCC) Hck. Hwy. Mi. 24, Sta.; Catalina Mts. , ARIZ.; VIII-8-1959, F.G. Werner; in hole in puffball / ♀. 5 ( ARCC): ARIZONA Pajarito ; Mts. Pena Blanca ; Cyn. 15 Aug 1970; K. Stephan coll. 1 ( ARCC): ARIZONA: Pajarito ; Mts. Pena Blanca Cyn. ; Aug. 15 1971; K. Stephan leg. 4 ( ARCC): U.S.A. ARIZ; Santa Cruz Co.; Pena Blanca; Pajarito Mts. / Lot No. 521; July. 28, 1961; R. H. Arnett Jr.; E. VanTassell. 4 ( RTC) Tex. Jeff Davis Co. ; Davis Mts. Resort; 25 June 2000; R. Turnbow. 2 ( CUIC) AZ: Cochise Co. , Rustler Park Camp; 20–21 Aug 1981; J. Liebherr; El. 8000’. 8 ( UAIC): AZ: Fajarito Mts. ; Sycamore Cn. At Tank Springs; 6 Aug. 1978; F.G. Nerner; in puffball. 8 ( UAIC): Peña Blanca, 10mi. W. Nogales, ARIZ.; Aug.1, 1961; Werner, Nutting. 3 ( UAIC): Ruby, Ariz.; Aug.17, 1959; M.W. Larson. 1 ( UAIC): 4mi. N of Sonita, Ariz. ; VIII-12-1947; in puffball; L. R. Gillogly collr. 28 ( UAIC): Casa Blanca Cn.; 7mi. NE Patagonia, Ariz. ; 5 Aug. 1978; F. Werner. 128 ( CAS): Huachuca Mts. , Carr Cn., Ariz.; VIII (22-24) 1961; fungi; L. R. Gillogly collr. 5 ( CAS): Sta. Catalina Mts. , Bear Wallow, Ariz.; VIII-20-1961. 7 ( CAS): Skeleton Cyn., Hidalgo Co., New Mexico; VIII-13-1965; G. Forister .

Diagnosis. Most similar to P. niger with color variation approaching P. niger but head and pronotum never black. Other diagnostic characters include: median lobe with acuminate tip and shallow apical opening, tegmen with setae extending around apex and on lateral margin of medial fossa; ovipositor with three elongate terminal setae.

Description. Length 4.1mm, Width 2.7mm, Depth 2.1mm. Body moderately convex, shining, reddishbrown to dark brown, sometimes elytral humeri lighter. Pronotal and elytral margins with elongate fimbriae. Dorsal and ventral pubescence elongate, longer than scape.

Head surface deeply, irregularly punctate, punctures larger on vertex, becoming smaller towards orbits and fronotclypeal region. Large punctures 6–7X diameter of eye facet, smaller punctures 3–4X diameter of eye facet; interspaces smooth to finely alutaceous, shining. Pronotal surface with large punctures equal to large punctures on vertex of head, interspersed with relatively few smaller punctures, 0.75 size of large ones; interspaces alutaceous to finely microreticulate, 1–1.5 diameter apart. Scutellar surface with few vague shallowly impressed punctures, interspaces granular. Elytral surface with serial small punctures equal to those on pronotum, serial large punctures 1.5X diameter small ones. Small and large punctures giving rise to semi-erect long setae; interspaces narrow between punctures of a row and between different rows. Within a row, small punctures separated by 1 diameter, and large punctures by 0.3–0.8 diameter. Rows separated by 0.5–1 diameter; interspaces shining but variable from smooth to finely microreticulate. Pygidium densely punctate, punctures equal to those on pronotum; interspaces narrow, 0.7–1.2 diameters apart, granular.

Venter with similar long golden pubescence as dorsum. Mentum with large shallow punctures, equal to those on vertex; interspaces granular to finely microreticulate. Prosternum and epimeron deeply irregularly punctate, punctures larger than those on mentum, interspaces alutaceous with microreticulate areas, prosternal punctures separated by 0.5 diameter, those on epimeron by 0.25–0.5 diameter. Mesosternal punctures shallow, 0.75 diameter of those on prosternum, interspaces alutaceous to smooth, separated by 0.5–1 diameter. Metaventrite irregularly punctate with faint punctures on disc similar to those on mesoventrite, interspaces smooth on disc becoming microreticulate to granular laterally, punctures separated by 1–2 diameters. Abdominal sternite 1 with large faint, obsolete punctures, equal to large ones on elytra, interspaces smooth to alutaceous, separated by 1 diameter. Hypopygidium with moderately deep punctures, similar to those on sternites 2–4, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 1–2 diameters.

Head wider than long (W:L = 1.55:1). Antennal club compact, oval, slightly asymmetrical with terminal antennomere subequal to 9–10 combined. Antennomeres 5–8 compact, antennomeres 6–8 disc-like. Antennal scape asymmetrical, hemispherical, 1.7X length of pedicel. Pedicel subcylindrical. Antennal segment 3 subequal to pedicel. Antennal club large, 0.75 length of segments 1–8 combined. Elevated region of mentum triangular, somewhat convex in lateral view.

PLATE 16. Figs. 210–234. Female ovipositor: 210) P. adustus , 211) P. africanus , 212) P. ashei , 213) P. barclayi , 214) P. basalis , 215) P. bicolor , 216) P. brevis , 217) P. carltoni , 218) P. centralis , 219) P. crypsis , 220) P. dimidiatus , 221) P. dominicus , 222) P. endroedyi , 223) P. falini , 224) P. fasciatus , 225) P. femoralis , 226) P. ferrugineus , 227) P. fulvipennis , 228) P. fumatus , 229) P. fusiformis , 230) P. globularis , 231) P. helvolus , 232) P. jelineki , 233) P. kirejtshuki , 234) P. luisalfredoi .

PLATE 17. Figs. 235–248. Female ovipositor: 235) P. majusculus , 236) P. maquipucunensis , 237) P. martini , 238) P. monticola , 239) P. niger , 240) P. nobilis , 241) P. okinawaensis , 242) P. peruensis , 243) P. rubidus , 244) P. tepicensis , 245) P. testaceus , 246) P. torresi , 247) P. wappesi , 248) P. yunnanensis

Pronotum widest near middle (L:W = 1:1.9), anterior margin broadly trapezoidal, lateral margins less arcuate posteriorly. Scutellum large, obtusely triangular, apex rounded. Prosternal process in lateral view with anterior and posterior ends prominent and moderate medial convexity; posterior face prominent, slightly oblique. Mesoventrite extending midway between mesocoxae, evenly concave for reception of metaventrite. Metaventrite wider than long (W:L = 2.6:1). Metepisternum with slight medial constriction, oblique line dividing anterior 0.2. First abdominal sternite with acuminate process between metacoxae. First sternite 2X longer than sternite 2. Sternites 2–3 subequal, 4 slightly larger than 2 or 3. Hypopygidium subequal to sternite 1.

Protibia with apical tooth prominent, slightly longer than tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Outer apical notch with 105° angle, notch depth moderate, equal to tarsomere 1. Inner apical spine subequal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Mesotibia more heavily armed than protibia with dense stiff setae and slender spines along lateral edge. Outer apical process elongate and robust, larger than protibial process, bifid apically. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Metatibia with armature similar to mesotibia.

Male genitalia well-sclerotized. Anal sclerite with apex somewhat fimbriate (Fig. 6); ventrally with broad medial fossa. Spiculum gastrale with wide lateral flanges, medial margins concave proximally, short stiff setae originating from apex (Fig. 47). Tegmen evenly rounded (Fig. 89), longer than wide (w:l = 1:2.55), lateral row of setae visible from median fossa to prior to apex, small shallow concavity in apical 0.33. Median lobe large and robust, 0.66 length of tegmen, apex acuminate, apical opening well-developed (Fig. 132). Ejaculatory rods not fused to basal piece, curved inward and expanded outward at basal piece. Basal piece of rods with deep medial concavity, proximally with four sharp projections (Fig. 175).

Female genitalia moderately sclerotized. Paraprocts large with sclerotization along median line to basolateral angles. Gonocoxite with two basal lateral prominences, basal ridge well-sclerotized. Gonocoxal apices with recurved “tooth” present. Three elongate setae originate from small depressions on gonocoxal apices (Fig. 214).

Variation. Color varies considerably between individuals from brown to dark reddish brown, some with lighter humeri. Variation exists in mesotibiae armature, some with 1–2 fewer spines. Length and degree of setation on male anal sclerite varies in number and length.

Seasonality/Habitat. Occurs from June to August, with hosts recorded as “puffballs”. Considered an alpine taxon with individuals collected up to 8000’ elevation.

Distribution. Known from southern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas ( Cline 2003).

Notes. This species likely occurs in northern Mexico (i.e. Chihuaha and Sonora) and future collecting will undoubtedly reveal its occurrence there. Pocadius basalis is sympatric with P. helvolus and P. niger .