Pocadius globularis Cline, 2008

Cline, Andrew R., 2008, Revision of the sap beetle genus Pocadius Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae, Zootaxa 1799 (1), pp. 1-120 : 72-73

Pocadius globularis Cline new species

(Figs. 23, 64, 107, 150, 192, 230, 258)

Specimens examined. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( CSCA): HONDURAS: Fca. Morazan; San Antonio de Oriente ; El Zamorano; 5 MAY 1993; rcol. R. Cave / Bovistos / HOLOTYPE; Pocadius ; globularis; A. R. Cline des. 2004. 9 PARATYPES ( ARCC) : same data labels as holotype but with PARATYPE designation labels.

Diagnosis. Similar to P. helvolus , but distinguished by: overall globular shape with low L:W ratio; uniformly dark reddish brown; pronotum with trapezoidal anterior margin and widest near posterior angles; terminal antennomere with central circular depressed region; metasternal disc smooth and shining but heavily punctate with large punctures; scutellum heavily punctate; elytra with both serial punctures rows bearing semi-erect setae; apical wall of prosternal process oblique in lateral view; median lobe large and robust with acute apex; tegmen with elliptical apical fossa and elongate curved inner row of setae not attaining apex; basal piece of internal sac sclerites with two distinct pieces, the more distal piece has two medial sharp projections.

Redescription. Length 3.45 mm, Width 2.25mm, Depth 1.2mm. Body moderately convex, surface shining, reddish-brown to dark reddish brown. Pronotum and elytra margins with moderately long fimbriae. Dorsal and ventral pubescence moderately long, golden.

Head surface deeply, densely, irregularly punctate, punctures larger on vertex, interspersed with smaller punctures that become more abundant towards orbits and fronotclypeal region. Large punctures 3–4X diameter of eye facet, small punctures 1–2X diameter; interspaces alutaceous to granular, 0.5–1 diameter apart. Pronotal surface with large punctures 1.5 diameter large punctures on head, interspersed with smaller punctures, 0.5–0.75 large ones; interspaces alutaceous to finely granular, 0.5–1.5 diameter apart. Scutellar surface with shallowly impressed punctures equal to small punctures on pronotum, interspaces smooth to alutaceous. Elytral surface with serial rows of smaller punctures equal to small ones on pronotum, larger punctures 2X diameter of small ones. Small punctures giving rise to semi-erect somewhat decumbent setae, large punctures giving rise to adpressed moderately long setae; interspaces broad between punctures of a row and between different rows. Within a row, small punctures separated by 1–2 puncture diameters, and large punctures by 1 diameter. Large puncture rows separated by 2 large puncture diameters; interspaces mostly alutaceous with some microreticulation. Small puncture rows may contain more than a single row of punctures near suture. Pygidium densely punctate, punctures equal to large ones on pronotum, interspaces narrow, 0.25–0.5 diameter, smooth sculpture.

Venter with similar moderately long pubescence as dorsum. Mentum with small shallow punctures, equal to small ones on head, interspaces smooth to alutaceous. Prosternum and epimeron with moderately deep irregular punctation, punctures on epimeron equal to large ones on pronotum and those on prosternum equal to small ones on pronotum, interspaces granular, prosternal punctures separated by 0.5–2 diameters, those on epimeron by 0.5–1 diameter. Mesoventrite with shallow punctures, similar to those on prosternum, interspaces alutaceous to finely granular, separated by 0.5–1 diameter, aggregated along posterior border. Metaventrite irregularly punctate with moderately impressed punctures on disc similar to large ones on pronotum, interspaces smooth on disc becoming more finely alutaceous laterally, punctures separated by 1 diameter. Abdominal sternite 1 with small faint almost obsolete punctures, punctures equal to those on mentum, interspaces smooth with microreticulate areas, separated by 1–2 diameters. Hypopygidium with moderately deep punctures, similar to those on sternites 2–4, interspaces smooth with microreticulate regions, separated by 0.25–0.5 diameter.

Head wider than long (L:W = 1:1.41). Antennal club compact, oval, symmetrical with last antennomere subequal to previous two combined. Antennomeres 4–5 cuboid, 6 trapezoidal and 7–8 disc-like. Antennal scape moderately asymmetrical, slightly hemispherical, 0.9X as long as pedicel. Pedicel subcylindrical. Antennal segment 3 equal to pedicel and tapering proximally. Antennal club large, 0.80 length of segments 1– 8 combined. Mentum with anterior angles distinct, anterior margin angulate with well defined apical angle, broadly pentagonal, flattened in lateral view.

Pronotum widest near posterior angles (L:W = 1:1.9), anterior margin broadly deeply trapezoidal, lateral margins evenly arcuate to anterior angles. Scutellum large, obtusely triangular, apex rounded. Prosternal process in lateral view with posterior end somewhat recurved and a modest convexity medially over coxae; posterior apical wall prominent and oblique. Mesoventrite extending midway between mesocoxae, evenly broadly concave for reception of metaventrite. Metaventrite wider than long (W:L = 2.77:1). Metepisternum with slight medial constriction, oblique line dividing anterior 0.2. First abdominal sternite with acuminate process. First sternite 2X longer than sternite 2. Sternites 2–3 subequal, 4 slightly larger than 2 or 3. Hypopygidium subequal to abdominal sternite 1.

Protibia with apical tooth prominent, slightly longer than tarsomere 1. Outer apical notch with 100° angle, notch depth moderate, equal to tarsomere 1. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomere 1. Mesotibia more heavily armed than protibia with dense stiff setae and row of numerous slender spines along lateral edge. Outer apical process similar to protibia, and bifid apically. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1 and part of 2 combined. Metatibia with armature similar to mesotibia, but outer apical process slightly longer, and inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined.

Male genitalia well-sclerotized. Anal sclerite with apex densely fimbriate and broadly rounded (Fig. 23). Spiculum gastrale with wide posteriorly directed lateral flanges, medial margins deeply concave, sparse long setae originating from apex (Fig. 64). Tegmen evenly rounded apically (Fig. 107), longer than wide (w:l = 1.0:2.6), lateral row of setae visible from median fossa to around apex, elongate shallow concavity in apical 0.33 with sinuate arranged row of short setae not attaining the apex of the fossa, basal margin concave. Median lobe large and robust, 0.75 length of tegmen, apex broadly rounded with acuminate tip, apical opening well-developed (Fig. 150). Ejaculatory rods not fused to basal piece, and nearly straight with slight outward orientation apically. Basal piece in two parts, apical piece with deep medial concavity and multiple sharp projections, proximal piece separated into two inwardly curved structures each having a medial sharp projection (Fig. 192).

Female genitalia moderately sclerotized. Paraprocts large with sclerotization along median line to apicolateral angles. Gonocoxite with two basal lateral prominences. Gonocoxal apices with recurved “tooth” present. Three elongate setae originate from small depressions on sides of gonocoxae. Introgonocoxal invagination deep, 0.75 length of gonocoxite (Fig. 230).

Variation. No variation observed.

Seasonality/Habitat. Collected in early May in mid-elevation forest.

Distribution. Known from type locality in central Honduras.

Notes. Host data indicates a “bovista” type of Gasteromycetes.

Etymology. Specific epithet denotes overall globular body shape.