Pocadius niger Parsons, 1936

Cline, Andrew R., 2008, Revision of the sap beetle genus Pocadius Erichson, 1843 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae, Zootaxa 1799 (1), pp. 1-120 : 89-91

Pocadius niger Parsons, 1936

(Figs. 31, 72, 115, 158, 199, 239)

Specimens examined. HOLOTYPE ( USNM): Las Vegas HS; 5-8, N.M. / Barber &; Schwarz Coll . / Holotype No; 54656. 4 PARATYPES ( USNM) : same data labels as holotype, except last labels read “ Paratype No; 54656”. Additionally , specimens ( CAS, ARCC) with the following label data: Peterson Ranch ; [illegible handwriting could not be deciphered for second line of first label]; Sierra Ancha Mts. / Gila Co., AZ; VIII-20- 1947 / puffball / L. R. Gillogly collector. ARIZ. Rustler Park; Chiricahua Mts. , Cochise Co., Aug. 11, 1970, 8500ft.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other New World species by: body coloration black often with orange brown humeri; prosternal process evenly rounded over procoxae with posterior face straight to slightly concave; terminal antennomere shorter than segments 9–10 combined and evenly rounded apically; apico-lateral protibial notch deep and distinct; eyes small and not protruding; elytral fimbriae markedly elongate and sparsely distributed; median lobe of aedeagus oval in shape with evenly rounded apex; basal piece of internal sac sclerites with medial convexity along basal margin; ovipositor gonocoxites with one lateral prominence and with a W:L 1:1.

Redescription. Length 3.6 mm, Width 1.9mm, Depth 1.3mm. Body moderately convex, surface somewhat shining, dark brown/black in color often with elytral humeri and basal portion of elytra lighter. Pronotum and elytra margins with elongate sparsely distributed fimbriae, setae much longer than width of antennal scape. Dorsal and ventral pubescence quite long, golden.

Head surface deeply, irregularly punctate, large and small punctures evenly distributed. Large punctures 5X diameter of eye facet, small punctures 4X diameter of eye facet, interspaces finely alutaceous and somewhat shining. Pronotal surface with large punctures equal to large ones on head, interspersed with numerous small punctures, 0.75 larger ones, interspaces alutaceous with some microreticulation, 0.5 diameter apart. Scutellar surface with few vague shallowly impressed punctures similar to small ones on pronotum, interspaces are alutaceous to granular. Elytral surface with serial rows of small punctures equal to small ones on pronotum, serial large punctures 1.5–2X diameter of small ones. Small punctures giving rise to erect long setae, large punctures giving rise to semi-erect long setae; interspaces narrow between punctures of a given row and between different rows. Within a row, small punctures separated by 1 diameter, and large punctures by 0.3–0.5 diameter. Large puncture rows separated by 2 large puncture diameters; interspaces moderately shining, variable from smooth to somewhat rugose. Pygidium densely punctate, punctures equal to small ones on pronotum, interspaces narrow, 0.25–0.5 diameter, alutaceous to granular.

Venter with similarly long pubescence as dorsum. Mentum with few small shallow punctures, equal to small ones on head; interspaces alutaceous to finely microreticulate. Prosternum and epimeron deeply irregularly punctate, punctures similar to large ones on head, interspaces granular with microreticulate areas, prosternal punctures separated by 0.25–0.5 diameter, those on epimeron similarly spaced. Mesoventrite with shallow punctures, similar to those on prosternum, interspaces alutaceous to rugose, separated by 0.5–1 diameter, mostly aggregated near metasternal border. Metaventrite deeply irregularly punctate, punctures on disc slightly larger than those on mesoventrite, interspaces alutaceous to rugose on disc becoming microreticulate to granular laterally, punctures separated by 0.75–1 diameter. Abdominal sternite 1 with some large and small punctures intermixed, larger punctures equal to those on metaventrite and smaller punctures equal to those on mentum, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 1 diameter. Hypopygidium with moderately deep punctures, similar to those on sternites 2–4, interspaces alutaceous to granular, separated by 0.5–1 diameter.

Head wider than long (W:L = 1.5:1). Antennal club compact, elongate oval, symmetrical with last antennomere shorter than previous two segments combined. Antennomeres 6–8 compact, 7–8 disc-like. Antennal scape asymmetrical, somewhat hemispherical, 2X as long as pedicel. Pedicel short, subcylindrical. Antennal segment 3 equal to pedicel. Antennal club moderately large, 0.68 length of segments 1–8 combined. Elevated area of mentum with anterior angles distinct, anterior margin angular coming to more or less distinct apex, overall pentagonal, in lateral view flattened.

Pronotum widest near middle (L:W = 1:1.73), anterior margin broadly trapezoidal, lateral margins less arcuate posteriorly, anterior and posterior angles distinct. Scutellum large, elongate triangular, apex narrowly rounded. Prosternal process in lateral view with anterior and posterior ends prominent and evenly convex medially; posterior apical wall prominent and perpendicular with slight concavity. Mesoventrite extending to midway between mesocoxae, evenly concave for reception of metaventrite. Metaventrite wider than long (W:L = 2.51:1). Metepisternum with slight medial constriction, oblique line dividing anterior 0.20. First abdominal sternite with narrow acuminate process between metacoxae. First sternite 2X longer than sternite2. Sternites 2–3 subequal. Hypopygidium subequal to sternite 1.

Protibia with apical tooth prominent, slightly longer than tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Outer apical notch with 95° angle, notch depth deep, equal to length to tarsomere 1 and part of 2 combined. Inner apical spine subequal to tarsomere 1 and part of 2 combined. Mesotibia more heavily armed than protibia with dense stiff setae and numerous slender spines along lateral edge. Outer apical process elongate and robust, larger than protibial process. Inner apical spine equal to tarsomeres 1–2 combined. Metatibia with numerous spines on lateral and medial borders, outer apical process similar to that on mesotibia.

Male genitalia well-sclerotized. Anal sclerite with apex somewhat fimbriate (Fig. 31). Spiculum gastrale with wide lateral flanges and small concavity near apical-lateral region, medial margins concave, short stiff setae originating from apex (Fig. 72). Tegmen evenly rounded apically (Fig. 115), longer than wide (w:l = 1:1.77) becoming narrowed basally, lateral row of setae visible from apex of median fossa to prior to tegmen apex, circular/oval shallow concavity in apical 0.33, inner row of setae not attaining apex. Median lobe oval and robust, 0.5 length of tegmen, apex evenly rounded, apical opening well-developed (Fig. 158). Ejaculatory rods not fused to basal piece, slightly curved medially and expanded outward at basal piece. Basal piece with biconcavity along apical margin, proximally with two sharp projections and two rounded projections (Fig. 199).

Female genitalia moderately sclerotized. Paraprocts large with sclerotization along median and basal margins. Gonocoxite with one basal lateral prominence. Gonocoxal apices with recurved “tooth” present, and two elongate setae originate from small depressions on apices (Fig. 239).

Variation. Some specimens with orange areas on elytral humeri lacking, with overall complete dark brown/black color.

Seasonality/Habitat. Collected in August in all localities in Arizona and New Mexico, and occurring at some of the highest altitudes for the genus, i.e. from above 8000’ elevation.

Distribution. Known from southern New Mexico and southern and south-central Arizona.

Notes. Host records include the term “puffball”.