Haroldiataenius limbatus (Bates)

Stebnicka, Z. Teresa & Skelley, Paul E., 2009, A revision of the genus Haroldiataenius Chalumeau (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), Insecta Mundi 2009 (62), pp. 1-16 : 10-11

Haroldiataenius limbatus (Bates)

( Fig. 7 , 14, 17, 23)

Ataenius limbatus Bates 1887: 98 – Cartwright 1964: 101; Dellacasa 1988: 152 (catalogue). Haroldiataenius limbatus – Galante et al. 2003: 288; Stebnicka 2007: 585.

Diagnosis. Clypeal margin rounded each sided of middle; surface finely punctate. Pronotal coarse punctures more or less evenly distributed on surface separated by 1 to 3 times their diameter, absent along anterior edge; basal marginal line well defined, narrower than diameter of coarse puncture; lateral marginal bead distinctly widened anteriorly. Pronotum lacking lateral fringe of setae. Lateral margin of elytron with short fringe of setae. Haroldiataenius limbatus is found in Mexico and northern Central America, where it appears to live in leaf cutter ant nests.

Description. Length 4.5-5.0 mm. Dark castaneous to piceous ( Fig. 7 , 14). Head moderately convex, clypeal margin broadly rounded each side of deep median emargination; genae right angled; surface anteriorly with a trace of transverse wrinkles, everywhere minutely punctate. Pronotum convex, margined, lateral margin smooth with minute, scarce setae; surface punctures mixed minute and moderate in size; moderate punctures shallow, irregularly spaced, usually lacking on lateral tumosity. Elytron oblong-oval, shining, humeral denticles fine; striae narrowly impressed, strial punctures fine, intervals with margins not crenulate; intervals flat to slightly convex, with very minute scattered punctures; posterior elytral margin very finely setaceous. Metasternum convex, smooth, almost impunctate from side to side, intercoxal carina sharply defined, long; abdominal sternites finely fluted along sutures, punctate from side to side, sternite 5 and weakly eroded or not eroded disc of pygidium with row of coarse punctures bearing short setae. Profemur shining, closely punctate; meso- and metafemora smooth with few setigerous punctures apically, posterior line lacking; metatibia at apex with fringe of short setae, without accessory spine; basal tarsomere of metatarsus subequal in length to upper tibial spur and subequal to following four tarsomeres combined. Epipharynx as in Fig. 17. Male genitalia shortened, weakly acute apically ( Fig. 23 ).

Type data. Lectotype (examined, sex not determined): ( Mexico, Presidio , Sinaloa) designated by Cartwright (1964), in NHML . Paralectotype, labeled “Pres.” [Presidio], “87327", in ZMHB.

Specimens examined (43). El Salvador – (1 ex) San Salvador, 1. VI.1958, OL Cartwright, in detritus ex nest of Atta mexicana (F.Sm.) (FSCA) . Guatemala – (1 ex) Jalapa, Laguna del Moyo , 16. VI.1982, J. Baster ( ISEA) . Honduras – (1 ex) Cortes Lago de Yojoa , 22.VIII.1988, R. D. Cave ( ISEA) . Mexico – (1 ex) Campeche, Zoh-Laguna , 10.IV.1968, Pedro Reyes & M. Cabrera, in ant nest of Atta sp. ( FSCA); (2 ex) Chiapas, El Aguacero , 16 km W Ocozocautla 680 m, 5. VI.1990, H.& A. Howden ( CMNO); (1 ex) Hidalgo, Rio Tula 2 km N, 1650 m, nest Atta mexicana, R.E. Woodruff ( FSCA); (4 ex) Hidalgo, 24 km NW Carconal , 13.VII. 1990, 1590 m, J. S. Ashe, K. J. Ahn, R. Leschen #171, ex Atta refuse pile ( PESC); (2 ex) Jalisco Estacion Biol. UNAM, Chamela , 17.VII.1987, UV light, R. Turnbow ( ISEA, RHTC); (1 ex) Morelos, Cuernavaca , 16.VIII.1967, Pedro Reyes, in ant nest of Atta mexicana (FSCA) ; (3 ex) NL [Nuevo Leon], 29 km W Linares, Santa Rosa Cyn. 2. VI.1983, UV light, thorn scrubs, S. Peck & W. Kaulbars ( CMNO); (8 ex) Oaxaca, San Sebastian Frontera, Cerro Colorado , 10.VII.1999, E. Galante ( CEUA, ISEA); (2 ex) Oaxaca, 62 km SW Valle National , 12.VIII.1986, H. & A. Howden ( CMNO); (2 ex) Oaxaca, Huajupan de Leon , between Puebla and Oaxaca, 9.VIII.1998, O Hillert ( ABCG); (3 ex) Puebla, Zapotitlan Salinas , 8.VII.1999, E. Galante; (3 ex) Puebla Techuacan, Altapexi 1125 m, M. Moron ( CEUA, ISEA); (2 ex) Puebla, 9 mi S Izucar Matamoros , 8. VI.1971, berlesate ex ant debris, S. Peck ( CMNO); (2 ex) Sonora, l 7 km SW Montezuma , 12.VII.1982, P. Jump, 11-12.VII.1983, S. McCleve; (2 ex) Sonora, Hwy 16, 20 mi E Rio Yaqui, 26-27.VII.1987, S. McCleve; (3 ex) Sonora near Chih border, 3.2 mi N Hulcoche , 11-13.VII.1983, S. McCleve ( ISEA, PKLC) .

Remarks. Superficially, Haroldiataenius limbatus is similar to some species of Paraplesiataenius Chalumeau , but differs in having a smaller head and the meso- and metatibiae are more expanded apically. Label data indicate that the species is usually collected during summer, and that it has been sifted from leaf litter of oak-pine forest, found in cattle dung, in Atta dump, and Atta refuse pile.

Figures

Figures 1-7. Haroldiataenius spp. 1) H. mariarum, lateral habitus. 2) H. hintoni lateral habitus. 3) H. lucanus, mesotibia. 4) H. semipilosus, mesotibia. 5) H. saramari, lateral habitus. 6) H. lucanus, lateral habitus. 7) H. limbatus, lateral habitus.

Figures 22-28. Haroldiataenius spp., male genitalia. 22) H. mariarum. 23) H. limbatus. 24) H. hintoni. 25) H. lucanus. 26) H. griffini. 27) H. saramari. 28) H. semipilosus.