Elacatis senecionis (Champion)

Pollock, Darren A., 2018, Review of the Nearctic (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Othniinae), Zootaxa 4420 (3), pp. 301-333 : 310-312

Elacatis senecionis (Champion)

( Figs 3 , 18–19 , 29 , 35 )

Othnius senecionis Champion 1888: 467 , pl. 21, fig. 14 ( Othnius ). Type locality: “Mexico, near the city (Flohr)”.— Borchmann 1910: 1; Borchmann 1921: 213; Blackwelder 1945: 494.

Types. Type (s) in BMNH, not examined. Champion (1888) mentioned two specimens; the combination of his description and photos of the type specimens of this very distinctive species provides convincing evidence that the specimens treated below are actually E. senecionis (Champion) .

Diagnosis. Antennae very short in both sexes ( Fig. 3 ), not extended beyond pronotal midlength; upper surface (especially pronotum) very densely and deeply punctate, +/– rugose.

Redescription. TL 4.0– 5.8 mm; GEW 1.2–2.0 mm; TL/GEW (n=13) 3.03–3.38.

Color. Head and pronotum red-brown, densely covered in white and golden setae; pronotum in some specimens with narrow vitta of white setae along midline ( Fig. 3 ); elytra variegated, red-brown with variously developed, complex lighter yellow areas, in some specimens encompassing smaller red-brown areas; antennae dark yellow, with contrasting, darker antennomeres 9–11; legs red-brown, somewhat lighter in color than dorsum of body.

Head with eyes relatively small, slightly convex; dorsal punctation complex, individual punctures joined by slightly carinate, longitudinal meshes; surface rugose; setae relatively long, either white or golden, directed anteriorly or (especially between eyes) laterally; antennae ( Fig. 3 ) very short (TL/AL 4.7–4.8), extending posteriorly only to near pronotal midlength, not sexually dimorphic in length; antennomeres 4–8 short, moniliform; antennomeres 9–10 distinctly wider than long ( Figs 18–19 ) (L/W ≤ 0.70 for each).

Pronotum. GPW/PL 1.07–1.23; disc distinctly convex, somewhat flattened at midline; lateral margins evenly rounded, somewhat angulate near midlength (maximum width), marked by slightly developed tubercle; hind angles represented by short tubercle; punctation rugose, with carinate, longitudinal meshes; individual punctures more visible towards lateral margins; setae elongate, apressed, directed medially.

Elytra: TL/EL 1.66–1.81; EL/GEW 1.74–1.97; disc convex, evenly sloping to lateral margins; punctation deep, coarse and rugose (without meshes associated with head and pronotal punctation); setae relatively elongate, all apressed, complex; light and dark colored setae corresponding to variegation in elytral base color.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 29 ) with apicale short, ca. 1.3X length of basale; apicale stout, length ca. 2.5 x maximum width; basale slightly longer than wide.

Natural History. According to Champion (1888), the collector of the type series stated that the specimens were found in withered stems of Senecio (Asteraceae) . A specimen from Encinal, TX has a label with “ Opuntia lindheimeri ”. Other plant records include “on Opuntia ” ( Cactaceae ) and “cholla flowers” ( Cylindropuntia sp.). Months of collection range from January to December.

Taxonomic notes. The records given below for California and Texas represent the first published records of this species from the United States. A single specimen from MCZ (mounted on a cardboard plate) bears the following labels: “Cal. // Hardy // 211. // O. guttulatus Lec. ” There is another larger label that is associated with this specimen: “This is not a type. Lec Class. Col N.A. ed. 1 p. 103. G.H.H.”. This second label was presumably written and applied to this specimen by Horn, in reference to the fact that LeConte derived the name “ guttulatus ” based on a specimen that was observed and then lost (thus, no type exists for O. guttulatus ). However, as stated above, in the treatment of E. longicornis , it seems more likely that LeConte’s missing specimen was actually E. longicornis , rather than E. senecionis . Specimens of E. longicornis possess the broader form and elytral spots mentioned by LeConte, whereas those of E. senecionis do not.

Distribution ( Fig. 35 ). The actual distribution of this species is unknown, as the specimens examined for this study were borrowed only from collections in Canada and the United States. However, even based on that limitation, the distribution of E. senecionis is definitely southern, primarily in Mexico and perhaps even farther south. The type locality is given as “ Mexico, near the city” – presumably referring to Mexico City. There are only three records of this species from the U.S., in southern California and southern Texas. A more detailed study of Neotropical Elacatis will also include this species and will more fully elucidate its actual distribution.

Material examined. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. California. San Diego Co. San Diego [32.712035, -117.160994], ( MCZ, 1). Texas. Hidalgo Co. Mercedes [26.149150, -97.913581], ( USNM, 1). La Salle Co. Encinal [28.040843, -99.354426] ( USNM, 1). MEXICO. Aguascalientes . No other data [state or city?] , 1.xii.1909, on Opuntia, F.C. Bishopp , ( USNM, 4). Same locality [state or city?], E.A. Schwarz, ( USNM, 3). Baja California. El Rosario [30.059221, -115.725738], arroyo , 14.iv.1985, B. Clark and P. Blom, ( AAAC, 3); Rancho Mina [32.05, - 116.7833] , 26.i.1984, B. Clark and P. Blom, in pitfall, ( AAAC, 1); same locality , 22.vi.1984, B. Clark and Paul Blom, in pitfall ( AAAC, 1). Baja California Sur. Santiago [23.4667, -109.7167] , 8.vii.1938, Michelbacher & Ross, (CASC, 1). 15 mi. N. San Ignacio [27.498079, -112.911342], 24.vi.1938, Michelbacher & Ross, ( CASC, 1). Durango. 10 mi. W. Durango [24.024252, -104.810988], 7500’ , 15.vi.1964, W.C. McGuffin, ( CNC, 1). 5 mi. W. Durango [24.023875, -104.732285] , 11.vi.1964, H.F. Howden, ( CNC, 10); same locality , 23.vi.1964, H.F. Howden, ( CNC, 1). Durango [24.026005, -104.652873] , 26.xi.1909, on Opuntia, F.C. Bishopp , ( USNM, 2). Durango, Wickham , ( USNM, 1). Guanajuato. 3 mi. W. Dolores Hidalgo [21.150438, -100.982571], 6500’ , 16.viii.1974, O’Brien & Marshall, ( CASC, 1). Rte. 57, 3.7 km. n. Sauceda [21.520041, -100.735789] semi desert [79-24] , 18.vi.1979, Ashe, Ball & Shpeley, ( UASM, 2). Puebla. 8 mi. SE Tehuacan [18.379285, -97.313694] , 7.vii.1973, Mastro & Schaffner, ( TAMU, 1). Querétaro. 11 mi. SE San Juan del Rio [20.279781, -99.865103] , 21.viii.1965, A. Raske, ( CNC, 1). Zacatecas. Puente Saldaña [22.398031, -101.399921] , 9.xi.1967, cholla flowers, L.R. Gillogly, (TAMU, 3).

Figures

FIGURE 35. Distribution of Elacatis senecionis (Champion) (based on specimens borrowed from U.S. and Canadian collections only); map created using www.gpsvisualizer.com.

FIGURES 1–6. Dorsal habitus of Elacatis spp. 1. Elacatis fasciatus (Bland) [“Va.”], female, TL = 5.2 mm; 2. Elacatis immaculatus (Champion) [AZ: Pinal Co.], male, TL = 4.2 mm; 3. Elacatis senecionis (Champion) [TX: La Salle Co.], male, TL = 5.1 mm; 4. Elacatis umbrosus (LeConte) dark form [AZ: Coconino Co.], male, TL = 5.5 mm; 5. Elacatis umbrosus dark form [AZ: Coconino Co.], female, TL = 5.6 mm; 6. Elacatis umbrosus light form [CA: San Bernardino Co.], male, TL = 4.8 mm.

FIGURES 15–27. Distal antennomeres of Elacatis spp. 15. Elacatis fasciatus (Bland), female; 16. Elacatis immaculatus (Champion), male; 17. Elacatis immaculatus, female; 18. Elacatis senecionis (Champion), male; 19. Elacatis senecionis, female; 20. Elacatis umbrosus (LeConte), male; 21. Elacatis umbrosus (LeConte), female; 22. Elacatis longicornis Horn, male; 23. Elacatis longicornis, female; 24. Elacatis larsoni, n. sp. (male holotype); 25. Elacatis larsoni, n. sp. (female allotype); 26. Elacatis stephani, n. sp. (male holotype); 27. Elacatis stephani, n. sp. (female allotype).

FIGURES 28–33. Tegmen of male genitalia of Elacatis spp. (note: median lobe damaged/distorted in most specimens). 28. Elacatis immaculatus (Champion); 29. Elacatis senecionis (Champion); 30. E. umbrosus (LeConte); 31. Elacatis longicornis Horn; 32. Elacatis larsoni, n. sp.; 33. Elacatis stephani, n. sp.