Elacatis fasciatus (Bland)

Pollock, Darren A., 2018, Review of the Nearctic (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Othniinae), Zootaxa 4420 (3), pp. 301-333 : 304-307

Elacatis fasciatus (Bland)

( Figs 1 , 15 )

Othnius fasciatus Bland 1864: 253 . Type locality: “Virginia”.–– Horn 1868: 132, 133; Horn 1888: 28; Borchmann 1910: 1; Leng 1920: 152; Borchmann 1921a: 210; Poole & Gentili 1996: 329.

Types. Bland (1864: 253) indicated a range in sizes among the specimens he examined to describe O. fasciatus ; he clearly examined at least two specimens. I have been able to locate three specimens, at least two of which are types. The third specimen, from CMNH (ex. Ulke Collection, mentioned below, in “Material examined”), though not labeled as a type, has exactly the same “Va” locality label; it is impossible to determine whether or not Bland had it in his possession when he wrote the description. The specimen from ANSP has a lectotype label, and is considered to be the LECTOTYPE; it is labeled as follows: “Va // [red label] LectoTYPE 3325 // [large red label] T Y P E Othnius fasciatus ”. The male specimen is mounted on a point; the legs are intact, but both antennae are missing. Among specimens received on loan from MCZ, there was a specimen of E. fasciatus in a tray that was labeled “Horn C Cab 20/25 O. longicornis ”. This female specimen is here designated as a paralectotype of O. fasciatus , and is labeled as follows: “Va // [blue label] PARA-TYPE 3325”. The specimen is labeled and mounted exactly the same as the lectotype; its left antenna is missing, as is most of the left elytron.

Diagnosis. Upper surface shining, with sparse punctation and relatively inconspicuous setation; elytra dark, with characteristic yellow markings, including transverse band near midlength and isolated subpical spot ( Fig. 1 ); legs yellow, distinctly contrasting dark dorsal body color.

Description. TL 5.2 mm; GEW 3.3–3.4 mm; TL/GEW (n=2) 3.06–3.15.

Color. Body reddish-brown dorsally, elytra with distinctive light yellow pattern ( Fig. 1 ): several irregular basal spots, transverse band near midlength (widest at suture), not reaching lateral margin, and isolated, round subapical spot; antennae, mouthparts and legs yellow, similar in color to light elytral color.

Head with eyes relatively large, distinctly convex; dorsal punctation relatively sparse, shallow, punctures separated by greater than diameter of single puncture; areas among punctures smooth, shining; setae relatively long, directed anteriorly and medially (especially between eyes), unicolorous yellow; antennae moderately elongate (TL/AL 3.40); antennomeres 4–8 moniliform/subfiliform; antennomeres 9–10 relatively elongate ( Fig. 15 ), each as long as wide (only female examined).

Pronotum. GPW/PL 1.00–1.04; disc slightly convex; lateral margins slightly sinuate posteriorly, then relatively straight to anterior margin; widest point posterior of midlength, marked by distinct tubercle; lateral carina with 3 tubercles (including distinct hind angle); punctures shallow, sparse, separated by about a single puncture diameter; setae elongate, adpressed, all of a similar (white/yellow) color, directed anteriorly and medially.

Elytra. TL/EL 1.70–1.76; EL/GEW 1.74–1.85; disc slightly convex, moderately abruptly sloping to lateral margins; punctation shallow, uniform, relatively fine; setae relatively elongate, colors corresponding to lighter and darker areas on elytra.

Male genitalia not examined.

Taxonomic notes. It seems very likely that the original specimens seen by Bland were mislabeled, and not collected in Virginia. Three reasons for this supposition include: (1) no additional specimens of E. fasciatus have ever been collected from the eastern United States, (2) the geographical distribution of the genus in North America is decidedly western, (3) specimens of E. fasciatus resemble closely one of either Elacatis sticticopterus ( Champion 1888) or Elacatis mexicanus ( Horn 1868) , both of which are known from Mexico and Central America ( Borchmann 1921). If it is indeed found that O. fasciatus Bland is the same species as either of these two Neotropical forms, then the Bland name will obviously have priority. An examination of the holotype of Othnius mexicanus (MCZ) reveals a very strong similarity (both color and structure) between this species and O. fasciatus . The decision on whether or not to synonymize these two names will be reserved for a time after which a more thorough examination of the Neotropical fauna of Othniinae has been done.

Distribution. Known only from several specimens labeled “Va” (= “ Virginia ”). As stated above, the original type series was probably mislabeled.

Non-type material examined. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Virginia. State record only, ( CMNH, 1).

Figures

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).