Blapstinus kalik, Steiner, Warren E. & Jr, 2006

Steiner, Warren E. & Jr, 2006, New species of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Zootaxa 1158, pp. 1-38 : 18-21

Blapstinus kalik , new species

( Figs. 6 A–E)

Description

Holotype, MALE: Body length 4.7 mm; greatest width (at about mid­length of elytra) 1.3 mm; elongate oval in outline ( Fig. 6 A, 6C); color dark brown with slightly paler, reddish brown sutural edges, sides of elytra; surfaces dull, with appressed fine golden setae; antennae, maxillary palpi and tarsi reddish brown, slightly less dull than body.

Head ( Fig. 6 B) with frons, clypeus evenly convex; surface with small punctures separated by about twice diameter of a puncture. Eyes narrowly divided. Antennae 1.2 mm long; third antennomere slightly shorter than first two combined.

Prothorax transverse, slightly narrower than elytra at humeri, with sides nearly parallel from base to mid­length, then converging to narrowly rounded apical corners; apical margin evenly, broadly concave; basal margin sinuate, produced posteriorly at middle. Pronotum with all margins narrowly beaded; pronotal surface evenly convex across disc, evenly punctate; punctures separated by about three times diameter of a puncture. Prosternum densely punctate with some punctures coalesced. Mesosternum finely punctate, somewhat shining; metasternite somewhat polished medially; punctures separated by about twice their diameters, with setae becoming longer, closer laterally.

Legs with surfaces punctate, finely setose. Front tibia gradually widened from base to obliquely truncate apex; inner margin sinuate, outer margin evenly arcuate, each bearing row of small stout spines in apical 3/5ths; posteroventral surface with irregular patch of stout spines in apical half. Front, middle tarsi with tarsomeres 1–3 broadened, with densely setose adhesive pads; front tarsomeres 2 and 3 most dilated, slightly wider than long. Hind tarsi about 3/5ths as long as hind tibiae; basal tarsomere slightly longer than second and third combined.

Elytra with sides evenly arcuate from humeri to apices; strial punctures small, not deep, separated by two or three times their diameters; intervals very feebly convex, with scattered inconspicuous punctures. Epipleurae appearing smooth except for marginal bead; width narrowing from humerus to point opposite 1st abdominal sternite, of even width to point opposite posterior corner of 4th sternite, then narrowing opposite 5th sternite to elytral apex. Hind wings fully developed.

Abdomen with sternites appearing more polished medially with more widely spaced punctures; punctures of alutaceous lateral areas inconspicuous; golden setae forming dense patches at sides of sternites 1–4 ( Fig. 6 C). First, second sternites with areas of median 1/5th slightly concave, forming an oval, non­setose smooth area. Sternite 5 with distinct median concavity with finer, denser punctures; posterior margin evenly rounded. Tegmen 1.5 mm long; arched dorsally, widest at about mid­length of basal piece, narrowing apically, with contiuous outline to apical piece; apical piece in dorsal view ( Fig. 6 D) with sides sinuate; parameres becoming divided near mid­length of apical piece, narrowed to pointed, close apices, in lateral view strongly undulate ( Fig. 6 E). Ratio of length of apical piece to basal piece 2:5. Median lobe with a very fine, spine­like apex lying above, between parameres.

FEMALE. Similar to male except: Front, middle tarsi with basal 3 tarsomeres not expanded and without dense adhesive pads; front tibiae with inner margins arcuate (not sinuate) and spines inconspicuous; abdominal sternites 1, 2 evenly convex, setose across middle; median concavity of abdominal sternite 5 indistinct, with evenly spaced punctures over surface.

Material examined

“ BAHAMA ISLANDS: San Salvador, Gerace Research Ctr., 24°07’N, 74°26’W, 17 February 2004 / W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen collectors” (holotype); same data except “ 19 June 2004 ” (1 paratype); same data except “ 21 June 2004 ” (1 paratype); same data except “ 22 June 2004 / Under matted grass and leaf litter, edge of low scrub” (6 paratypes); same data except second label “At black light, scrub forest edge at open catchment” (23 paratypes); same data except “ 16 February 2004 / “At black light, scrub forest edge at open catchment” (2 paratypes); same data except “ 17 February 2004 (1 paratype); same data except “ 25 June 2005 ” / “At black light, coastal sandy scrub forest; coll. W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen (3 paratypes); same data except “ 26 June 2005 ” / Under matted grass and leaf litter, edge of low scrub” (1 paratype); “SAN SALVADOR, BAHAMAS, 10 JUNE 1995, M. & S. DEYRUP / OUTSIDE CAVE NEAR LIGHTHOUSE ” (2 paratypes).

Va r i a t i o n

Specimens range from 4.4–5.4 mm in length; the smallest are males, largest, females. In some older specimens, setae have been abraded.

Diagnosis

The small, elongate and somewhat flattened body, brownish coloration, dull luster and vestiture of golden fine setae (most conspicuous in the lateral abdominal patches) will separate this species from all other opatrine tenebrionids known from San Salvador. Blapstius kalik belongs to a group of closely related species including B. haitensis Marcuzzi , B. aciculus Blatchley , and other mostly undescribed circum­Caribbean forms. Comparisons among the aedeagi and details of the male front tibiae will be most useful in separating these.

Distribution

Blapstius kalik is known only from San Salvador Island and, while fully winged, is presumably endemic. Closely related forms are known from islands of some of the other Bahamian Banks.

Habitats and collection notes

The majority of specimens were collected at black light sheets in interior scrub; others were found under matted dead grass and leaf litter on fine sandy soil at the edges of open areas and dense scrub. Larvae of related species are known to live in sandy soils.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Blapstinus kalik, new species. A, holotype, dorsal view; body length 4.7 mm. B, same, frontal view. C, male paratype, ventral view. D­E, male genitalia of holotype, dorsal and lateral views, respectively; length of tegmen 1.5 mm.