Paradonus gustafsoni, Etzler Usa, 2020

Etzler Usa, Frank E., 2020, Review of the genus Paradonus Stibick, 1971 (Elateridae: Negastriinae), with three new North American species, Zootaxa 4750 (4), pp. 524-544 : 541-543

8. Paradonus gustafsoni new species

Figs. 16, 20.

Diagnosis: Paradonus gustafsoni will most likely be mixed with P. gallatinensis , P. inops , and P. pectoralis . The connection of the pronotal hind angle carina to the apex will readily separate this species from the latter two. The light pronotal disc in P. gustafsoni will separate it from P. pectoralis as will the lack of apical expansions on the parameres of the aedeagus. Paradonus gustafsoni is also larger than P. inops , and the banding pattern is less distinct when compared to the later species. The characters used to separate this species from P. gallatinensis are discussed above. Habitus Fig. 16.

Description: Length 3.1– 3.4mm (avg. 3.23mm, n=9), color generally piceous to brown, with a testaceous triangular spot on apex of each elytra, and lighter areas on pronotum, hypomeron, and abdomen, setae grey, short, and moderately dense, body moderately dorso-ventral flattened.

Head: Piceous to dark brown, sometimes with a lighter testacous spot above each eye near anterior edges of pronotum; punctures even and dense, separated by puncture diameter or less, umbilicate and shallow, smaller than pronotal punctures, setae grey; interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate; antennae feebly serrate, testaceous and lighter than head, 11 th segment with one indention on dorsal side.

Thorax: Pronotum brown to piceous, with disc lighter, sometimes testaceous, and edges always darker; Pronotum wider than long, average length to width ratio 1:1.23 (n=9); sides broadly arcuate, widest just posterior of midlength, slightly narrower anteriorly than posteriorly in most specimens, rarely evenly arcuate; hind angles relatively straight laterally, weakly curved only at acute tip, inner margin relatively straight to weakly arcuate at most, carina of hind angle strong, straight to slightly curved, connecting only to apex of hind angle, carina just exceeding hind angles, reaching bulbous area of pronotum; punctures umbilicate, separated by a diameter of a puncture or less, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate, covered in even, short, grey setae. Hypomeron piceous with testaceous parts at anterior and posterior edges to nearly entirely testaceous, densely punctured on anterior two-thirds, punctures almost continuous, to impunctate posterior one-third, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate. Prosternum darker to similar to hypomeron in color, with dense punctation, almost touching laterally, less so medially, sometimes with an impunctate area near prosternal process and a lateral ridge just anterior of male pubescent spot. Metaventrite with dense, simple, punctation separated by less than a diameter of a puncture, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate, dark brown in color. Scutellum subpentagonal, flat to subtly covex, moderately elongate, longer than broad, slightly inclined, anterior edge slightly curved, surface densely punctured, with short grey setae directed posterior, edges darker, center piceous to fusco-testaceous. Elytra with evenly spaced, simple puntures, separated by a diameter or less, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate, basally piceous or brown, similar to pronotum, a darker piceous lateral band present near apical third, with apical third testaceous, with edges darker. Legs testaceous, lighter than metaventrite.

Abdomen: Punctures small, simple, and dense, almost contiguous, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate, color dark brown to brown, fifth ventrite always lighter, brown to testacous, light color often along edges of previous two (third and fourth) ventrites.

Male Genitalia (Fig. 20): Parameres with apical laterad expansion of dorsal condylite, dorsal condylite around 0.47x total paramere length. Median lobe broad, extending past parameres by around 0.22x of total aedeagal length. Basal piece subrectangular, convex, around 0.22x of total aedeagal length.

Specimens Examined: 17. Holotype: Montana, Gallatin Co., Madison R. [elevation] 4100’, 13 July 1989, D. L. Gustafson col. (male, deposited in CASC).

Paratypes: California: Lake Co., Putah Cr Midleton , July 4, 1977, G. W. Ulrich (3, BWPC) . Montana: Broadwater Co ., Missouri R.— Townsend, 28 June 1989, D. L. Gustafson col. (2, CASC; 1, CESC; 1, MTEC); Gallatin Co., Bridger Cr. 4800’, Pitfall trap, 19 May–7 June 1987, D. L. Gustafson col. (1, CESC); Gallatin Co. , Logan, 17.vii.1990, T. K. Phillips (1, BWPC); Gallatin Co. , Madison R. [elevation] 4100’, 13 July 1989, D. L. Gustafson col. (2 CASC, 1 MTEC); Gallatin Co. , E. Gallatin R. [elevation] 4600’, 22 June 1988, D. L. Gustafson col. (1, MTEC) . Nevada: Elko Co., Marys R. - Orange Br., 41.5796°N, 115.3578°W, 14 Jul 2004, [elevation] 1889m, D. L. Gustafson A0088 (2, MTEC) . Washington: N. Bend, VII-30-1927 (1, MCZC); Walloma Co., Wenaha River at Troy , July 9, 1988 (1, BWPC) .

Etymology: The specific name is in honor of Dr. Daniel L. Gustafson, who has collected the majority of known specimens of this species and the vast majority of Paradonus specimens in the MTEC.

Discussion: I have examined specimens from Arizona that are quite similar to this species, but differ in the pronotum is completely testaceous as is the base of the elytra. Due to the color variance in this genus within species, it is likely these may be a different color form of P. gustafsoni . However, I have taken the cautious approach and have not included them in the type series until more material throughout the Mid- and Southern Rockies can be examined.

Other specimens examined: Arizona: Cochise Co., 5mi W. Portal, SWRS, 5400’, 21-28-July-1988, R. S. Miller family (3, MTEC); 2.4mi NW Portal, BL, 18-May-1990, R. S. Miller family (1, MTEC); Chiricahua Mts., Cave Ck Cyn 5000’, 05 Aug 1986, @UV light, K. M. Dullum colr (1, CESC).

9. Paradonus stibicki New Species

Paradonus pectoralis sensu Stibick 1991 not Say, 1839, part, not Fig. 17 in Stibick 1991.

Figs. 3, 17, 21.

Diagnosis: This species is quite similar to P. futilis . These two species are very difficult to tell apart other than locality, with P. futilis described from San Diego. Specimens of P. stibicki tend to be larger than those of P. futilis , and usually have a darker colored head, or a testaceous pronotum contrasting unicolorous light brown elytra.

Description: Length 2.4–2.8 mm (avg. 2.6mm, n=15); color generally testaceous to light brown, elytra often with subtly darker maculations, a triangular area around the scutellum and a faint band at midway point, covered evenly in very short yellow setae, body slightly dorso-ventrally flattened, realtively convex compared to other species in the genus. Habitus Fig. 17.

Head: Brown to piceous; punctures small, appearing simple, separated by around diameter of puncture, closer medially and posteriorly, almost touching, interspaces relatively dull to moderately shining and microreticulate; antennae feebly serrate, unicolorous testaceous to light brown, 11 th segment with dorsal indentation.

Thorax: Pronotum testaceous to light brown. Pronotum wider than long, average length to width ratio 1:1.27 (n=8); sides moderately and evenly arcuate; hind angles relatively straight to slightly arcuate laterally, with a small curve at tip, inner margin subtly sinuate, carina strong, weakly to moderately arcuate, carina connecting to apex of hind angle, reaching bulbouse area of pronotum; punctures subumbilicate, just slightly larger than punctures on head, separated by about 1 diameter on average, some closer, some further, tending to form rows of punctures, interspaces relatively dull and microreticulate. Hypomeron testaceous to light brown, punctures subumbilicate, seperated by less than a diameter medially, nearly touching anteriorly, and further apart near impunctate posterior one-third, interspaces relatively dull to moderately shining and microreticulate. Prosternum testaceous to light brown, punctures subumbilicate, separated by less than a diameter of a puncture, closer laterally, almost touching, larger than punctures on metaventrite and hypomeron, interspaces relatively dull to moderately shining and microreticulate. Metaventrite light brown to brown, punctation simple, dense, separated by less than a diameter of a puncture, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate. Scutellum subpentagonal, flat, moderately elongate, about twice as long as broad, slightly inclined, anterior edge slightly curved, surface testaceous to light brown, edges piceous, microreticulate, and feebly punctate at most. Elytra with simple, evenly spaced punctures, separated by 1-2 diameters of a puncture, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate, color testaceous to light brown, rarely brown, often with a subtle dark, triangular spot around scutellum, often also with a subtle dark band at midlength, these marks can be so subtle that the elytra appears unicolorous. Legs yellow to light brown, often contrasting metaventrite and abdomen, although it is not uncommon to not contrast one or both.

Abdomen: Light brown to brown, punctures small, very dense, separated by less than a diameter of a puncture, sometimes almost touching, interspaces moderately shining and microreticulate to shining and feebly microreticulate.

Male Genitalia (Fig. 21): Parameres without apical expansion of dorsal condylite, dorsal condylite around 0.50x total paramere length. Median lobe narrow, extending past parameres by around 0.17x of total aedeagal length. Basal piece subrectangular, convex, around 0.26x of total aedeagal length.

Specimens Examined: 26; Holotype: New Hampshire: Walpole , V-31-1920, C. A. Frost (male, ANSP)

Paratypes: Arkansas: Fayetteville, VIII-1-1942, M. V. Sanderson / Collected at light (1, INHS 830160); Independence Co., near Newark , August 22, 1989, S. A. Wells (1, BWPC) . Montana: Carter Co., 5 mi W. of Alzada @ UV light, 18 July 1990, D. L. Gustafson col. (1, CESC; 2, MTEC); Carter Co. , 5 mi W. of Alzada, funnel trap, 7 June—5 Aug 1991, D. L. Gustafson col. (1, MTEC); Gallatin Co. Bridger Cr., pitfall, 26 Apr–10 May 1987, D. L. Gustafson colr. (2, CESC); Richland Co ., Missouri R. @ Culbertson blt., 19 Aug 1992, D. L. Gustafson col. (2 CASC, 3 MTEC) . New Hampshire: Walpole , V-31-1920, C. A. Frost (3, ANSP) . New York: Ulster Co., Esopus Cr. nr Oliverea, May 8 ’91, Baum, Wells (7, BWPC) . North Carolina: Raleigh , IV-12-1953, D. M. Weismann (2, INHS 830161, INHS 830162) . Pennsylvania: [Cumberland Co.] New Cumb [erland], July 29 1940, V. M. Kirk (1, NDSU). LeConte #3, pink disc [Middle States, MD, DE, NY, NJ, PA, CT?, RI?] (1 MCZC) .

Etymology: The specific name is for the late J. N. L. Stibick to honor his important work on the group, and to recognize this species as being his concept of P. pectoralis .

Discussion: This species, as noted by Stibick (1991), is fairly rare in collections, likely due to its small size. There is some variation in color, elytral markings, and the curve of the pronotal carina. However, this variation is more noticeable within a population than between populations, with specimens from Montana, New Hampshire, and North Carolina nearly identical to one another, but appearing different than nearby specimens. The male genitalia also do not vary between localities. Eight of the specimens above are from the 29 specimens examined by Stibick for his concept of P. pectoralis , stated as being in the following institutions:ANSP, CASC, IEMS, INHS, NRSS, SEMC, UICU, USNM, and VMCK (mistype of VMKC). None of these specimens completely match Stibick’s description or figures, however. One specimen examined by Stibick from the INHS, which also incorporated specimens from UICU, is a completely testaceous specimen of my concept of P. pectoralis , noted above. I have been unable to locate the other 20 specimens examined by Stibick, with no specimens discovered in the CASC. The Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden (NHRS, as NRSS in Stibick 1991) was contacted, but no specimens with Stibick ID labels were discovered.