Lyreus alleni Ivie and Ślipiński, 2001

Ivie, Michael A. & Adam Ślipiński, StanisŁaw, 2001, A New Species Of Lyreus Aubé From Alabama, First Report Of The Genus From The New World (Zopheridae: Colydiinae: Synchitini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 55 (4), pp. 501-505 : 502-505

Lyreus alleni Ivie and Ślipiński new species

Figs. 1–4

Type Material. HOLOTYPE male. ALABAMA: Jefferson Co.; Clay, Crystal Cave ; 02 July 1978, 1,000 ft; T. King , from limestone sink. Deposited in the National Museum of Natural History , Washington [ NMNH] . PARATYPES. 10—same data as holotype, in the collections of Albert Allen, Karl Stephan, Montana State University , Bozeman , Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii , Warsaw , and NMNH .

Diagnosis. Lyreus alleni is easily recognized among North American colydiines (= Colydiidae of authors) by the characteristic sculpture ( Fig. 1), complete absence of eyes ( Fig. 2), and small size. The narrower form, distinctly shaped pronotum ( Fig. 2) and the more parallel­sided prosternal process ( Fig. 3) will distinguished it from the European L. subterraneus , with its distinctly broader form, more laterally arcuate pronotum (Fig. 5) and more triangular prosternal process (Fig. 6). The Sardinian L. septemstriatus differs obviously in having only 7 punctured striae, but also in the greatly bisinuate posterior margin of the prontum, which results in a posterior directed median lobe that is received in an excavation in the anterior edge of the elytra ( Figs. 1 and 3 in Fancello and Leo 1991). The male genitalia will readily distinguish the species, the parameres of L. alleni ( Fig. 4) being blunt and relatively short (in relation to the basal piece and median lobe), while those of L. subterraneus (Fig. 7) are relatively longer and narrowly acute. The genitalia of L. septemstriatus , as illustrated by Figure 2 of Fancello and Leo (1991) are very distinct, with reduced parameres that end in acuminate points.

Description. Length 2.2–2.7 mm. Color uniform dark reddish brown. Dorsally covered in large flattened, subcontiguous tubercles ( Fig. 1), each bearing a single subdecumbent seta; cuticle smooth and shining on tubercles, dull between, obscured with dirt­encrusted secretions. Head somewhat pentagonal ( Fig. 2), covered with large flattened tubercles, the largest starting in a broad median band on the occiput, and diverging in arms towards the frontal angles; frontal margin transverse, smooth immediately behind; eyes completely absent; a wide antennal groove present, extending to rear of head; mentum coarsely punctate. Antenna ( Fig. 2) 11­segmented, with a clearly 2­segmented club; basal segments sparsely and club densely setose. Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 2) nearly parallel­sided in anterior half, indistinctly narrowed posteriorly; anterior angles directed forward; dorsally covered with large irregularly­placed tubercles, somewhat larger medially; lateral margin serrate, double when viewed laterally. Prothorax below with hypomeron slightly concave, entire ventral surface covered in slightly transverse coarse tubercles; procoxal process ( Fig. 3) slightly expanded behind coxae, the cavities very narrowly open behind. Elytra with distinct humeral angles; tubercles arranged in 9 indistinct rows, offset so as to give the impression of diagonal rows extending forward from the suture at ca. 45° angle on disc, becoming confused apically. Scutellum very small, transverse. Metathoracic wings absent. Venter: Mesosternum, metasternum and ventrites covered with unique scrollwork consisting of shining individual flat­topped tubercles and intricate interconnected sinuate lines surrounded by and surrounding flat­bottomed dull channels, the later filled with encrusted secretions; a single seta arising from each tubercle. Metasternum short, one­half the length of mesofemur; metacoxae oval, not reaching elytral margin, separated by half their width by truncate process of first ventrite. All ventrites free, with deep grooves at sutures. Legs sparsely covered with setae, the tarsi 4­4­4 and unmodified, tarsomeres 1–3 subequal, and together considerably shorter than 4. Male genitalia as in Figure 4.

Etymology. Named in honor of Albert Allen, seeker and collector extraordinaré of rare and phylogenetically significant beetles. This generous colleague

Figs. 5–7. Lyreus subteranneus Aube´. 5) head and pronotum; 6) prosternal process; 7) male genitalia.

first recognized this species as unique, and provided both the specimens and illustration ( Fig. 1) for our use.