Fornax knulli Muona, 2000

Otto, Robert L., 2020, A review of the Nearctic species of Fornax Laporte (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini) with descriptions of six new species, Insecta Mundi 2020 (818), pp. 1-26 : 16-18

Fornax knulli Muona, 2000

Fig. 2, 25–29

Diagnosis. Quadrate pronotum, overall smaller size and basally swollen simple tarsal claws distinguish F. knulli from all other species of Fornax in the Nearctic region.

Type material. “ New Smyrna, VII-1-43 Fla., M. Wright ” (date handwritten on label) / “ J.N. Knull, Collection” / “ Fornax , sp. “E”, det. J. Knull ” (“sp. “E”” handwritten on label) / “ HOLOTYPE, Fornax , knulli, Muona des.” [red printed label] ( FMNH) ; “ New Smyrna, VII-1-43 Fla., M. Wright ” (date handwritten on label) / “ J.N. Knull, Collection” / “ Fornax , sp. “E”, det. J. Knull ” (“sp. “E”” handwritten on label) / “ PARATYPE, Fornax , knulli, Muona des.” [red printed label] ( FMNH) .

Redescription. Male holotype. Length 6.0 mm. Width 2.0 mm. Body subcylindrical, elongate; uniformly reddish-brown; scape reddish-brown, pedicel and antennomeres III–XI yellowish-brown; legs including tarsi reddish-brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent yellowish setae ( Fig. 25–26 ). Head: Subspherical; integument closely punctate, shiny; frons convex, without median carina or fovea above frontoclypeal region; apical margin of frontoclypeal region rounded, about 2 times wider than base; horizontal interantennal carina incomplete; mandibles stout, bidentate, densely punctate. Antenna: Filiform from antennomeres III–XI, stout, attaining nearly 1/2 of body length; antennomere III slightly longer than IV; antennomeres IV–X subequal, longer than wide; antennomere XI slightly longer than X. Pronotum: Integument dull, rugose; as long as wide, with moderate, sharp hind angles; sides widest basally at hind angles, parallel-sided in basal 3/4, arcuate anteriorly; disc convex, without median groove or circular fovea; base sinuous, without pair of circular depressions above scutellar shield. Scutellar shield: Elongate, dull, subtriangular, rugose, distally rounded. Elytra: Distinctly striate, deepest in humeral region; interstices slightly elevated; integument shiny and transversely rugose. Legs: First tarsomere shorter than combined lengths of remaining four on left mesotarsi; tibiae rounded in cross-section; metatarsomeres I–III simple; metatarsomere IV excavated; left mesotarsomere V elongate, with basally swollen simple claws ( Fig. 27 ). Venter: Closely punctate to rugose, with short, recumbent yellowish setae; hypomeron with basally open lateral antennal grooves; metepisterna parallel-sided; elytral epipleura shiny, grooved throughout, without punctures; metacoxal plates medially more than 6.0 times wider than laterally.

Aedeagus (paratype) ( Fig. 28 ). Basal piece slightly longer than wide, parallel-sided, dorsally open; remaining parts elongate, narrowing anteriorly beginning at base of parameres, apically lobed; median lobe elongate and strongly narrow, apically rounded, narrowly bifid; parameres elongate, strongly narrowed anteriorly, with a minute hook-like tooth near base; secondary lateral lobes elongate, C-shaped.

Variation. One male paratype was examined. It is 6.5 mm long and 2.0 mm wide, slightly longer than and just as wide as the holotype. A median carina is present in the frontoclypeal region of the paratype ( Fig. 29 ). In the holotype the frontoclypeal region is obscured by adhesive and presence/absence of the median carina cannot be determined. There are no exoskeletal differences between the paratype and the holotype.

Distribution. This species is known from two specimens taken at a single type locale in New Smyrna, Florida.

Biology. Developmental stages remain unknown.

Note. Muona (2000) listed the acronym MCZ under the Type Material section for this species, but subsequently (Muona, in litt.) acknowledged that the indicated acronym was listed in error. Both types for the species actually belong to FMNH.

Figures

Figures 25–29. Fornax knulli Muona. 25) Male holotype, dorsal habitus. 26) Male holotype, lateral habitus. 27) Male holotype, tarsal claw, lateral view.28) Male paratype, aedeagus, dorsal view.29) Male paratype, frontoclypeal region, frontal view. (Scale: 25–26 = 1.0 mm; 27–29 = 0.5 mm.)