Akalyptoischion texas Hartley, Andrews & McHugh, 2008

Hartley, Christopher S., Andrews, Fred G. & Mchugh, Joseph V., 2007, A Taxonomic Revision Of The Genus Akalyptoischion Andrews (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 6) 61, pp. 1-50 : 46

Akalyptoischion texas Hartley, Andrews & McHugh new species ( Fig. 24 )

Etymology. This species is named for its unique distribution in Texas.

Description. Length 1.25–1.30 mm. Width 0.38–0.40 mm. Body elongate, subparallel, uniformly dark reddish brown; subglabrous; head width equal to anterior pronotum width, sides slightly sinuate; clypeus narrowing at 45u angle anterior to antennal insertions; head foveae distinct, oval, slightly smaller than eyes; head glabrous; head punctation dense, surface rugose; eyes large and prominent with 4 facets; tempora lacking; hind angles short, 90u; clypeal fovea length of antennomere IV, 0.6 times width of labrum; labrum anterior margin slightly emarginate; mandible apex pointed with an apical tooth and 3 sharp subapical serrations, prostheca short; antennae with a 3 segmented club; antennae reach posterior 1/3 of pronotum; antennomere I irregular, subglobular, II elongate oval, III small, subquadrate, IV–V elongate, VI–VIII submonilliform, IX–XI form club, IX slightly elongate, oval, X subquadrate, XI an elongate trapezoid.

Pronotum glabrous, widest anteriorly; anterior angles rounded, lateral margin slightly sinuate and converging posteriorly; lateral margin very slightly explanate with,10 tubercles, each bearing a very short decumbent seta; median 4/5 raised; pronotal foveae distinct, anterior pair narrow and transverse, posterior pair broad and circular; pronotal punctation dense, surface rugose.

Elytra subparallel, lateral flange weak; 6 striae; humeral angle rounded; strial interspaces 3 and 5 weakly carinate; elytra subglabrous; epipleuron complete, narrowing posteriorly.

Ventral surface subglabrous; submental fovea large, deep, length of antennomere I; ventral head evenly punctate; gular punctaion even; prosternum evenly punctate with a Y-shaped carina extending anteriorly from prosternal process; mesosternum with a sharp Y-shaped carina extending anteriorly from mesocoxal process; metasternum with a large fovea between and posterior to each mesocoxa, an oval fovea anterior to each metacoxa, and median surface sparsely punctate; abdominal ventrite I with 2 incomplete circular foveae at anterior corners of intercoxal process, a small oval fovea posterior to each metacoxa, and median surface without punctures; ventrites II–IV unmodified.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, USA: label data: ‘‘ TEXAS: Brewster Co. Big Bend Nat’l Park Pine Canyon 1,615 m 6 Sept. 1988, R.S. Anderson ex: berlese hardwood litter’’ ( SEMC).

PARATYPES, USA, same data as holotype (2, SEMC); ‘‘ TEXAS: Brewster Co. Big Bend Nat’l Park Pine Canyon 1,615 m 6 Sept. 1988, R.S. Anderson ex: berlese hardwood litter’’ (5, SEMC) .

Additional Material, ‘‘ TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co. Ft. Davis , Limpia Canyon 16 July 1969,’’ ‘‘under bush hillside leg W. Suter’ ’ (1, CDAE); ‘‘ TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co. 1 mi. E Davis State Park VII-21-1989 B. Anderson coll. Berlese Quercus litter,’’ on slide (1, CDAE) .

Remarks. This species is the only Akalyptoischion species known from Texas. All other species occur from Arizona and Utah westwards. Aklayptoischion texas may be distinguished from all other glabrous species except A. gigas by the presence of a Y-shaped carina on the mesosternum ( Fig. 24 ). It is easily distinguished from A. gigas by its distribution, smaller mandibles and the impunctate median surface of abdominal ventrite I.

Figures

Figs. 22–24. 22) A. atrichos, male, pterothorax, ventral view; 23) A. polytremetron, female, pterothorax, ventral view; 24) A. texas, pterothorax, ventral view.