Diastolinus gladiator ( Garrido, 2004 )

Hart, Charles J. & Ivie, Michael A., 2016, A Revision of the Genus Diastolinus Mulsant and Rey (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (3), pp. 485-540 : 485-540

Diastolinus gladiator ( Garrido, 2004)

( Figs. 56–60 , 103 )

Sellio gladiator Garrido 2004b: 120 (type locality: Hispaniola); Perez 2008: 113 (Hispaniola); Herrera-Uria et al. 2015: 97 (Hispaniola).

Selio gladiator Garrido 2004b: 121 (lapsus calami); Caballer et al. 2012: 65 ( Cuba [error]).

Type Material. The types were not seen. The holotype is from Cabo Rojo , Pedernales Province, Dominican Republic ( MNHC) .

Other Material Examined. Appendix 1.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other species by the dull upper surface with short, yellowish pubescence and elytra not distinctly costate.

Redescription. Male. Length 6.1–7.1 mm, width 2.8–3.1 mm. Body ( Fig. 56 ) dull, matte black, except antennae reddish, last 3 antennomeres mostly testaceous; ovate-oblong; widest at pronotum, convex; scattered pale setae covering dorsal surface.

Head ( Fig. 56 ) with epistoma evenly convex; epistomal margin weakly emarginate; punctures subequal to diameter of ommatidium, covering dorsal surface, posteriorly separated by 2X puncture diameter, spaced less than puncture diameter on anterior margin; setae 3X length of punctures. Labrum densely punctate. Antenna clavate. Dorsal portions of eye circular, ventral portion somewhat oblong. Gular horns short, not prominent.

Pronotum ( Fig. 56 ) widest in anterior 1/3; apical margin evenly, broadly emarginate; apex width subequal to basal width; apical corners rounded, lateral margin widened from apex in anterior 1/3, then sides arcuate, slightly narrowing towards base; basal width greater than width across humeri; basal margin feebly bisinuate; dorsal surface convex; all margins narrowly beaded, except obsolete at middle of anterior margin; minutely punctate, puncture diameter subequal to that of punctures on head, spaced 2–3X diameter of punctures on pronotal disc; setae typically rubbed off pronotal disc, fine, pale setae typically 2X puncture diameter in length laterally. Hypomeron feebly rugulose, almost impunctate. Prosternal process lanceolate, punctate, with yellowish, semi-erect setae at least 2X puncture diameter.

Scutellum ( Fig. 56 ) small, triangular, slightly wider than long. Elytra constricted in anterior 1/3. Elytron broadening from base to widest point opposite metaventrite, then evenly arcuate to apices; striae not impressed; strial punctures shallow; intervals flat, punctation even, equal to strial punctation. Stria 7 ending in lateral stria slightly posterior to humeral angle.

Mesoventrite not rugulose, punctate and setose. Metaventrite short, punctate on anterior border behind mesocoxae, punctation shallow.

Leg ( Fig. 57 ) surfaces setose and somewhat heavily punctate. Femora expanded. Protibia narrow, expanding greatly in distal 2/3; dorsolateral margin nearly straight, row of stout spines in apical 2/3; posteroventral surface asperous; apex obliquely truncate, ringed by stout spines. Protarsus with tarsomeres 1–3 expanded, ventrally with golden, densely setose pads, tarsomere 3 widest, more than 2X width of tarsomere 4. Mesotarsus with tarsomeres 1–3 weakly expanded, ventrally with densely setose pads. Metatarsus narrow, about 1/2 as long as metatibia, without setose pads; 1 st tarsomere length subequal to length of 2 nd.

Abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 58 ) minutely punctate; ventrites 1–3 slightly concave medially; anterior border of ventrite 1, just behind hind coxae, with row of small punctures not extending onto intercoxal process; ventrites 2 and 3 laterally with feeble longitudinally rugulose areas, indistinct on medial concavity; ventrite 5 concave medially just before posterior margin. Aedeagus ( Figs. 59, 60 ) with basal piece and parameres arched, less than 1/2 elytral length; parameres parallel for basal 1/2, then widened broadly apically, then narrowed again to a bluntly rounded apex; parameres with sinuate lateral margin, undulate with slightly upturned tips in lateral view.

Female. Length 6.8–7.2 mm, width 2.9–3.2 mm. Similar to male except body typically larger, more robust than male. Pro- and mesotarsi not expanded. Abdominal ventrites 1–3 slightly flattened medially; ventrite 5 only slightly concave.

Biology. Adults have been associated with thorn scrub, found under stones, collected from a swimming pool, and attracted to lights. Two specimens were intercepted in an orchid shipment to Miami. Specimens have been found at elevations ranging 0–45 m above sea level.

Distribution. Hispaniola ( Fig. 103 ).

Diastolinus gladiator (Garrido)

REP.DOM. Pedernales; Prov. Cabo Rojo; XII- 28-1986 Doyen; & Santiago / thorn scrub association; under stones (3 EMEC, 11 WIBF). REP. DOM. Pedernales; Prov. Cabo Rojo ; XII-31-1986 J. Doyen; & J. Santiago (1 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Prov. Pedernales; Cabo Rojo ; 08–09SEPT1988; in pool & at light, 0–10m; M.A. Ivie, T.K. Phillips; & K.A. Johnson colrs. (2 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Prov. Pedernales; Cabo Rojo , 18–23AUG1988; in pool & at light, 0–10m; M.A. Ivie, T.K. Phillips; & K.A. Johnson colrs. (5 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Prov. Pedernales; 10 km N. Cabo Rojo 30–45m; 19AUG1988, thorn scrub; M.A. Ivie, T.K. Phillips; & K.A. Johnson colrs. (1 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Prov. Pedernales; 9.5 km N. Cabo Rojo, 33m; 18°00.042′N, 71°38.793′; 08AUG1999, lights and beating; M.A. Ivie & K.A. Guerrero (1 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Cabo Rojo; Prov. Pedernales; hotel, 21AUG1992; D. Sikes & J. Brodzinsky (1 WIBF) . REP.DOM.; Prov. Pedernales; Cabo Rojo , 08JULY1993; u. v. light, D. S. Sikes ; & R. P. Rosenfield (1 WIBF) . DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; Pr. Pedernales, 10.2 km N.; Cabo Rojo , 9-VII-1996; M.C. Thomas (3 FSCA) . DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; Pedernales Prov.; Cabo Rojo 21-V-1992; M.C. Thomas (2 FSCA) . Dominican Republic; orchid plants; OKD, FDM/ 08/7/1963; Miami 24955; 63 20094 (2 USNM) .

Figures

Figs. 56–60. Diastolinus gladiator. 56) Dorsal habitus; 57) Ventrolateral habitus; 58) Abdominal ventrites; 59) Aedeagus, dorsal view; 60) Aedeagus, lateral view.

Fig. 103. Map of the distributions of Diastolinus species on Hispaniola.