Pseudataenius contortus Cartwright, 1974

Stebnicka, Z. Teresa & Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Taxonomic redefinition of the genera Parataenius Balthasar and Pseudataenius Brown, with descriptions of three new species (Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini), Insecta Mundi 2009 (66), pp. 1-18 : 13-16

Pseudataenius contortus Cartwright

Figure 24-28 , 36

Pseudataenius contortus Cartwright 1974: 16-17 , fig. 1a – Woodruff 1973: 134, fig. 290 (as unnamed species); Harpootlian 2001: 36.

Diagnosis. Male head minutely punctate; protibia with one lateral, apical tooth, terminal spur long, twisted, widened apically and bent inward; pronotum with smooth, impunctate midline. Female clypeus deeply, closely punctate.

Description. Length 4.6-5.1 mm. Male head short and broad ( Fig. 24 ), finely reflexed clypeal margin widely rounded on each side of shallow median emargination, sides arcuate to genae, genae right angled, fimbriate and slightly flaring outward; surface of head minutely alutaceous, minutely to very finely punctate ( Fig. 27 ). Pronotum weakly convex, sides strongly arcuate from widely rounded anterior angles to arcuate base; sides fimbriate with long setae; surface with mixed very fine and fine, evenly distributed punctures except for narrow, impunctate longitudinal midline. Elytra subparallel sided, humeri not distinctly dentate; striae fine, strial punctures shallow; intervals slightly convex with median row of very minute punctures, interval 10 flat, alutaceous. Ventral surface finely punctate; abdominal sternites flat-

36

tened at middle, finely fluted along sutures, surface minutely alutaceous with scattered punctures more noticeable at sides; apical lip of pygidium convex, shiny, eroded area finely roughened. Legs long; meso- and metafemur without posterior lines; protibia without lateral teeth, terminal tooth elongate, subparallel sided and bluntly rounded, spur long, gradually widened, slightly twisted and bent inward ( Fig. 25 ); metatibial apex with long setae and accessory spine; tarsi very long and slender, basal tarsomere of metatarsus longer than upper tibial spur and equal in length to following 3 tarsomeres combined, tarsomere 5 as long as 2 preceding tarsomeres combined. Male genitalia as in Fig. 36 .

Female color usually darker than in male; head smaller, clypeus more deeply emarginate at middle ( Fig. 26 ); pronotum more convex, surface of head and pronotum with coarser and closer punctures ( Fig. 28 ). Abdominal sternites convex from side to side, pygidium shorter with narrower apical lip. Legs shorter than in male; meso- and metafemora with fine posterior lines; protibia with 3 normal lateral teeth and slender terminal spur; tarsi shorter than in male.

Type material. Holotype male “ Florida, 17 mi N of Tallahassee, Tall Timbers Res. Sta 25.VI-4.VIII.1967, L. Collins ”, no 71732 NMNH.

Specimens examined. Allotype and 10 paratypes of the same data as holotype and other specimens (88). USA – Alabama: Trinity, VI-17-1957, in cow dung ( FSCA); Florida , Jefferson Co., Monticello, Big Bend Hort. Lab. 12.VI.1969, W. H. Whitcomb ( NMNH, FSCA); Florida: Leon Co. , Tall Timbers Research Station , 21-27-VI-1969, L. Collins ( FSCA); Florida: Leon Co. , Tallahassee, jct. I-90 and Rt. 319, 20-22-VI- 1987, P. Skelley at light ( PESC); Maryland: Takoma Park, 13-VII-1950, G. H. Nelson, at light ( FSCA); Mississippi, Oktibbeha Co. , Starkville. 10.VI.1982, W. H. Cross ( NMNH); North Carolina: Camp Lejeune, 28-VI-1968, J. M. Hirst, blacklight trap; South Carolina, Colleton Co. , Hwy 32 & 320, 24.VI.1948, O.L. Cartwright ( NMNH).

Remarks. Pseudataenius contortus is very similar to P. socialis . The male of this species is easily recognized by its unusual protibial shape, while the female has the clypeal wrinkles inconspicuous or lacking and the pronotal surface less strongly punctate than in P. socialis .

Distribution. Eastern and southeastern USA – Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina, Virginia.

Figures

Figure 24-28. Pseudataenius contortus. 24) Male, dorsal habitus. 25) Male, protibia. 26) Female, dorsal habitus. 27) Male, anterolateral view, head and pronotum. 28) Female, anterolateral view, head and pronotum.

Figure 34-37. Pseudataenius spp. 34) P. gracilitarsis, male genitalia. 35) P. socialis, male genitalia. 36) P. contortus, male genitalia. 37) P. socialis, epipharynx.