Gnathaphanus multipunctatus (MacLeay)

Liebherr, James K., 2009, Native And Alien Carabidae (Coleoptera) Share Lanai, An Ecologically Devastated Island, The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (4), pp. 383-411 : 404

Gnathaphanus multipunctatus (MacLeay)

( Fig. 6E , 7C )

Diagnosis. Among harpalines introduced to Hawaii, this species is easily distinguished by: 1) the foveate dorsal elytral setae of the third and fifth elytral striae; 2) the flavous femora, tibiae and tarsi contrasted with the shiny rufopiceous body ( Fig. 7C ); and 3) by the dilated male mesotarsi characteristic of subtribe Anisodactylina . Standardized body length 8.2–9.0 mm.

Lanai Distribution. This species is known from Australia, New Guinea, the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, the Philippines, New Caledonia, and Samoa ( Darlington 1968; Moore et al. 1987). On Lanai this species has been collected only at Kanepuu Dry Forest Reserve ( Fig. 6E ) at 525 m elevation in the dry forest community ( Fig. 1 ) (new island record).

Habitat. The sole collection of this species on Lanai was from a clay road surface after dark (11-V-2004 lot 01, Liebherr; CUIC). Individuals of G. multipunctatus and G. picipes were both observed running on the ground and stopping at grass seeds and chaff on the clay surface, presumably to feed or at least to investigate the plant material. Pheidole megacephala (F.), or big-headed ant, was abundant at this site both on the ground and also on vegetation. This aggressive species tends honeydew-producing insects and also preys on arthropods (Huddleston and Fluker 1968). It tends to be the dominant predaceous ant in dry lowland areas ( Reimer 1994).

Tribe Perigonini

Figures

Fig. 6. Known distributions of carabid beetle species on Lanai. A. Blackburnia lanaihalensis. B. B. depressa. C. B. filipes. D. Metacolpodes buchanani. E. Gnathaphanus picipes (small circles), G. picipes plus G. multipunctatus (larger bullseye). F. Perigona nigriceps.

Fig. 7. Non-native carabid beetle species known from Lanai (vignettes represent actual body size). A. Metacolpodes buchanani. B. Gnathaphanus picipes. C. G. multipunctatus. D. Perigona nigriceps.

Fig. 1. Pre-Polynesian vegetation communities on the island of Lanai (after Hobdy 1993): 1) cloud forest; 2) mesic forest; 3) dry forest; 4) arid grassland and shrubland; 5) coast and strand.