Pinodytes constrictus Peck & Cook, 2011

Peck, Stewart B. & Cook, Joyce, 2011, Systematics, distributions and bionomics of the Catopocerini (eyeless soil fungivore beetles) of North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Catopocerinae) 3077, Zootaxa 3077 (1), pp. 1-118 : 23

Pinodytes constrictus Peck & Cook , new species

( Figs. 9 , 87 , 104–111 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( FMNH). UNITED STATES. California: Los Angeles Co., Angeles Crest Hwy., 2.0 mi off on Forest Road 2 N46, 1650 m, 34°16.7’N 118°04.1’W, 15.III.1995, Quercus old growth for. w/ Pinus coulteri, FMHD #95–41, berl. forest leaf & log litter, A. Newton, M. Thayer, 952. Paratypes (12). UNITED STATES. California: with same data as holotype, 12 ( FMNH).

Material examined. We have examined 13 specimens.

Distribution. Specimens ( Fig. 87 ) are known only from the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California.

Diagnostic description. Total length 1.34–1.54 mm; greatest width 0.66–0.74 mm. Dark reddish brown; elongate-oval in shape ( Fig. 9 ). Head. Finely, sparsely punctate; shining; transverse substriate microsculpture on vertex and laterally. Eyes absent. Antenna ( Fig. 104 ) with antennomere 2 slightly longer than 3; antennomere 5 wider than 4 and 6; antennomeres 7 and 8 subequal; antennomeres 9 and 10 each with a single sensory vesicle indicated apically by a protruding flange. Pronotum. With fine punctures separated by 2–3 diameters; shining; with substriate microsculpture. Widest before base, sides curving to apex; apical margin weakly emarginate, basal margin nearly straight; apical angles obtuse, basal angles weakly obtuse, narrowly rounded. Elytra. Basally, punctures larger than on pronotum; longitudinal rows discernable basally; shining; punctures joined by fine transverse strioles. Slightly wider than pronotum, widest in basal one-third, roundly narrowing to apex. Legs. Protibia ( Fig. 105 ) moderately widened apically; spinose on outer margin and apically; dense setae on apical two-thirds of inner margin. Mesotibia ( Fig. 106 ) moderately broad apically; strongly spinose on outer margin and apically; smaller spines on apical one-half of inner margin. Metatibia ( Fig. 107 ) elongate, slender, slightly curved; strongly spinose apically; a single strong spine near middle of outer margin. Metafemur ( Fig. 107 ) slender. Male protarsomeres 1–4 expanded, bearing elongate setae laterally and thin, broad, colorless phanerae ventrally ( Fig. 105 ). Mesotarsomeres without phanerae. Venter. Mesoventrite ( Fig. 111 ) carinate; longitudinal carina with tooth-like expansion near middle; not excavated behind transverse carina. Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus ( Figs. 108, 109 ) elongate, broad, sharply constricted before flattened apex. Inverted internal sac ( Fig. 109 ) with two elongate sclerites. Parameres ( Figs. 108, 109 ) elongate, extending beyond apex of median lobe; with flattened apices; each bearing two setae before apex. Spermatheca. Tubular ( Fig. 110 ), slender, curved.

Etymology. The name constrictus, Latin , contracted, refers to the shape of aedeagal apex of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 87. Distributions of species in the Pinodytes pusio species group in the southwestern United States. P.pusio, closed circles in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range mountains of central and southern California. P. ovatus, closed triangles in the Coast Range mountains of southwestern Oregon. P. chandleri, open triangles in the Coast Range mountains of northern California. P. constrictus, open circle in the transverse mountain ranges north of Los Angeles, California. P. contortus, closed square in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. P. eldorado, open squares in the the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California.

FIGURES 2–10. Pinodytes habitus photos. 2. P.newtoni, total length 1.38 mm. 3. P. borealis, total length 2.10 mm. 4. P. punctatus, total length 1.36 mm. 5. P.colorado, total length 1.66 mm. 6. P.pusio, total length 1.54 mm. 7. P. ovatus, total length 1.34 mm. 8. P. chandleri, total length 1.54 mm. 9. P. constrictus, total length 1.48 mm. 10. P.contortus, total length 1.16 mm.

FIGURES 104–111. Pinodytes constrictus. 104. Male right antenna, dorsal. 105. Male right protibia and protarsus. 106. Male right mesotibia. 107. Male right metafemur and metatibia. 108. Aedeagus, lateral. 109. Aedeagus, dorsal. 110. Spermatheca. 111. Mesoventrite, lateral. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (Fig. 110), 0.3 mm (Figs. 104–109, 111).