Nelsopelonium aspikelum OPITZ nov.sp. (Figs 71, 119, 229, 309)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: Sta. Rita Range, Res. Pima Co. ARIZ, 2000-4000', 10 Aug. 1971, E. Yensen (FSCA).

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Nelsopelonium BARR was revised in 2014 (OPITZ 2014a). This work included a key to genera. The available Nelsopelonium aspikelum specimen keys out to N. jenae BARR from which the N. aspikelum holotype differs by showing a much smaller body size (4 mm), more cribrate elytral disc, and a vastly different aedeagus.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 4.0 mm; width 1.3 mm. Form: As in Fig. 309. Color: Castaneous, except femora infuscated at extremity, pronotal disc with small infuscation at middle, and elytra piceous, with faint lighter fascia behind middle. Head: Frons deeply indented; antenna (Fig. 71) capitate, funicular antennomeres progressively shorter towards capitulum, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 oblong, their anterior margin undulate; eyes small, coarsely facetted, eye much narrower than frons (EW/FW 15/30). Thorax: Pronotum (Fig. 119) slightly convex, oblong, finely punctate; side margins linear (PW/PL 62/67); elytra moderately convex; proximal 1/2 of disc sculptured with non-striate asetiferous punctures, posterior 1/2 of disc cribrate; epipleural margin diminutive at elytral apex (EL/EW 180/40). Abdomen: Pygidium transverse/scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 229.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The holotype was collected during August.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from The United States of America.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, aspikelum, is a Greek compound name that stems from aspin (= shield) and kelis (= spot); with reference to the small infuscation on the pronotal disc.